Teaching International Students

International Students

The Teaching International Students (TIS) micro-credential provides professional development focused on supporting multilingual international students both inside and outside the classroom. This program is designed for:

  • Instructors at all levels – including tenure-track faculty, lecturers, and adjunct instructors.
  • Instructional support staff – advisors, teaching assistants, and other educators involved in student learning.

The course highlights high-impact teaching strategies and course design practices that leverage the linguistic and cultural strengths international students bring to U.S. classrooms.

Program Overview

  • Format: Hybrid (asynchronous Canvas coursework + synchronous group meetings)
  • Duration: One academic semester
  • Cost: Free for CU Boulder participants
  • Timeline:
    • Fall 2024 Cohort: September 9 – December 12, 2024
    • Meeting Times: To be determined based on participant availability
  • Application Deadline:
    • Priority applications due by August 2, 2024
    • Final applications accepted until August 23, 2024 (or until spots are filled)

Program Goals

By completing the TIS micro-credential, participants will:

  • Strengthen Inclusivity: Develop strategies to foster inclusive classrooms that support multilingual and multicultural learners.
  • Enhance Course Design: Learn high-impact practices that align with international students' linguistic and cultural strengths.
  • Improve Communication: Build skills to engage effectively with international students and address language-related challenges.
  • Promote Equity: Ensure international students feel valued and included in learning environments.
  • Expand Professional Growth: Earn a digital badge to demonstrate your commitment to inclusive teaching.

Program Features

  • Flexible Learning Format:
    • Asynchronous Modules – Self-paced lessons and activities in Canvas.
    • Synchronous Group Meetings – Interactive discussions and collaboration opportunities.
  • Interactive and Practical Focus:
    • Case studies and simulations to model real-world scenarios.
    • Tools and templates for immediate classroom application.
  • Expert Support:
    • Ongoing guidance from CTL staff and program facilitators.
    • Opportunities to connect with peers and build a community of practice.

Program Requirements

Participants must complete the following to earn the TIS micro-credential:

1. Canvas Coursework

  • Engage in asynchronous learning modules covering:
    • Understanding Cultural and Linguistic Diversity – Recognize the value international students bring.
    • Inclusive Course Design – Implement practices that meet diverse learning needs.
    • Effective Communication Techniques – Develop strategies to improve clarity and connection.
    • Assessment and Feedback Strategies – Build fair and transparent grading systems.

2. Synchronous Group Meetings

  • Participate in scheduled group discussions to:
    • Share insights and experiences with peers.
    • Practice new teaching strategies in collaborative exercises.
    • Reflect on challenges and brainstorm solutions with facilitators and peers.

3. Final Reflection and Action Plan

  • Submit a final reflection summarizing key takeaways and areas of growth.
  • Develop an action plan outlining how lessons learned will be applied in future teaching practices.

Why Participate?

  • Flexible and Practical: Learn at your own pace with opportunities to engage in live discussions.
  • Relevant and Impactful: Address the unique needs of multilingual international students.
  • Professional Recognition: Receive a digital badge to add to LinkedIn, CVs, and portfolios.
  • Inclusive Teaching Focus: Stand out as an educator who values equity and diverse perspectives.
  • Community Support: Collaborate with peers and build networks that extend beyond the program.

How to Apply

  • Priority Deadline: August 2, 2024
  • Final Deadline: August 23, 2024 (or until all spots are filled)

For questions, concerns, or accessibility needs, contact karen.crouch@colorado.edu.

  Apply for the TIS Micro-Credential 

To complete the TIS program, participants are expected to complete Canvas coursework, attend group meetings, and complete a final Capstone Project. Participants who complete the Teaching International Students program will earn a  issued via CU Boulder's micro-credential program. 

After completing this micro-credential, participants will be able to: 

  • Discuss emerging trends in the experiences of international students attending U.S. colleges and universities.
  • Explore best practices for creating inclusive learning environments and promoting international students' academic success.
  • Make personal commitments to improving the academic experiences of international students.

Who can apply: Instructors across all levels (e.g., lecturers, teaching professors, graduate teaching assistants*, etc.), and staff at CU Boulder. 

If you are a graduate student working towards the Certificate in College Teaching or the Future Faculty Development Certificate, TIS micro-credential badge will account for 5 CTL credits.

Reading Materials: Shapiro et al. 2023. & other companion resources provided free of cost to all participants.

International students constitute a large portion of students currently enrolled in U.S. higher education. CU Boulder alone hosted 2123 international students in the spring of 2021. This micro-credential provides professors, graduate students, and teaching staff with knowledge and skills to offer international students an equitable academic experience. By publicly displaying the digital badge awarded upon successful completion of this program, faculty, graduate students, and teaching faculty will communicate their qualifications to support international student learning, which also signals the intent to promote an inclusive environment. The micro-credential program is grounded on concepts of inclusive pedagogy, universal design for learning, and intercultural competence as these apply to the international student experience. These content areas have been the focus of several initiatives across campus, which allows participants in this program to take advantage of resources already available to our campus community. This program aligns with one of the campus diversity and inclusion plan's (the IDEA Plan) action areas, which aims to "cultivate success for a diverse undergraduate and graduate student body with new financial resources and programming" (p. 9). Departments/primary units will be able to effectively measure international-student-focused professional development.

The TIS micro-credential was initially conceived as the Working with International Students micro-credential by , former Director of International Student Academic Success at the Office of Undergraduate Education.

In 2023, this micro-credential came under the ambit of the Center for Teaching & Learning and was completely re-designed and re-launched as the Teaching International Students Micro-credential in Spring 2024. The TIS micro-credential program was designed by a collaborative team of the following individuals and offices: