On July 1, 2008, Cornell launched the Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE). It encompasses three of the units of the former Center for Learning and Teaching: the International Teaching Assistant Program, the Teaching Assistant Program, and Faculty Program. The CTE emphasizes the importance of life-long learning for the development of outstanding teachers, including faculty members and teaching assistants. The center strives to strengthen teaching across campus in a multitude of ways, from disseminating research-based best-teaching practices to ensuring that instructors have the support and resources needed to help their students learn better. These programs support graduate students as they begin their careers as well as faculty members as they continually aspire to achieve excellence in teaching.