Timeline:

Planned project kickoff date: January 6, 2006
Target completion date: December 15, 2006
Actual completion date:

A. Give this Action Project a short title in 10 words or fewer:

 Develop a Teaching and Learning Center for Faculty and Staff

B. Describe this Action Project's goal in 100 words or fewer:

The goal of this project is to increase the opportunities for professional development for faculty and staff.  Secondary goals include:

• all university employees will find ways to enhance student learning through their contact with students and

• faculty will adopt successful teaching strategies in their classrooms that are suited for their approach and their student’s learning styles. 

Much of the success of this project will be dependent upon effective and timely communication with faculty and staff to determine needs, plan programs and implement professional development activities.

C. Identify the single AQIP Category which the Action Project will most affect or impact:

Category 1: Helping Students Learn

D. Describe briefly your institution's reasons for taking on this Action Project now -- why the project and its goals are high among your current priorities:

An active faculty development process that has utilized Faculty Learning Communities has demonstrated the potential of a Teaching and Learning Center that reaches all employees.  Numerous groups had elements of this proposal in their Conversation Day ideas.

E. List the organizational areas - -institutional departments, programs, divisions, or units -- most affected by or involved in this Action Project:

The groups on campus most affected by and involved in this Action Project will be the Office of Human Resources, the Provost’s Office and the Faculty Development Committee, and the Deans’ Offices for the College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Professional Studies.

F. Name and describe briefly the key organizational process(es) that you expect this Action Project to change or improve:

This project will require effective communication with all segments of campus to identify professional development needs, inform the campus about professional development opportunities, and assess the effectiveness of professional development and staff training activity.  The project will also require planning to coordinate the activities of a Teaching and Learning Center with all groups on campus.

G. Explain the rationale for the length of time planned for this Action Project (from kickoff to target completion):

This project will attempt to build on work that has been done creating faculty learning communities and other professional development opportunities for faculty and staff. The goal of creating a Teaching and Learning Center will require much discussion from all groups across campus, careful design to assure support and success, and planning for implementation and monitoring the Center. It is anticipated that much of the planning and discussion can occur during the winter and spring quarters with a proposal for the Center coming forward in late spring or early fall.

H. Describe how you plan to monitor how successfully your efforts on this Action Project are progressing:

An Action Project Team of 6-8 members will be formed to provide the detailed planning, implementation, and assessment of the Scheduling Action Project. The university’s Strategic Planning Committee will provide an oversight and coordination role with the Action Projects. Administrative responsibility for monitoring and assisting the Action Project progress will be with the Associate Provost/Director of Institutional Planning.

I. Describe the overall “outcome” measures or indicators that will tell you whether this Action Project has been a success or failure in achieving its goals:

1. Faculty and staff satisfaction surveys concerning support for professional development.  We have baseline data from the Vital Focus Survey completed in February 2005.
2. Number and percentage of employees that participate in faculty/staff development activities.
3. Evaluations of faculty/staff development sessions.
4. Increased student satisfaction in areas targeted with faculty/staff development initiatives (possible advising, financial aid, friendliness of campus, etc.)

J. Other information (e.g., publicity, sponsor or champion, etc.):

An institutional concern and need identified during the Vital Focus and Conversation Day was improved communication on campus.  This project will consciously model good communications by regularly informing the campus community about progress through multiple communication approaches including, web postings, emails, newsletters, and reports to governance groups (faculty, administrators, staff and students).  The project will also seek input from campus groups by a variety of means that may include surveys, focus groups, meetings with key individuals, open meetings, and requests for information.