Principles of College Teaching

The Principles of College Teaching (PCT) micro-credential from the Center for Teaching & Learning helps graduate students, postdocs, faculty, and staff improve post-secondary teaching skills. Requirements include:

  • 20 hours of CTL training.
  • Three reflections on the pedagogical theory from workshops.
  • A teaching portfolio submission.
  • An exit interview with CTL staff to discuss goals.

This program is free for CU Â鶹ӰԺ participants.

After completing this micro-credential, participants will be able to: 
  • Represent proficiency in college classroom teaching to showcase to hiring committees across institutions worldwide.
  • Demonstrate valuable skills to potential employers, including:
    • Communication – Effective teaching and interaction skills.
    • Project Management – Balancing teaching, scholarship, and other responsibilities.
    • Teamwork – Collaborative experience within teaching assistant cohorts.
    • Relationship Building – Establishing connections with students, peers, and faculty.
    • Skill Development – Transferable skills relevant to roles outside higher education.
  • Provide recognition for teaching-related efforts, especially for:
    • Students with research assistantships or postdoctoral appointments who may not have traditional teaching opportunities.
  • Offer additional training for faculty and staff to support future promotion opportunities.

Tasks to Completion

  1. Register for Workshop, Discipline Specific Hours and Observation Tracking: 

    Go to  and register as a user.

  2. Participating in Center for Teaching & Learning approved workshops/trainings (20): 

    Any CTL offering may count towards one hour of the 20 required. When registering and attending events, participants will be given credit. All CTL offerings are listed on the Events Page. As of summer 2023, all participants should download the Personal Attendance Tracking form and log each workshop/event attended. When all 20 are completed, please send to ctl@colorado.edu for filing.

  3. Submission of three Teacher Reflections based on themes and ideas from at least three workshops attended: 

    Submitted via Canvas under Assignments or directly to the CTL.

  4. Submission of a Teaching Portfolio to the Center for Teaching & Learning: 

    Portfolios are submitted only after all other requirements are met. They are read and approved by the CTL Director before an exit survey is sent and the micro credential awarded. This may be submitted directly to the CTL or uploaded here in Canvas. Teaching Portfolio Artifact Guide.

  5. Exit survey administered and Badge awarded: 

    An exit survey will be sent to the participant after all other tasks are completed.