By Laura Gasque

The University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing’s Faculty Academy, led by Assistant Professor Cori Heier, PhD, RN, CNE, CHSE, NE-BC, has received a 2025 Academic Excellence Award in the Transformative Program category from Instructure. The awards recognize achievements in teaching, learning and innovation and were announced during InstructureCon 2025.

Heier leads the Faculty Academy and collaborated with the School’s Instructional Design team to create the program, which allows UABSON faculty to develop a foundation in teaching and to learn best practices.

“It’s an incredible honor to have the Faculty Academy recognized with the Transformative Program award,” Heier said. “This acknowledgment reflects the dedication of our faculty and instructional design team to fostering excellence in teaching and learning. We’re proud to offer a program that not only supports new educators but also empowers all faculty to grow and innovate in their teaching practice.”

The FA, initially designed for new hires, now is available to all faculty within the School and is aligned with the National League for Nursing Nurse Educator Competencies. It models best practices in teaching and learning and empowers faculty to be excellent educators.

By the end of their time in the Faculty Academy, faculty will create a teaching project to use in their courses and have a network of support in place. Heier said they’ve seen the success of the FA reflected in participant feedback, impactful teaching projects and improved student outcomes.

“The Faculty Academy is a testament to the School of Nursing’s commitment to educational excellence and continuous improvement,” Heier said. “By aligning with national competencies and focusing on practical, impactful teaching strategies, we’re equipping educators to make a real difference in the classroom and, ultimately, in the lives of our students and the communities they serve.”