Welcome

Welcome to the Academy of Distinguished Teachers website. Established in 1999, the Academy of Distinguished Teachers is a forum through which its members provide valued leadership to the University, serving as mentors, advisers, and spokespersons for the University’s teaching mission. The Academy's over 300 members represent all of the University's five campuses.

The ADT co-chairs

ChatGPT and related AI

On March 24, 2023, the Academy of Distinguished Teachers hosted an online conversation about ChatGPT. Anyone who teaches at UMN was invited to attend.

Fall 2022 ADT Retreat

The Academy of Distinguished Teachers' biennial retreat took place September 23-25 at Ruttger's Bay Lake Lodge in Deerwood, Minnesota (near Brainerd). The topic of the retreat was: Mental Health, Resilience, and Academic Excellence: Can We Have it All?  As a result of the retreat, four action groups are in place; these are listed below. If you are interested in joining one of these groups please contact Chris Bremer at [email protected].

  1. Administrative Action Group
    Group charge:
    - Identify and eliminate redundant activities
    - Find ways to address stressful, time-consuming things like Chrome River
    - No decisions can be made that are not evaluated for impact on faculty and staff
    - Survey of faculty time use, stress, and mental health

  2. Classroom/Curricular Action Group
    Group charge: Reduce student and faculty stress by creating community and connection in the classroom.

  3. Cultural Action Group
    Group charge: 
    - Build community to reduce stress (faculty and staff…thereby students)
    - Determine how to provide support for promoting academic excellence (be rigorous AND reduce stress)

  4. Infrastructure Action Group
    Group charge:
    - Create and support proctored testing centers (libraries?) so faculty and disabilities centers are not administering exams or creating exams for special cases
    - Have faculty/instructor input into design and building (or remodeling) of learning spaces

Recipients of UMN Distinguished Teaching Awards 

  • Horace T. Morse – University of Minnesota Alumni Association Award for Outstanding Contributions to Undergraduate Education
    Recipient List
  • Award for Outstanding Contributions to Graduate and Professional Education
    Recipient List

Tips for Teaching

Check out these tips for teaching in online and hybrid environments, gleaned from those offered by your colleagues during the summer 2020 "Teaching Topics Happy Hours" hosted by the Academy of Distinguished Teachers.