Cultivating Success:

Connecting Faculty to the

College, Colleagues, and

Curriculum

Liz Coleman, Ed.M.Marisa Hastie, Ed.D.

Faculty- led program serving contracted and part-time faculty

Oversight Committee + 8 other “steering” committees Campus-wide representation Rotating leadership positions

Operating budget is bargained as part of contract (% of FT faculty salaries)

Programs designed to meet needs as determined by the faculty Pedagogical & curriculum-based needs Discipline connections Faculty-to-Faculty connections Institutional connections

Faculty Professional Development: Overview

Programs and Services Faculty Connections: New Faculty Orientation and

Mentorship Program (year long) Professional Activities (conferences, workshops, etc.) On – Campus Presentations (round-tables; forums;

webinars, Colloquia) Paid and Unpaid Sabbatical Leave Discipline Contact Grants (journals, memberships, books,

etc.) Teaching Squares (self-reflection through peer-observation) Classroom Observations and Confidential Feedback New Dimensions Teaching Seminar (examination of

pedagogy/practice) Faculty Inquiry Groups (FIGs) (inquiry of identified

question, challenge, change, etc. in teaching or technology)

One Minute Brainstorm

Competition!

What do you think faculty need in order to help their students

succeed?

Faculty Connections Two Day Seminar

Mentorship program

Roundtables/Social events

Ongoing Moodle shell for materials, announcements and discussions

Two-day seminar - details Invitations are extended to ALL new

faculty - Help from HR, academic depts. Meet for two consecutive days prior to

all campus In-service. Lunch is provided. Attended by both new faculty and

returning (Mentors) Attendees receive a stipend - $75 per

half day up to $300

Two-day Seminar - Content Orientation to college services for

faculty and students Modeling and instructing best practices

of engaging teaching strategies Effective syllabi development Classroom scenarios and solutions Micro-aggressions and creating a safe

classroom environment

Mentorship Program New faculty are randomly matched with

an experienced mentor – usually in a different department

First meetings occur during lunches of the two day seminar

Meetings continue at least 2 times per term. Content determined by pair

Stipend of $300 for each member

Roundtables & Socials Each term we host one conversation

topic depending on current issues on campus. Examples: FERPA, dealing with downsizing or disruptive classroom behavior

Each term we host a dinner for the faculty pairs in a local restaurant. Recent change: Families are only invited to the spring dinner

Challenges Informing all new faculty Time for mentors to meet due to busy

schedules Newly hired and oriented faculty are the

first to be cut when student numbers drop

Keeping funding in the contract

Successes Attendees express feeling integrated into

and supported by the college New (and returning) faculty make contacts

with fellow faculty members campus wide. This helps when issues arise

One faculty member joined the fitness center and taught in a learning community in her first year, thanks to her participation in Faculty Connections

Faculty Inquiry Groups (FIGs) “Grassroots” program Small groups (5-10) focus on a topic pertaining

to teaching and learning Applications are reviewed by a committee Faculty members meet, read, research, discuss

their topic Funding provided for guest speakers, books, etc.

and a small stipend is provided for participants Examples:

Online teaching in the sciences Redesigning developmental education Effective laboratory assignments in biology classes

Challenges Connecting “inquiries” across disciplines Continuing the work to make it systemic Broadening the reach to more

departments Consistent attendance and engagement

by all participants

Successes Investigations into new technology and

how to incorporate it into the classroom Starts conversations that then move to

a larger platform Connects colleagues Non-threatening environment to just

explore

Teaching Squares Reflection through observation Two formats:

Teaching Squares (4 faculty) - Traditional classroom instructors

Teaching Pairs (2 faculty) - Online

Teaching Squares, cont. How it works:

Call for participants Squares and Pairs are determined by faculty coordinator

(mixed discipline groupings; PT & FT; veteran faculty and new faculty)

Kick-off meeting Emphasis is on reflection; non-judgmental; observation of

best practices Groups meet and set “ground rules” and arrange

observation times 8 weeks to complete all observations and then to meet

as a group to discuss Personal reflection

Final wrap-up dinner and program evaluation

Challenges Sometimes squares become triangles! Shifting the focus from critique and

feedback to observation for reflection* Scheduling

Successes Discovery of teaching methods that

bridge the curriculum Appreciation for each other Broader view of the college curriculum

and what our students are experiencing Creates connections Reflection

Questions?

Wrap-up: One Minute Paper1) 1-2 “Take Aways” from this and other sessions2) What do you want to implement?3) What is your first action step once you are back

at work? (i.e. what is already offered? Survey resources available?, etc.)

4) Identify at least one person at your institution that can help you with this • Pull out your smart phone! Send yourself an

email or make an appointment on your calendar

Thank you!Liz Coleman colemanl@lanecc.eduMarisa Hastie hastiem@lanecc.edu

Website: www.lanecc.edu/fpd