In April 2015, the University of Houston co-hosted the Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching and Learning (CIRTL) Forum 2015: Preparing the Future STEM Faculty for the Rapidly Changing Landscape of Higher Education along with the University of Texas at Arlington and Texas A&M University. Attendees from the University of Houston included Dr. Bonnie Dunbar, head of the UH STEM Center, Dr. Dmitri Litinov, Vice Provost and Dean of the Graduate School and Dr. Jacqueline Hawkins, Faculty member in the College of Education.

While at the forum, attendees heard from a variety of distinguished speakers and panelists discussing the current and future state of STEM higher education. Keynote speaker, Anya Kamenetz, Author and Education Reporter for National Public Radio, spoke about The Future of Higher Education: People, Practices, Tools and discussed the challenges of higher education, and how we can use new technologies to launch a revolution in higher learning that is affordable, accessible, and learner-centered.

CIRTL is a National Science Foundation (NSF) Center focused on teaching and learning in STEM Higher Education. In November of 2014, Drs. Tammy Tolar and Jacqueline Hawkins, professors in the Psychological, Health and Learning Sciences Department, received the CIRTL Expansion Grant funds from the NSF and the Great Lakes Higher Education Corporation to work with network institutions to develop a national STEM faculty committed to implementing effective teaching practices to a diverse student population.

The goal of CIRTL is to not only improve the learning of all students at every college and university, but to increase diversity in STEM fields and STEM literacy throughout the nation. By expanding to the University of Houston, CIRTL has significantly diversified its reach and expanded its network to 23 research universities across the nation.

“Improving STEM education in our schools is a national priority. As a CIRTL university, we seek to improve undergraduate education by providing training to future educators, our current graduate students. As professors, we hope to share our commitment to education by helping our students develop skillful teaching techniques that engage diverse learners,” said Dr. Tammy Tolar, Principal Investigator of the CIRTL Expansion Grant.

As the presence of CIRTL at the University of Houston grows, graduate and undergraduate students will reap the benefits of its creative strategies and the positive impact those strategies have on future STEM faculty.  The College of Education specifically will experience CIRTL’s innovative teachings that permit anyone to enter the community from a wide variety of disciplines, needs, and past experiences, and achieve success as a teacher at a wide variety of engagement.