We offer a brief history of the study of excellence in college and university teaching. We review major examinations of teaching excellence and summarize key characteristics of model teachers.

Although an increasing number of Native Americans are enrolling as first-generation college students (FGS) at postsecondary institutions, the percentage of those attaining bachelor's degrees or higher remains relatively low--11 percent, compared with more than 25 percent for the general population. Native Americans face not only the retention…

We now have pedagogical methods that can be successful--that is, effective--with most students at the undergraduate stage; one very promising method is problem-based or inquiry-based learning. (Contains 4 notes.)

A procedure for developing a comprehensive faculty evaluation program is described with examples of various components. Procedures for implementing such a program are discussed. Determining and weighting faculty roles, defining roles and gaining information, and arriving at a matrix are described. (Author/MLW)

The ten finalists for the Council for Advancement and Support of Education's annual Professor of the Year award are listed. Their descriptions of the teacher who most influenced them during their undergraduate years, and the reasons, are presented. (MSE)

Teaching assistant supervisors accept responsibility or overseeing the work and professional development of one or more teaching assistants. The complexity of such responsibility, the teaching assistant supervisor role, understanding teaching assistants from a developmental perspective, etc. are discussed. (MLW)

By helping faculty collaborate to enrich their teaching abilities and by supporting them when faculty/student relationships occasionally fail, the department chair models leadership skills that faculty themselves can use. The skills of leadership correspond very closely to good teaching skills, and can be combined with the skills of principled…