Teaching Best Practices
Our Commitment to Teaching Excellence
Effective and innovative teaching is one of our pillars in the Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering. Throughout our undergraduate curriculum, we focus on core skills for excellence: engineering fundamentals, data and computation, design thinking, technical communication, laboratory experience, entrepreneurial thinking, and professional skills. We teach these skills at all levels of the curriculum, starting with CEE190, Project-based Learning in CEE, and continuing through the 200-, 300- and 400-level courses. These core skills continue through the graduate curriculum as well.
While in the department, students can expect:
Class lectures taught by faculty
Faculty members as instructors of record teach course lectures as scheduled. Teaching assistants support learning with additional office hours and student mentoring.
Support for student success
Faculty members provide regular office hours, study sessions and assignment supports. Additionally, faculty advise students in selecting future classes and exploring career opportunities.
Clear statement of class expectations and learning objectives
Faculty provide a syllabus that contains all critical course information and course policies.
Prompt and fair learning assessment and feedback
Faculty are fully engaged in creating and grading relevant assignments, projects, exams and other assessments, with support from teaching assistants.
Accountability around the established University Student Code
Article 1, Part 4 of the Student Code details the Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. Students should know and follow the University Student Code, and faculty enforce academic integrity policies. Violations including cheating; plagiarism; fabrication ; facilitating infractions of academic integrity; bribes, favors and threats; and academic interference are not tolerated.
Questions and concerns can be directed to civil@illinois.edu.
Download a pdf version of the Best Teaching Practices here.