The Delta Program
The Delta Program in Research, Teaching, and Learning engages graduate students and postdocs in professional development in teaching, mentoring, and outreach.
The skills Delta participants develop are transferable to nearly every profession. Delta alumni have strengthened their abilities to plan, organize, communicate, facilitate, and collaborate with a diverse set of colleagues – all necessary skills in academic and non-academic careers.
What We Offer
Through Delta’s certificate, courses, seminars, internship program, and workshops, participants gain evidence-based teaching practices necessary to become effective and inclusive researchers, educators, and mentors across the nation and the world.
Research Mentor Learning Communities
The Delta Program offers Research Mentor Learning Communities, based on a nationally-recognized curriculum, to give graduate students and postdocs concrete tools to support a successful mentor-mentee relationship. These communities are designed for graduate students and postdocs who are mentoring undergraduate researchers or for whom mentoring may be an important part of their future careers.
Courses and learning communities
Engage with peers in an impactful learning experience and work towards a certificate in a semester-long course. Courses focus on a variety of topics, including:
- Teaching in Science and Engineering: The College Classroom
- Active Learning Laboratory
- Expeditions in Evidence-Based Teaching and Learning
- Improv to Improve Science Communication and Teaching
Delta Internship
Explore scholarly teaching and innovate as an educator with a Delta Internship project and associated badge. Available in fall semesters, this program supports a cohort of graduate students and postdocs seeking to improve student learning, gain experience addressing teaching challenges, and develop skills as a reflective practitioner.
CIRTL Network opportunities
As a founding member of the Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching, and Learning (CIRTL) Network, Delta connects UW–Madison campus members to peers and resources across 40+ institutions whose shared goal is improving the learning of all students. Take advantage of online workshops, self-paced courses, and other teaching professional development programming designed for graduate students and postdocs.
Upcoming Delta Events
June
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June 24Beyond Efficiency: Reimagining AI’s Purpose in Teaching, Learning, and ResearchThis workshop explores how artificial intelligence can be used beyond efficiency and automation to support deeper learning, creativity, and human-centered innovation.11:00 AM, Online
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June 30The Faculty Inclusive Teaching Survey (FITS) Guidebook: Growing as a Reflective and Iterative Inclusive InstructorInclusive teaching is instrumental in helping instructors reflectively examine how their identities intersect and interact with their students and how they can structure and implement their courses and teaching practices that will uplift and support all s12:00 PM, Online
July
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July 1The Faculty Inclusive Teaching Survey (FITS) Guidebook: Growing as a Reflective and Iterative Inclusive InstructorInclusive teaching is instrumental in helping instructors reflectively examine how their identities intersect and interact with their students and how they can structure and implement their courses and teaching practices that will uplift and support all s12:00 PM, Online
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Sign up for Delta’s mailing list to learn about opportunities as soon as they are announced.
Showcase Your Skills
Certificate in Higher Education Teaching and Learning
The certificate represents your commitment to excellence as an educator. Completing the Certificate in Higher Education Teaching and Learning prepares you to become a leader who promotes inclusive and effective educational experiences at the college level.
Delta Teaching & Learning Practitioner Badge
The Delta T&L Practitioner badge earners have taken a data-driven approach to assessing student learning outcomes and reflecting on their teaching practice. The content and activities of the badge emphasize developing teaching and learning skills within real-world contexts and support success in a future faculty career. A digital badge is a visual representation of accomplishments, can enhance your CV, and showcase your achievements to prospective employers.
Research Mentor Badge
Earners of the Delta Research Mentor badge have demonstrated the ability to apply evidence-based mentoring practices in higher education and research settings. They actively reflected and developed strategies for effective mentoring practices, including aligning expectations, effective communication, promoting independence, and fostering an inclusive research environment, based on an evidence-based curriculum. This badge highlights the development of practical mentoring skills essential for a successful research career.
Why Participate in Delta Programs?
By participating in Delta, you’ll gain the teaching and mentoring skills and knowledge you need for your future career.
Effective and inclusive teaching and mentoring
Apply evidence-based practices to better engage all learners in the classroom and beyond. You’ll explore some of the most challenging aspects of teaching and mentoring and come away with greater satisfaction and confidence as an educator.
Career preparation
Demonstrate your experience with and commitment to teaching and learning, gain transferable skills, and develop strong job application materials. Delta’s rich array of offerings will help you target your career goals, reflect on the skills you’re developing, and document evidence of your abilities and progress.
Community of educators
Join a cross-disciplinary community of dedicated educators committed to advancing effective teaching and mentoring. You’ll connect with a diverse group of graduate students, postdocs, faculty, and staff across campus who share a common goal.
“Delta introduced me to evidence-based teaching, and then there was no looking back.”
The Delta Experience
Delta welcomes all.
Delta programming is designed for graduate students and postdocs. We welcome you to participate in our programs to whatever extent best meets your needs. We believe our broad community is a strength, as it provides multiple perspectives on teaching, mentoring, and outreach, as well as opportunities to connect with people outside your discipline.
Meet Delta alumni
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Samantha
Samantha, Visiting Professor at Roanoke College: “My internship gave me the confidence required to walk into the classroom and be a new professor. Beyond all the literature background I gained, I think…
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Tess
Assistant Professor of Biology at Salem State University: “Inclusive teaching is a main area of my scholarly activity as a professor on the tenuretrack, and my Delta internship project definitely set me…
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Eduardo
PhD Candidate, Agricultural and Applied Economics: “The Delta program really hammers on the importance of active learning. The cool thing is that the courses and workshops provide a good deal of examples…
Are you a Delta alum?
We love hearing from our Delta alumni! Please consider sharing your story with the Delta community.
Student work from our courses
Active Learning Ideas that feature the four C’s and five E’s of Learning
Students in the spring 2025 Delta course on active learning created these learning activities incorporating the four C’s (collaboration, communication, critical thinking, creativity) and the five E’s (engagement, exploration, explanation, elaboration, and evaluation) of learning.
175 Active Learning Techniques for 175 Years
Delta Program participants celebrated UW–Madison’s 175th anniversary by developing a resource list on 175 active learning strategies for course instructors to try with students.
Our Mission
The Delta Program promotes excellence in undergraduate education through the development of a national faculty committed to implementing and advancing effective teaching practices for diverse learners as part of successful and varied professional careers.
These ideas are also the foundation of the Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching, and Learning (CIRTL), a network of research universities across the United States and Canada. Delta is a founding member of CIRTL, which is administered at UW–Madison.
Questions?
Contact info@delta.wisc.edu
The Graduate School
217 Bascom Hall
500 Lincoln Drive
Madison, WI 53706
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