“If you really think about where the rubber meets the road at a university, it’s the magic that happens in a classroom between a professor and their students.”

 — Chancellor Daniel Pullin

At Texas Christian University, our mission to educate individuals to think and act as ethical leaders and responsible citizens in the global community, is clear. Over the past century, TCU has grown in reputation, rankings, enrollment, research, creative and scholarly activity, athletics, and community engagement. Every layer of that growth stands on the same foundation: exceptional teaching that transforms students and enriches the TCU experience.

As we embark on the new Lead On: Values in Action Strategic Plan, continued teaching excellence will be critical to achieving TCU’s goals.

Teaching Powers Student-Centered Growth

As our student body grows and new innovations like AI continue to transform the future workforce, maintaining high-quality and impactful educational experiences will be even more essential for every Horned Frog.

New efforts, such as the Teach and Tech Pop-Up on January 7 and 8, co-hosted by the Koehler Center and the Innovation Network, will offer faculty opportunities to explore the latest educational innovations, receive hands-on support, engage with vendors, and discover new approaches to teaching and learning. Programs like these will be essential for supporting teaching excellence in a dynamic landscape.

The strategic plan also includes several metrics, such as student–faculty ratios, the balance of full-time and part-time faculty, and measures of student learning and belonging. This ensures TCU can grow while preserving academic success and distinction. These indicators safeguard the conditions that enable faculty and staff to deliver the personalized, rigorous, and supportive learning environment that defines the student experience at TCU.

Teaching Fuels Research, Scholarship & Creative Activity

Faculty scholarship enriches classroom learning, sparks inquiry, and creates pathways for students to engage in research, creative projects, and hands-on discovery. These experiences deepen learning while elevating TCU’s national reputation.

The Lead On: Values in Action plan will expand research, scholarship, and creative productivity, while increasing opportunities for student participation. New efforts, such as the Teacher-Scholar Culture Initiative, will strengthen TCU’s distinction as a place where knowledge creation and transformative teaching go hand in hand.

Teaching Shapes the Total Student-Athlete Experience

The third pillar of the strategic plan highlights athletics.  Academic success is a critical component of that vision. Our focus is the holistic development of student-athletes as scholars and high performing athletic competitors.

TCU student-athletes thrive because faculty set high expectations, cultivate inclusive classrooms, and provide mentorship that supports their ambitious schedules and personal growth. Partnerships between faculty, advisors, and athletic academic services ensure that student-athletes can excel in both their academic and athletic pursuits. Teaching is the bridge that connects athletic achievement with lifelong learning.

Teaching Strengthens Community Engagement

Meaningful community engagement begins in the classroom. Service learning, experiential coursework, community-based research, and professional outreach allow students and faculty to work alongside community partners to address real-world challenges. These experiences deepen students’ ability to think critically, understand diverse perspectives, and apply their learning in ways that benefit the Fort Worth community and beyond. As TCU strengthens its regional partnerships, teaching remains the catalyst that prepares students to contribute ethically and effectively to their communities.

A Foundation for the Path Ahead

As we continue implementing the strategic plan, it is essential that teaching excellence remains visible, valued, and central to our progress. The success of every pillar is dependent on the learning experiences, mentorship, and development that occur each day across campus. Teaching – and learning – enable TCU to Lead On!