IMPACT Institute for Graduate Educators

The National Science Foundation has awarded the University of Arizona a grant to establish the IMPACT Institute for Graduate Educators, a professional development experience that prepares graduate students to teach and mentor with confidence, creativity, and compassion. Through engaged learning, community collaboration, and intentional mentorship from experienced educators, participants explore student-centered, asset-based teaching practices that recognize the unique stories and experiences students bring to their STEM classrooms. This experience empowers graduate educators to construct high-impact learning environments that foster engagement, persistence, and academic excellence.

Benefits of Participating

Extensive Training and Support

Jump-start your semester with a multi-day immersive training that equips you with tools for student-centered, strengths-based teaching. Through hands-on sessions and practical guidance, you’ll leave prepared to create community-engaged learning experiences from day one.

Intentional Mentorship from Experienced Faculty

Connect with faculty mentors who are invested in your success. Through monthly mentorship meetings and ongoing engagement, you’ll receive personalized feedback, explore innovative teaching strategies, and gain insights to enhance your confidence as an educator.

A Compassionate Community of Practice

Belong to a vibrant community of graduate educators who care deeply about teaching and learning. In monthly gatherings, you’ll share ideas, celebrate wins, and collaborate with peers committed to making STEM classrooms more engaging, responsive, and student-centered.

Spring 2026 Cohort

To Be Announced

Applications to join the spring 2026 cohort will open at the beginning of December.

Spring 2026 Faculty Mentors

To Be Announced

About the Project

The University of Arizona has been awarded funding from the National Science Foundation (2524210) to establish the IMPACT Institute for Graduate Educators, a transformative professional development experience for graduate students who teach and mentor in STEM.

The IMPACT Institute equips graduate teaching assistants, or graduate educators (GEs), with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to implement student-centered, asset-based teaching and mentoring practices that recognize and build on the strengths students bring to the classroom. Participants begin with a multi-day intensive training before the semester, followed by monthly mentorship from experienced faculty and participation in a sustained community of practice throughout the academic semester.

By integrating evidence-based practices, self-reflection, and peer collaboration, the IMPACT Institute prepares graduate students to create more community-engaged STEM learning environments. The project contributes to institutional capacity building by strengthening graduate educator preparation, improving classroom experiences for undergraduate students, and advancing the University of Arizona’s commitment to success for every student.

Project Objectives:

Increase GEs’ knowledge of student-centered and asset-based classroom practices
Increase STEM GEs’ use of and self-efficacy of student-centered and asset-based practices in their STEM course section
Decrease DEW rates in STEM courses of undergraduates through student-centered and asset-based learning environments
Increase undergraduates’ sense of community in STEM
Increase undergraduates’ academic self-efficacy in STEM