UB launches its Center for Educational Innovation with an open house

BUFFALO, N.Y. – The University at Buffalo’s Center for Educational Innovation – an organization dedicated to advancing university teaching– welcomes visitors to an open house from 1-2:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 6, in 212 Capen Hall at UB’s North Campus.

The Center for Educational Innovation, or CEI, is committed to supporting Realizing UB 2020 through integrated services, education, research and development related to university teaching, learning and assessment. CEI was created in July 2014 based on recommendations by the Realizing UB 2020 Curriculum and Assessment Task Force, and is the result of a merger of the Teaching & Learning Center (TLC) and the Office of Assessment.

The center will serve as a nexus for campus-wide efforts to further elevate the scholarship of teaching and learning at the university, according to Xiufeng Liu, PhD, CEI director and professor in the Department of Learning and Instruction in the Graduate School of Education.

CEI is hosting the open house to spread the word about the center’s new strategic plan and initiatives, introduce its staff to visitors and start conversations on how those at the university can work together to promote effective and innovative pedagogy to enhance student learning.

“We look forward to collaborating with the campus community to make UB a national and international leader in promoting excellence in university teaching, learning and assessment,” Liu says.

CEI activities are structured around four clusters: student assessment and program evaluation, online learning, application of instructional technologies, and communication and faculty engagement. The center’s expertise supports essential and well-known university services, such as UBlearns, UBclicks and UB Course Evaluation, as well as online course design, instructional video production, scoring services and academic program assessment.

The center also offers professional development opportunities throughout the year and organizes high-impact special events for the university community, including UB Assessment Day, the Genteels’ Excellence in Teaching Conference and the annual Conference for Graduate Teaching Assistants.

Light refreshments will be served at the open house. Those planning to attend are asked to RSVP by visiting the center’s new website at www.buffalo.edu/ubcei.