Lead Teaching Fellowship
The LTF program is a professional development opportunity for doctoral and MFA students who are committed to promoting pedagogical practices and conversations among graduate students. LTFs participate in a series of meetings at the CTL, organize teaching-related workshops in their home departments, and act as liaisons between their peers and the CTL. Details about this fellowship are available on the new LTF program website.
This fellowship is available to doctoral students in all schools at Columbia University in years 2 – 7 in their program as of Fall 2023, as well as MFA students in the School of the Arts. We especially encourage candidates who are committed to drawing on diverse perspectives and experiences to apply.
Apply to be a 2023-24 LTF!
The application period for 2023-24 Lead Teaching Fellows runs through Monday, April 3.
About LTF Events
LTFs produce a range of events for their home departments covering topics such as syllabus design, inclusive pedagogy, peer teaching observation, digital resources in the classroom, and framing teaching development for the academic job market.
Browse the 2022-23 LTF directory
In 2022-23, 45 Lead Teaching Fellows are designing and running teaching-related events in departments across the University, mentored by a team of eight Senior Lead Teaching Fellows.
LTF Program Activities
LTFs receive stipends of $2,000 in two installments upon the successful production of teaching-related events or resources in their home departments, and the completion of a series of activities promoting communication between the CTL, other Fellows, and faculty and graduate student instructors in their home departments. These required activities entail approximately 60-70 hours, distributed across the academic year and scheduled around other obligations.
After being accepted into the program, Lead Teaching Fellows attend an orientation meeting in the CTL. They then complete a series of activities twice during the academic year: one round by the end of the fall semester, the second round by the end of the spring semester. These activities include:
- Participating in three LTF training/networking meetings, including small-group sessions with an assigned Senior Lead Teaching Fellow (SLTF) mentor. More information about LTF events is available on the LTF program website.
- Attending at least three workshops or events at the CTL.
- Planning and implementing a teaching-related workshop, discussion, or presentation in home department in consultation with departmental representatives, SLTF mentor, and CTL staff.
In addition, LTFs participate in the following activities across the two semesters (Fall, Spring):
- Liaising between the CTL and home department: Referring peers to pertinent CTL programs and resources, sharing back to the CTL information about teaching development needs and interests in home department. More information about LTF liaising is available on the LTF program website.
- Documenting LTF activities and reflections, culminating in a brief year-end report.
The CTL provides LTFs with individual consultations, peer mentoring, and logistical event support.
A more detailed overview of the LTF program is available on the LTF program website.
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.