History of the Center

The Center for Teaching and Mentoring began in May 2025 after a university working group was tasked with rebranding the previous Learning, Teaching and Innovative Technologies Center. The Center is housed in Academic Affairs at Middle Tennessee State University and is located in room 348 of the James E. Walker Library.

Previously established in 2004, the Learning, Teaching and Innovative Technologies Center (LT&ITC) began its work as an agent for excellence in teaching and learning at Middle Tennessee State University. Spearheaded by Barbara Draude, former Assistant Vice President for Academic and Instructional Technology Services in the Information Technology Division, and Faye Johnson, Assistant to the Provost for Special Initiatives in the Academic Affairs Division, LT&ITC historically united the resources of academe with those of technology, in effect, modeling the latest advances in teaching and learning methods in the 21st century.

On May 9, 2022, the Center for Organizational and Human Resource Effectiveness (COHRE) released a technical report that recommended two alternative models for a university center focused on all facets of faculty development. Their recommendations included re-branding LT&ITC, developing a culture of implementing high impact teaching strategies, and building a reputation that embraces the ability of the university to attract new students. The report acknowledged that expanding the center’s reach and delivery of services is too heavy a load for part-time co-Directors and that, with the current co-Director structure, there is a lack of clarity about who is accountable for the mission of the center to the goal set as Quest 2025 Priority 1. 

With new leadership in the provost’s office, the LT&ITC working group was assembled in December 2023. The group was tasked with creating a plan to re-envision the future of LT&ITC. The working group included the following members: 

The members of the working group engaged in strategic planning from January through March 2024. They researched centers around the country then discussed the center’s focus and scope, personnel, and budget. This included generating a new vision statement with accompanying mission, values, and goals. The working group met weekly in April to generate a proposal draft. The proposal was presented to the provost and approved in August 2024.