The McGraw Center offers extensive programs and services for graduate students and postdoctoral associates related to their development as scholars and teachers. Our programs are based on current research on effective teaching and student learning and are led by our trained graduate student fellows or by our professional staff.
Programs and services currently offered for graduate students and postdocs include:
- Pedagogy & Professional Development Workshops invite brainstorming, discussion, and problem-solving around all aspects of teaching, learning, and academic career planning. The slate changes every semester; topics range from grading, leading discussions, and inclusive teaching, to teaching critical thinking in disciplinary courses and writing statements of teaching philosophy.
- McGraw's Teaching Seminar, now officially listed with the Registrar as CTL 501, offers graduate students a transcripted seminar in which to design courses informed by current scholarship and cutting-edge research while reflecting on and developing their work as teachers.
- The English Language Program is committed to helping non-native English speaking graduate students become fully integrated into the academic community at Princeton.
- AI Orientation is for graduate students teaching as new Assistants in Instruction (AIs). There is no question that AIs play a significant and meaningful role in undergraduate education at Princeton. To help prepare for these important, skilled roles, the Graduate School requires all first-time AIs at Princeton attend the McGraw Center’s orientation to teaching.
- The Teaching Transcript Program provides a credential that reflects one's commitment to teaching for the academic job market. The flexible curriculum includes pedagogy workshops, a class visit, and culminates in writing a syllabus and a statement of teaching philosophy.
- The McGraw Center Graduate Mentoring Award recognizes faculty who are exemplary in supporting the development of their graduate students as teachers, scholars, and professionals.
- Instructional Consultations & Class Visits, one-on-one meetings, with our staff can take many forms. We are happy to offer guidance about developing course syllabi and teaching statements as part of academic job searches. We also advise on the challenges of balancing teaching and scholarship. AIs interested in trying new teaching models or tools can come to us, and we are also happy to go to you: we frequently visit classes to provide feedback and help graduate students to develop as teachers.
- Our Teaching Opportunities list offers suggestions to graduate students interested in opportunities to teach other than, or in addition to, an AI appointment.
- Resources for Graduate Students include The Scholar as Teacher: Tip-Sheet Series, Mid-Semester Course Evaluations forms, and Professional Development information relevant for teaching and academic careers.