The mission of American University’s Center for Teaching, Research, & Learning (CTRL) is to facilitate, support, and celebrate excellence in teaching, research, learning, and academic leadership. The Center institutionalizes a distinctive AU tradition: that outstanding teaching and engaged learning, combined with cutting-edge research and professional practice, are complementary, mutually reinforcing pursuits.

The CTRL first opened its doors as the Center for Teaching Excellence in 1998. In 2002, the Center assumed many advanced technology support services and laboratories within the Provost's Office. In 2009, the Center’s mission was expanded to incorporate support for faculty research. That mission was further enlarged in 2011 to include mentoring of faculty at all stages of their careers and leading university inquiry on evaluating educational practices. At the same time, some previous CTRL functions (including Blackboard support, iTunes, audio-visual resources, and management of some computer laboratories) moved to the University Library.

Organizationally, the CTRL is divided into two groups. The Teaching and Learning Resources Group works with faculty to expand their use of digital media in classroom pedagogy and to enhance their overall success in the classroom. This Group also mounts the annual campus-wide Ann Ferren Teaching Conference, organizes the three-year Greenberg Seminars Program (which trains doctoral students to become members of the professoriate), and coordinates the yearlong AU Entre Program (for orientating new faculty members to American University).

The Research and Online Learning Resources Group assists faculty and doctoral students in research involving quantitative or qualitative data. This Group is also responsible for training faculty in offering online education. Other activities include participating in a high-performance computing initiative and creating a virtual computing laboratory.

American University’s Center for Teaching, Research, & Learning looks forward to collaborating with members of the university community in their roles as teachers, mentors, scholars, and academic leaders.

Naomi S. Baron, Executive Director