About OTEAR

OTEAR (pronounced "otter") was originally founded as the "Teaching Excellence Center" in 1992 and has gone through a few name changes during its history.

OTEAR is a central office within Academic Affairs, reporting to the Office of the Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs (EVPAA). OTEAR is charged by the EVPAA with supporting institution-wide teaching evaluations and other assessments related to learning outcomes and continuous academic improvement, academic appointments and promotions, convening networks related to the implementation of best practices in teaching and learning (complementary to and collaborative with the teaching, learning, or pedagogy centers in the academic units), and sharing research innovations in the space of teaching for rapid dissemination across the four academic units. In our role to support the university community, OTEAR collects and analyzes student feedback on instruction, and provides both university-wide programming and customized workshops, training, and consultations upon request.

1992 - founded as the “Teaching Excellence Center” (TEC). The office was primarily responsible for the Student Instructional Rating Survey.

2004 - name changed to the “Center for the Advancement of Teaching” (CAT). The center's responsibilities expanded to include instructional technologies, staff training, and enhanced classroom support.

2007 - name changed to the “Center for Teaching Advancement and Assessment Research” (CTAAR), with the addition of coordinating university assessment programs.

2016 - CTAAR became part of the the Division of Continuing Studies (DoCS).

2022 - name changed to “Office of Teaching Evaluation and Assessment Research” (OTEAR), with a change in reporting structure to University Academic Affairs.

• Our Mission
• OTEAR staff