Jackie Hope, TLC Program Coordinator, welcomed attendees. “Today, we gather to celebrate a remarkable journey,” she said. “The TLC program is more than a certificate; it’s a community of educators who have dedicated themselves to deepening their practice, embracing mentorship and reflecting on what it means to teach with purpose.” 

The TLC certificate program is offered through The Centre for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning. At its heart is the Centre’s commitment to ensuring that teaching at the University of Manitoba is informed by evidence-based practices and grounded in compassion, inclusion and innovation.  

The program combines workshops, mentorships and classroom observations to help faculty develop the knowledge, skills and reflective practice that enable them to increase their competency level in the teaching-learning process. 

Centre Director, Dr. Erica Jung, thanked graduates for dedicating their time and energy to the program. “You are all busy folks—you have not only your work here but also your own lives, so to add this program demonstrates a commitment and desire to help students with their learning, and I really want to congratulate you for that.” 

Dr. Xiaoxiao Du, Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Education, was one of this year’s 12 graduates. She shared insights at the event of her experience in the program.   

“I believe the TLC is the right place to be, to learn, to grow – because there is a supportive community, there are experts, mentors, developers, but most beautifully, are the fellow peers I go to for positive, professional relationships,” she said.  

She also encouraged her peers to embrace differences and uncertainty. “Continuously promote multiple ways of knowing, being, thinking,” she said.  

TLC graduate Dr. Juliana Marson, Assistant Professor in the Clayton H. Riddell Faculty of Environment, Earth, and Resources, spoke about how the program helped her to make her classes more student centred, and the joy and excitement she felt with each positive change.   

“The TLC program, and expressly with [mentor] Cintia’s guidance, helped me transform my teaching philosophy from a collection of inherited conventions to a deeply personal, reflective practice,” she said.  

The TLC program is built on a foundation of mentorship—where experienced educators walk alongside new faculty and instructors, offering guidance, feedback and encouragement. Two mentors also spoke at the graduation ceremony. 

Juliana’s mentor, Cintia Costa, Senior Educational Developer at The Centre, fondly recalled a professor who was a steady source of encouragement during her own undergraduate studies in Brazil, and how she felt honoured to work with Juliana and witness her transforming her teaching strategies.   

“I have this huge dream of changing the world,” she said. “It’s big. If we can change the life of a student, like my professor did for me, then I think we are already changing the world.”  

Dr. David Mandzuk, Professor Emeritus and Dean Emeritus, Faculty of Education, served as a TLC mentor for five years. He described mentors as “warm demanders”—people who are both empathetic yet not afraid of challenging others. “Being an effective mentor is more about provoking thinking than providing answers. And to keep the student perspective front and centre,” he said.  

He also thanked UM’s Office of the Provost and Vice-President (Academic) for continuing to support the university’s teaching mission. “That takes effort, and it takes resources at a university that prides itself on the quality of research, and I think that speaks volumes of the university.”  

See the full list of 2025 TLC graduates   

Learn more about the TLC program

The TLC helps participants:

• Increase competency in teaching and learning.
• Gain deeper understanding of evidence-based pedagogy.
• Understand the diverse needs of students.
• Earn a formal certificate recognizing their growth and development as educators.

As a reminder, all pre- and tenured faculty, instructors, sessional instructors, librarians and post-doctoral fellows can partake in the TLC’s mini-institutes and workshops, without being registered in the TLC program. Past attendance at workshops may also count toward certificate requirements for those who decide to enroll later. Our upcoming events for the TLC program include:

TLC Mini-Institute (Day 1) – Designing and Evaluating Assessment Strategies

This workshop will provide instructors with opportunities to design assessment strategies to support student learning. You will design formative and summative assessments and learn strategies for providing constructive feedback on students’ work. You will also have opportunities to evaluate the effectiveness of different assessment tools, such as holistic and analytic rubrics. Please have at hand a current course syllabus with learning objectives.

Register for the TLC Mini-Institute – Designing and Evaluating Assessment Strategies on Monday, May 12, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

TLC Mini-Institute (Day 2) – Strategies for Maintaining a Respectful Classroom Environment

As instructors, you may have experienced behaviour by your students that you felt was

disrespectful, rude, or disruptive. These can be challenging situations to deal with. This interactive workshop will focus on teaching strategies that foster and maintain respectful classroom behaviour.

Register for the TLC Mini-Institute – Strategies for Maintaining a Respectful Classroom Environment on Tuesday, May 13, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Please note:

• Teaching and Learning Certificate (TLC) program participants are required to sign up for both workshops in the Mini-Institute to fulfill the program requirements.
• The TLC Mini-Institute will return on August 18 and 19, 2025.
  • Register for the TLC Mini-Institute – Designing and Evaluating Assessment Strategies on Monday, August 18, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
  • Register for the TLC Mini-Institute – Strategies for Maintaining a Respectful Classroom Environment on Tuesday, August 19, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

TLC Workshops

Select from this listing of workshops listed in date order.

Teaching Dossier (TLCN06)

Increasingly, university promotion and tenure committees are requiring a teaching dossier to document your development and achievements as an educator. This workshop looks at the requirements at the University of Manitoba for teaching dossiers and covers the basics of writing a Teaching Philosophy statement and creating a teaching dossier.

Register for Teaching Dossier (TLCN06) on Wednesday, May 14, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Reflective Practice (TLCN09)

John Dewey observed that, “We do not learn from experience. We learn from reflecting on experience.” To become a better teacher, it is necessary to reflect on what we do and why we do it – to ask ourselves, is what we do effective? In this workshop we will explore several models of self-reflection, including the Gibbs’ Model, as methods for engaging in a reflective practice. Participants can also share their own successes and struggles as they strive to become a better teacher.

Register for Reflective Practice (TLCN09) on Wednesday, May 14, 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Developing Intercultural Teaching Competence (TLCN05)

Students and instructors bring their own culture into the teaching and learning contexts in which they inhabit. Similarly, every teaching and learning context is informed by and situated in institutional, regional, and national cultures. In this workshop, you’ll explore your own cultural attitudes, knowledge, and skills, and those of your learners and the environments you all find yourselves in. Then, you’ll apply this to your own teaching practices through elements of course design.

Register for Developing Intercultural Teaching Competence (TLCN05) on Thursday, May 15, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Navigating Challenging Student Situations (TLCN03)

As instructors, you may have experienced behaviour by your students that you felt was disrespectful, rude, or disruptive. These can be challenging situations to deal with. Staff from Student Advocacy and Case Management and the Office of Human Rights and Conflict Management will provide an overview of pertinent University policies and procedures to help you understand your rights and responsibilities as an instructor. This interactive workshop will provide you with strategies and tips for preventing and responding to these behaviours.

Register for Navigating Challenging Student Situations (TLCN03) on Thursday, May 15, 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Universal Design for Learning (TLCN01)

Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is an orientation to teaching and learning that promotes greater student choice and agency in learning experiences, with the aim of reducing barriers to learning by providing multiple means of representation, engagement, and expression. In this workshop, participants will explore how UDL values intersect with their own teaching philosophies, identify barriers to learning for students with a range of needs, and (re)design course elements to adopt UDL guidelines in a way that is practical for instructors yet beneficial to learners.

Register for Universal Design for Learning (TLCN01) on Tuesday, May 20, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Self-Evaluation of Teaching Practice (TLCN10)

Feedback and evaluation of teaching are part of every teacher’s life. How do you make sense of the evaluative feedback you receive from SRI scores, daily classroom experiences, and student grades? This foundational workshop examines the theory and practice of evaluation and suggests practical strategies for integrating effective evaluative practices into your teaching. Please note that this workshop does not cover the design and creation of student assessments.

Register for Self-Evaluation of Teaching Practice (TLCN10) on Tuesday, May 20, 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Mental Health in the Classroom: Responding to Students Demonstrating Mental Health Distress (TLCN07)

Young adults are highly susceptible to mental health problems. We know that most instructors encounter many students who are struggling with mental health issues that affect their academic performance, behaviour in the classroom, and interactions with teaching staff. Research also indicates that the incident rate and intensity of mental health problems experienced by students is increasing. These situations can be stressful, time-consuming, and potentially can involve risks to personal safety for the students and others. David Ness, the Director of the Student Counselling Centre at the University of Manitoba, will provide you with information about how to identify and respond effectively to student mental health issues, how to understand the factors that contribute to student distress, and how to access resources. This interactive workshop will involve case study material to apply your knowledge of risk assessment, response alternatives, and on- and off-campus resources.

Register for Mental Health in the Classroom: Responding to Students Demonstrating Mental Health Distress (TLCN07) on Wednesday, May 21, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Academic Integrity Teaching and Learning Strategies (TLCN04)

Do you want to promote academic integrity in your course, but you don’t know how to do this? In this workshop, we will discuss the meaning of academic integrity at the University of Manitoba, and how it relates to your teaching and learning environment (whether that be face-to-face, remote/online). We will discuss ways to implement teaching and assessment strategies that promote integrity that will allow you to focus on students’ learning and community building.

Resources for academic integrity education (e.g., syllabus statements, learning activities) that you can modify and incorporate into your courses will be shared.

Register for Academic Integrity Teaching and Learning Strategies (TLCN04) on Wednesday, May 21, 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Teaching and Technology (TLCN02)

In this workshop, we will explore a framework for using technology in teaching and learning. Rather than a technology ‘how-to’ session, the focus will be on providing a method for evaluating technology that supports the goals of teaching and learning. We will also discuss the benefits and challenges of using technology in the classroom.

Register for Teaching and Technology (TLCN02) on Thursday, May 22, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Indigenous Knowledges (TLCN08)

This workshop introduces participants to Indigenous pedagogies by contextualizing Indigenous knowledges, discussing the importance of making space for Indigenous content and knowledge transmission in the academy, and providing participants with resources about the pedagogical significance of Indigenous knowledges.

Register for Indigenous Knowledges (TLCN08) on Thursday, May 22, 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

The Centre for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning will also be offering workshops TLCN01 through TLCN10 again in December, this time in an online format via Zoom.

Whether you’re just beginning your teaching career or looking to expand your toolkit, the Teaching and Learning Certificate provides the support, community, and practical knowledge needed to thrive as an educator at the University of Manitoba.