CTL Graduate Student Advisory Committee
The Center for Teaching and Learning launched the Graduate Student Advisory Committee in Fall 2023. Guided by CTL staff, this committee has two broad purposes: to engage a range of diverse student communities across the Columbia campus and, in so doing, to obtain community-centered input and advice on graduate student teaching support needs, CTL offerings, and effective modes of outreach.
We encourage current graduate students who are committed to drawing on diverse perspectives, experiences, and communities across the Columbia campus to apply. Applicants do not need to have been a regular attendee of CTL programs to qualify for this role. Committee activity details and recent accomplishments are at the bottom of this page.
How to apply
Applications for a one year (renewable) appointment to the 2024-25 Committee will be accepted beginning in August 2024. For questions about the application process or other aspects of the Graduate Student Advisory Committee, contact CTLgrads@columbia.edu.
About the CTL Graduate Student Advisory Committee
Graduate Student Advisory Committee members are selected by application, and agree to:
- Serve on the Committee for one academic year (fall and spring semesters), with the possibility for renewal up to 3 years
- Participate in a brief orientation meeting prior to their first Committee meeting, to be scheduled according to member schedules
- Attend in person 2 two-hour Graduate Student Advisory Committee meetings each semester (4 meetings total, 2 per term), to be scheduled on dates to be determined at time of acceptance
- Communicate in meetings with CTL staff to share feedback, insights, and perspectives, and on occasion share CTL-related information with the community/ies with which they have a connection
Please contact the CTL with any questions about this new initiative at CTLgrads@columbia.edu.
2023-24 Advisory Committee members
2023-24 Co-Chairs
Caitlin DeClercq
Center for Teaching and Learning
Sara Samuel
Mailman School of Public Health
2023-24 Committee Members
Anirbaan Banerjee
Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
Jessica King
Teachers College
Kelsey Reeder
School of Social Work
Anwesha Sengupta
Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
Anika Tsapatsaris
Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation
Nathanie Yaskey
School of the Arts
2023-24 Advisory Committee highlights and accomplishments
During the 2023-24 academic year, the inaugural Graduate Student Advisory Committee convened four times. Highlights and accomplishments including the following:
- Mapping committee members’ collective representation and participation in communities across campus
- Helping the CTL rethink and refresh its Teaching Orientation for Graduate Students. This entailed learning about a range of orientation models, consulting with peers, and advising CTL on a number of changes to be made in 2024-25, including 1. An expansion of the CTL’s in-person teaching orientation; 2. Revisions to the CTL’s online, asynchronous orientation modules; 3. The introduction of additional CTL supports, including themed office hours, a new workshop, and cohort-based emails with relevant programs and resources to further support first-time graduate instructors beyond orientation; and 4. Creation of a list of recommendations for departments leading their own in-house teaching orientations for graduate students
- Recording an episode for the Dead Ideas in Teaching & Learning Podcast about the value of pedagogical development in doctoral programs
- Advising CTL on next steps for the Advisory Committee
The CTL is here for graduate students.
The Columbia Center for Teaching and Learning provides an array of support for graduate students in both their current and future teaching responsibilities.