We invite you to support the wonderful Engineering Teaching Consultants (ETCs). ETCs serve as consultants and teaching mentors to the rest of the Graduate Student Instructors (GSIs), and undergraduates with teaching responsibilities (Instructional Aides or IAs), at Michigan Engineering.
Founded on the belief that student instructors benefit from both instructional mentorship and peer-to-peer learning, the ETC program creates a safe, collegial space for experienced GSIs to explore teaching strategies, discuss challenges, and grow as educators. This facilitative mentoring approach benefits both mentees and ETCs themselves, who develop invaluable leadership and pedagogical expertise.
The ETC Program also continues to evolve as a cornerstone of instructional excellence, directly advancing the goals outlined in Look to Michigan and the Michigan Engineering Strategic Vision.
Recent milestones from the 2024-25 academic year include:
- 14 ETCs supported 1,228 GSIs & IAs at Michigan Engineering
- ETCs co-facilitated 7 different teaching workshops for the U-M Engineering community with special attention to digital accessibility
- ETCs continued to offer midterm student feedback sessions, one-on-one consultations, in-class observations, and teaching philosophy consultations to Engineering GSIs and IAs
As emphasized in the Michigan Engineering Strategic Vision's strategic priority of education, CRLT-Engin plays an integral role in preparing the next generation of engineering educators. In addition to administering the ETC Program, CRLT-Engin supports graduate students at Michigan Engineering in working directly with faculty in learning communities. Participating graduate students gain invaluable experience in curriculum design, pedagogical best practices, and educational leadership—skills that extend far beyond their time at Michigan.
With Michigan Engineering funding, CRLT-Engin maintains the core of the ETC services including:
- Teaching Orientations for all Michigan Engineering student instructors
- Midterm Student Feedback (MSF) Sessions
- One-on-One Consultations
- Teaching Philosophy Statement support
Your Impact: Investing in Peer Mentorship Excellence
When you support the ETC program, you're investing in a proven model of peer-to-peer educational development. Your gift directly enhances the teaching skills of over 1,200 graduate student instructors and undergraduate instructional aides annually—who in turn teach thousands of Michigan Engineering students. The ripple effect continues as ETCs carry their mentorship expertise and pedagogical knowledge into their future careers, influencing engineering education for years to come.
Your gift will support:
- Increasing the number of ETCs that can be hired and the services the program can support
- Stipends for ETCs and other graduate students partnering with faculty to create innovative instructional materials (e.g., assignments, assessments, syllabi) to support student success and materials for customized departmental workshops
- Discretionary funds to enhance the professional development of ETCs (e.g., books on teaching, accessibility resources, mentoring tools, and innovative approaches to peer consultation)
Join Us in Strengthening Peer Mentorship
For over 20 years, CRLT-Engin has championed peer-to-peer teaching development through the ETC program. Your support ensures this proven model continues to thrive—empowering student instructors to mentor one another, build teaching excellence, and become transformative educators.
On behalf of our ETCs, the GSIs and IAs they mentor, and the thousands of students they collectively teach, thank you for your support!
Every gift makes a difference. Also, all first-time donors of at least $50 will have their donations matched when they participate in the Giving Blueday fundraiser.