Center for Advancing Teaching Excellence
The Center for Advancing Teaching Excellence (CATE) champions student-centered teaching and learning at the Moody College of Communication.
We work with faculty, instructors, and graduate students to support course design and develop teaching expertise. By fostering innovative and collaborative teaching practices, CATE aims to ensure Moody College students experience authentic and memorable learning to prepare for success in life and career.
New for Fall 2026! Required AI Syllabus Statement
For Fall 2026, all UT Austin syllabi must include a statement detailing the course policy around AI use (see Your Syllabus at UT Austin). CATE has the following supports:
Summer Workshop: This collaborative session explains the technical, practical, ethical and evaluative aspects of AI use to build your course AI policy. RSVP here for the July 16th session.
UT Simple Syllabus: Access the platform in your Canvas course to take advantage of pre-populated language and help text to identify appropriate level of AI use in your course.
Individual Consultations: Please email Shelly Furness to schedule for your specific course AI tool questions.
Featured Announcements
Summer AI Syllabus workshop
Join the collaborative sessions to get up to speed on essential required components of fall preparation.
Learn how to determine appropriate AI use in your discipline and develop an AI syllabus statement that meets UT's Fall 2026 course requirement.
Click Here to RSVP for the Summer AI Syllabus Workshop
Summer Digital Accessibility workshop
Build practical skills to create more accessible course materials for all UT learners.
Learn foundational digital accessibility concepts, begin revising course resources to support Title II ADA compliance, and receive individualized guidance as you implement accessible teaching practices.
Register Now for the Summer Digital Accessibility workshop
Canvas Build Jumpstart!
Save time and get ahead of semester planning with the Moody College Canvas template. The template pre-populates elements of a high quality course design with coaching on best practices. Email Shelly Furness to request the template in your live course or a sandbox.
Shelly FurnessImportant Resources for Teaching
Access the Important Resources for Teaching document here.
CATE has complied this reference document with links to essential teaching resources for new and returning faculty. Access and bookmark this in your browser for handy reference when designing a new course, at the beginning of new semesters, or throughout an on-going semester. Updates are made periodically, so check back often to refresh your memory and stay up-to-date with the instructional practices that make Moody College an excellent place to learn!
Learn more about graduate student Teaching Assistants!
All departments, schools, and programs at Moody College employ Teaching Assistants (TAs) to help support faculty members and undergraduate students by crafting engaging learning environments and assisting with course materials and content.
Connect with CATE
Please email our Coordinator for Teaching Excellence, Rachelle (Shelly) Furness, with questions, to request a training, or to make a consulting appointment! rachelle.furness@austin.utexas.edu
If you're not finding everything you need on the CATE website, please schedule a CATE consultation for personal and direct assistance.