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The Center for Teaching, Learning and Assessment

Cultivating inclusive, reflective and collaborative teaching practices that transform learning and advance equitable student success.

A photo of the AVC building

Teaching with Purpose

At Cal State Monterey Bay, teaching is more than content delivery. It is a shared commitment to access, equity and transformation.

The Center for Teaching, Learning and Assessment (TLA) was created to support that commitment — to cultivate conversations about learning that lead to meaningful change for students and educators alike.
We believe learning outcomes are only as meaningful as the conversations they generate. When faculty and staff come together to reflect on student learning, refine assignments, explore inclusive practices and assess what’s working, improvement becomes part of our culture — not just our compliance.
TLA exists to make those conversations possible.

A Campus Built on Collaboration

From its earliest days, CSUMB has embraced innovation and inclusion as defining strengths. TLA builds on that foundation by partnering with educators across disciplines and roles.

We work alongside faculty, staff and campus partners to:

  • Design learning experiences that challenge and inspire
  • Strengthen alignment between courses, programs and institutional goals
  • Use assessment as a tool for improvement
  • Foster inclusive and equitable teaching practices
  • Support student success inside and beyond the classroom

Our work spans curricular and co-curricular spaces because student learning does not happen in just one place.

Centering Students, Empowering Educators

At the heart of TLA’s work is a simple idea: when educators grow, students thrive.

We support educators in developing culturally responsive, reflective and research-informed approaches to teaching and assessment. We create spaces for dialogue, experimentation and shared problem-solving. We encourage inquiry — even when it involves uncertainty or productive struggle — because growth requires courage.

Through professional development, collaborative learning communities and assessment initiatives, we help educators strengthen their practice in ways that advance equitable student achievement.

What Guides Us

Our work is grounded in shared values:

  • Relationships: We prioritize empathy, honesty, communication and collaboration. Trust is the foundation of learning.
  • Holistic Thinking: We recognize the interconnected nature of teaching, learning, well-being and institutional systems.
  • Inquiry: We embrace curiosity, exploration and thoughtful reflection as pathways to improvement.
  • Transformation: We believe in growth — individual and collective — and in the power of systematic change to expand opportunity.

Looking Forward

TLA continues to evolve alongside our campus community. As student needs shift and new challenges emerge, we remain committed to fostering dialogue, strengthening alignment and advancing inclusive excellence.

Because when conversations about learning lead to action, transformation follows.

Campus Resources

Advancing Faculty Success to Strengthen Student Success

Cal State Monterey Bay supports faculty at every stage — from new lecturers to senior professors, librarians, counselors and coaches. Through coordinated campus resources, we provide professional development, instructional support and institutional guidance that empower faculty to thrive in teaching, scholarship and leadership.

When faculty are supported, students thrive. Our integrated approach ensures faculty have the tools, community and guidance needed to innovate, lead and make lasting impact in the classroom and beyond.

Getting Started

Prepare for a strong semester by exploring the Faculty Innovation Success Hub (FISH), a centralized space that integrates teaching support, instructional technology, research development and academic personnel resources. New faculty orientation materials introduce campus priorities, student success commitments and academic expectations, while teaching and learning resources offer practical guidance for course design, assessment and inclusive instruction.

Faculty are also encouraged to explore equity-focused teaching frameworks that strengthen literacy, engagement and equitable student outcomes, as well as start-of-term technology guidance for setting up Canvas and other instructional tools.

Professional Development and Instructional Support

Ongoing professional development opportunities support innovation and teaching excellence throughout the year. Faculty can participate in workshops, learning communities and Reading Apprenticeship programming designed to deepen disciplinary learning and student engagement. Instructional design consultations and assessment planning support are available to help align assignments, outcomes and course goals. Integrative learning and wellness-informed pedagogy resources further strengthen student-centered teaching practices.

The Center for Teaching, Learning and Assessment and the Center for Academic Technologies work in partnership to provide responsive, practical support for faculty needs.

Faculty Innovation Success Hub (FISH)

The Faculty Innovation Success Hub represents a strategic integration of teaching and learning, instructional technology, sponsored programs and academic personnel. By aligning these services, the hub enhances teaching excellence, supports research and scholarly productivity, builds leadership capacity and strengthens recruitment and retention.

This coordinated model advances student success through high-quality, engaged instruction and reflects Cal State Monterey Bay’s commitment to accessible, inclusive and transformative education.

Foundations of the CSUMB Academic Model

Faculty work at Cal State Monterey Bay is grounded in the university’s mission, vision and student-centered commitments. The educational model, The Otter Promise, the strategic plan and Institutional Learning Outcomes shape curriculum design, assessment practices and the overall student experience. General Education and the First-Year Experience provide shared frameworks that support student transition, belonging and academic achievement. The Holistic Wellness and Integrative Learning Paradigm further reinforces the connection between wellbeing and academic success.

Teaching, Research and Student Engagement

Faculty partner with campus centers that support both curricular and co-curricular learning. The Center for Teaching, Learning and Assessment and the Center for Academic Technologies provide instructional development and technology integration support. The Service Learning Institute and the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Center foster community-engaged learning and mentored scholarship. The Center for Advising, Career and Student Success promotes advising partnerships and career readiness integration. The CSUMB Library and Cooperative Learning Center strengthen research skills and peer-supported learning.

Community, Belonging and Equity

Inclusive excellence is foundational to the campus community. The Office of Community and Belonging and the Otter Cross Cultural Center provide leadership and programming that promote equity and belonging. Faculty have access to strategies for fostering inclusive classroom communities and resources that support diversity and campus climate initiatives.

Wellness and Student Support

Supporting students holistically strengthens learning and persistence. Faculty can connect with the Personal Growth and Counseling Center, the Campus Health Center and the Care Team and Basic Needs Initiative when students need additional support. Guidance is available for responding to distressed or disruptive behavior through the Behavioral Intervention Team. Faculty wellness resources also promote sustainable professional practice.

Policies and Employment Resources

Clear guidance is available regarding syllabus standards, student privacy and data security, Title IX and discrimination, harassment and retaliation prevention. Faculty can also access academic personnel policies, Human Resources support and information related to the California Faculty Association.

Faculty Development Programs

Discover year-round institutes, learning communities and faculty development programs that support inclusive teaching and student success.

Explore Faculty Development Programs

Teaching and Assessment Resources

Explore syllabus guidance, assessment support and professional development resources that strengthen inclusive, transparent and evidence-informed teaching.

Explore Teaching and Assessment Resources

Wellness and Student Support

Explore holistic wellness, mindfulness and student support resources that promote learning, belonging and a safe, supportive campus environment.

Explore Wellness and Student Support