The Certificate in College Teaching offers structured support for Duke graduate students, postdocs, and academic staff/faculty preparing applications for Advance HE Fellowship. Through a short-term writing group, participants reflect on their teaching, map their experience to the Professional Standards Framework (PSF), and develop a draft application through peer and facilitator feedback.
The program is designed for those pursuing Associate Fellowship, Fellowship, or, in some cases, Senior Fellowship. Over approximately eight weeks (typically in the summer), participants take part in four Zoom meetings, two rounds of peer feedback, and a series of writing milestones that move from initial category identification to a revised application draft.
Advance HE Fellowship, developed in the U.K. and widely used across higher education internationally, offers a structured framework for describing effective, inclusive, and evidence-informed teaching practice. For Duke participants, the program provides a way to articulate the value of teaching and learner support in terms that are recognized beyond the U.S., including in international academic job markets where Fellowship is often expected or advantageous. The Professional Standards Framework (PSF) also informs reflective work across the Certificate in College Teaching, where it is used to support structured, evidence-based reflection on teaching practice whether or not participants pursue Fellowship.
Participation and Expectations
This writing group, typically offered in the early summer, is structured and time-limited, with an emphasis on active participation and steady progress across the eight-week period. Participants are expected to:
- attend four Zoom meetings (and an optional final check-in)
- complete three writing milestones across the program
- participate in two rounds of peer feedback with an accountability partner
- review peers’ work and provide timely, constructive comments
The expected time commitment is approximately 2–3 hours per week, depending on prior experience and writing pace. Because the group relies on peer exchange and shared progress, participants should plan to engage consistently across the full duration of the program.
There is no cost to participate in the writing group. However, Advance HE charges a fee for Fellowship application submission, and participants are responsible for this cost if they choose to apply.
Contact
Hugh Crumley, PhD SFHEA
Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs
Director of Graduate Teaching Programs
crumley@duke.edu