A center for the enhancement of learning and teaching was first established by the Iowa State University Faculty Senate in 1993. Then known as the Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE), the center had a small staff and focused on development for full-time faculty. Following an external review in 2000 and a needs assessment survey the following year, the Center increased in size and expanded its audience to include non-tenure track faculty and teaching assistants as well as tenure-line faculty.

In July 2004, we reorganized as the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CELT). This name change reflects not only our emphasis on student learning but also the added components of the Center's work: Preparing Future Faculty (PFF), increased emphasis on Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, instructional design, and effective practice in using Learning Technologies.

CELT also works collaboratively with other campus initiatives related to enhanced learning, such as Learning Communities, Student Outcomes Assessment, Academic Success Center, ISUComm, the Faculty Senate Curriculum committee, and classroom design.