Our Mission
The Yale Poorvu Center for Teaching and Learning promotes equitable and engaged teaching throughout the University, and supports students across the curriculum as they take ownership of their learning. As part of a world-class research institution, we provide training, consultations, and resources designed to make teaching and learning more public and collaborative, so that every Yale instructor experiences the satisfaction that results from teaching well, and every student develops the critical reflection that marks deep and independent learning.
Our Guiding Principles
- The Poorvu Center supports teachers and learners of all backgrounds and abilities and helps develop practices that promote inclusive teaching.
- The Poorvu Center values research-based decisions about teaching and learning and partners with instructors, departments, and programs to measure and evaluate impact.
- The Poorvu Center encourages collaboration in all our activities.
- The Poorvu Center promotes public conversations about teaching and learning across all Yale communities.
- The Poorvu Center responds to instructors’ vision and students’ needs, and fosters experiments in pedagogy, technology, and student support.
- The Poorvu Center welcomes the Yale community and visitors into our space to advance teaching and learning excellence.
- The Poorvu Center disseminates Yale’s intellectual culture to learners at the University and beyond.
Our Partners and Collaborators
The Poorvu Center staff collaborate with many other Yale and external organizations to fulfill the Center’s mission. These include
- Yale University Library, including CSSSI and the Digital Humanities Lab
- Center for Language Study
- School of Medicine Teaching and Learning Center
- Center for Engineering Innovation and Design
- Yale Science Outreach
- Center for Collaborative Arts and Media
- The CIRTL Network | Represented at Yale via the CTL
A Brief History
Yale University established the Center for Teaching and Learning in 2014 to support students and faculty across the campus. In alignment with President Peter Salovey’s goal of creating a “more unified Yale,” the new center consolidated the various teaching, tutoring, writing and technology-enabled learning programs distributed across the University.
The Poorvu Center supports effective course design and promotes evidence-based teaching methods for university instructors, including faculty and teaching fellows. The Poorvu Center supports student learning and provides opportunities for students and postdoctoral scholars throughout the University to develop as teachers, mentors and leaders. Scott Strobel, Henry Ford II Professor of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, was appointed by President Salovey and Provost Ben Polak to serve as Deputy Provost for Teaching and Learning. Jennifer Frederick serves as Executive Director of the Poorvu Center and Lucas Swineford serves as Executive Director of Digital Education for the Poorvu Center.
