Students more likely to pass, less likely to receive DFW grades, and earn modestly higher grades when taught by faculty Certified in the Effective Teaching Practice Framework.
Celebrating 10 Years
of Teaching Excellence
Every ACUE Partnership Is Unique, But All Have Something in Common: Measurable Impact
A robust and growing body of impact studies speaks to the transformative effects of faculty Certified in the ACUE Framework on students and institutions.
Students more likely to pass, less likely to receive DFW grades, and earn modestly higher grades when taught by faculty Certified in the Effective Teaching Practice Framework.
Students return in year two at higher rates after taking at least one course in their first year with instructors Certified in the ACUE Framework or on the pathway to Certification.
Improved course completion for students taught by instructors Certified in the Effective Teaching Practice Framework.
Findings from four cohorts of faculty that earned their Certification in the ACUE Framework during the 2017-2018 academic year.
Significant effects on grades, passing, and DFW rates in years while faculty are taking ACUE courses. Significant effects on passing, and DFW rates in years after faculty are Certified in the Effective Teaching Practice Framework.
Significant differences between students taught by faculty Certified in the Effective Teaching Practice Framework or on the pathway to Certification and faculty who have never taken ACUE courses in DFW Rates.
Average course grades increased in course sections taught by instructors Certified in the Effective Teaching Practice Framework in the year after instructors earned their Certification.
Students more likely to complete and pass their courses, with Black and low-income students achieving outcomes comparable with their peers, when taught by faculty Certified in the Effective Teaching Practice Framework.
In 2022, ACUE’s research team partnered with Northwestern University’s Elizabeth Tipton, PhD, a leading scholar in the field of meta-analysis, to estimate the average effect of ACUE faculty on student course outcomes that could be expected at any type of institution.
“For leaders to make the best decisions for their campus and students, they need to have solid data available. This analysis provides the kind of evidence that should inform such important assessments about student success efforts.”
– Dr. Elizabeth Tipton, Northwestern University
The meta-analysis examined student impact studies across eight ACUE partner institutions in the Effective Teaching Practice Framework, which ensures that faculty learn about—and implement—the approaches that improve student engagement and persistence and promote deeper learning. These institutions include two-year and four-year colleges and universities, varying in size and geographic location.
“Broward College relentlessly seeks to elevate our faculty capacity and skills so that they can create a more inclusive learning environment and transform students’ lives, and the ACUE meta-analysis reveals just that.”
Gregory Adam Haile, President,
Broward College
“Our ACUE partnership has led to a real return on investment: higher student retention and course completion, lower DFW rates, and narrowing equity gaps. Good teaching needs to be at the heart of every college and university’s student success agenda.”
Amy Chasteen, Executive Vice Provost,
The University of Southern Mississippi
“There is more to the story than enriched student learning: participation in ACUE’s courses equipped our faculty with valuable skills that built their confidence, fostered overall job satisfaction, and enhanced their enjoyment of teaching.”
Dr. Jörg Waltje, Executive Director of the Center for Faculty Excellence, Texas Woman’s University
Note: The numeric value in parentheses that succeeds some college names indicates the number of evaluations conducted with the school.
Delivering learner outcomes nationwide
Together with our partners – hundreds of colleges and universities around the country – we’re constantly measuring and using what we learn to evolve and improve our courses and certifications so faculty have the best chance of impacting students. We’re proud of the mark ACUE faculty are making on higher education.
students who took at least one course taught by an ACUE instructor returned in significantly higher numbers to USM in the next academic year by 4 percentage points.
students taught by faculty Certified in the Framework instructors had significantly higher completion rates compared to students who were taught by comparison instructors, and they were significantly more likely to earn A, B, or C grades.
a study by the Center for Research and Reform in Education (CRRE) at Johns Hopkins University confirmed stronger engagement among students taught by faculty Certified in the ACUE Framework. GPAs improved by 0.19 to above 3.0, across 100 courses taught by ACUE-credentialed faculty, enrolling 6,100 students.
a typical ACUE faculty member at any partner institution implements over 28 proven teaching approaches and makes plans to implement at least 55 more.
