The Teaching International Students (TIS) micro-credential provides professional learning related to supporting multilingual international students within and beyond the classroom. Designed for instructors at all levels and instructional support staff, the course focuses on high-impact course design and instructional practices that leverage the linguistic and cultural assets international students bring to the U.S. classroom.

The TIS program is free and designed to be completed in one academic semester (12 weeks). The program is open to instructors across all levels (e.g., instructors, graduate teaching assistants, etc.), and staff. This hybrid style micro-credential will include a synchronous session every alternate week (3 in-person and 3 virtual meetups). Applications close on Jan 12, 2024. See more details and apply below. 

Program dates: January 29, 2024-April 19, 2024

Program Time: Alternate Wednesdays (5:00 p.m.-6:30 p.m. MT) 

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.

Participants who complete the Teaching International Students program will earn a digital micro-credential badge issued via CU Boulder's micro-credential program. Those that complete the requirements for the TIS microcredential will also gain five CTL credits towards the Certificate in College Teaching(hyperlink) or the Future Faculty Development Certificate (hyperlink). Participants, please add these credits to your Personal Attendance Tracking form alongside other CTL credits.

Apply for the Teaching International Students Micro-Credential Spring 2024

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.