Online Teaching Certification Cohort
The application for the Fall 2026 Online Teaching Certification Cohort has closed.
Applications for the next cohort will open in Spring 2027.
In Fall 2026, East Central College will launch an 8-month professional development cohort for faculty members seeking certification in best practices for online teaching. This certification is administered by the Association for College and University Educators.
The cohort is facilitated by the Title III Professional Development Subcommittee and chair of the Faculty Professional Development Committee.
| Fast Facts |
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| Certification: Effective Online Teaching Practices, administered by ACUE Contact: Dr. Coreen Derifield Eligibility: Available to all full-time faculty members and adjuncts who meet certain requirements (see below); all experience levels are welcome Capacity: 16 members; interested faculty must apply by March 13 Courses: Four sequential courses, each 6-8 weeks Course Modality: Asynchronous online (Canvas LMS) Timeline: First course begins on August 24, 2026; last course ends in May 2027 Time Commitment: Two to four hours per week to complete coursework, plus any additional time needed to implement learning strategies in real courses Meetings: Three in-person/online meetings per semester for discussion with cohort members Compensation: $750 stipend upon completion of each of the four courses; no reassigned time |
Cohort Eligibility
You are eligible if you are:
- A full-time faculty member
- An adjunct instructor who has taught at least 30 credit hours at ECC and can commit to teaching at least one online class for one academic year upon certification
You should apply if you:
- Have taught online/HyFlex before and want to strengthen your skills, or
- Have never taught online/HyFlex before and want to learn how
Cohort and Certification Details
Certification in Effective Online Teaching Practices (EOTP) requires sequential completion of four online, asynchronous courses, which are led by ACUE’s instructors.
Courses for EOTP Certification
The courses do not assign busy work; instead they share research and practice-based strategies for synchronous, asynchronous, and HyFlex courses that faculty can use immediately in their courses. Coursework involves implementing learning strategies, or developing plans to implement, then reflecting on these experiences.
For more details, please see:
- Effective Online Teaching Practices certification overview
- Effective Online Teaching Practices syllabus
- Weekly information sessions/course demos led by real ACUE instructors
- ACUE’s impact and case studies
Cohort Structure
All certification courses offered asynchronously and fully online via the Canvas LMS, except for a brief virtual kickoff meeting with ACUE’s academic director for the cohort in August. From August 2026 to May 2027, cohort members will take the four certification courses sequentially alongside faculty from other colleges, creating opportunities to share ideas and resources across institutions.
The ECC cohort will also learn and discuss together outside of the online class environment. This cohort will meet three times a semester in a hybrid format (online and at the Union campus). Members also have the option to share what they have learned with non-cohort faculty colleagues in various ways throughout the year. Please contact Dr. Cori Derifield for more information.
Time Commitment
Each of the four courses will require six to eight weeks of coursework, and the typical time commitment is two to four hours per week. The first course launches on August 24, 2026, and the last course concludes in May 2027. While coursework is self-paced, weekly “Implement” or ”Plan to Implement” reflection assignments serve as benchmarks for progress, and the ECC cohort will aim to maintain the intended pace.
Compensation
Cohort participants will receive a stipend of $750 per course completed, and funds are disbursed after each of the four sequential courses concludes (twice in FA26, twice in SP27). The total compensation for certification in Effective Online Teaching Practices is $3,000 by the time of completion in May 2027. This stipend requires an MOU, does not involve reassigned time, and is calculated based on the average rate for six hours of online load. Stipends are funded by the Title III grant; please contact Jean Woodson for more information.
Selection Process
Cohort applications are reviewed by a committee comprising the:
- Vice President of Academic Affairs
- Deans of Arts and Sciences, Business and Industry, and Health Science
- Director of Online Learning & Educational Technology and Instructional Design Specialist
- Title III Program Coordinator, to maintain compliance with grant funding requirements
- Chair of the Faculty Professional Development Committee and additional faculty members
Space is limited, as the program has funding for 16 faculty members. Applicants will hear from their deans about whether they have been accepted by Friday, April 10.
How to Apply
The application for the Fall 2026 cohort has closed. Please revisit this page in Spring 2027 when applications open for the second cohort.
Frequently Asked Questions
How are participants selected?
Cohort members are selected based on:
- Interest in online teaching as indicated in the faculty member’s cohort application
- Course alignment with Title III objectives, as this grant funds the cohort
- Capacity, as stipend funding is available for 16 faculty members
As stated above, instructors of all experience levels are encouraged to apply. Applicants will hear from their deans about whether they have been accepted by Friday, April 10.
What if I am interested in joining the cohort, but not this year?
A second cohort is planned for AY2027, if grant funding permits.
Additionally, both ACUE’s online and in-person teaching certifications will be available for free in 2026 for all ECC faculty and staff. See below.
What if I’m interested in other ACUE certifications or courses?
This year, every ECC faculty and staff member will gain free access to all ACUE’s professional development resources, including in-person and online teaching certifications, the Commons (discipline-specific online communities of practice), and other topical courses, though stipends will only be provided for members of the EOTP cohort. Information about access will come out in late Spring 2026.
ACUE’s professional development resources include:
- Effective Teaching 101: ACUE’s self-paced essentials course for new faculty and graduate assistants
- Certification in Effective Teaching: ACUE’s nationally recognized certification that leads to measurable gains in student
- Certification in Effective Online Teaching: A pathway designed for instructors teaching in an online format that helps them master digital active learning, virtual environments, and online student engagement
- Advanced Certificate in Effective Teaching: ACUE’s highest-level certification combining both Effective Teaching and Effective Online Teaching pathways, ensuring faculty master proven practices across all teaching modalities
- Nursing Pathway in Effective Teaching Certification: Built on ACUE’s Certification in Effective Teaching with discipline-specific applications aligned to AACN Essentials
- ACUE Commons: A community of practice that deepens teaching excellence with a library of Quick Study courses on emerging topics like AI, expert events, and curated teaching resources
Has anyone at ECC used ACUE before? Can I talk to them?
If you would like more information about the ACUE course experience from past ECC participants, please contact any of the following faculty members:
- Dean Ann Boehmer
- Dr. Rachel Howard
- Dr. Shanee Haynes
- Dr. Parvadha Acosta
Questions? Please contact Dr. Coreen Derifield or Jean Woodson.
