Office of Faculty Development Initiates the Teaching Innovation Program (TIP)
Southern Connecticut State University's Office of Faculty Development recently initiated the Teaching Innovation Program (TIP). The TIP is supported by a grant received from the Davis Educational Foundation, which was established by Stanton and Elisabeth Davis after Mr. Davis' retirement as chairman of Shaw's Supermarkets, Inc.
The purpose of TIP is to support the integration of teaching effectiveness and assessment efforts at Southern. The program aims to support faculty engaged in the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning and pedagogical innovations using technology, provide faculty development opportunities, develop collegial mentorship and communicate faculty accomplishments in the areas of teaching and learning. Ultimately, the Program will enhance teaching effectiveness, positively impact student learning outcomes and improve faculty morale. The design includes the active participation of faculty and students.
The mission of the Teaching Innovation Program is to enhance student success through the support of an institutional culture that values and recognizes excellence in teaching and learning and supports innovation in pedagogy and technology.
Four key initiatives are supported by the Teaching Innovation Program.
For complete details, please refer to the Teaching Innovation Fellowship Request for Proposals.
• Travel Funds will support faculty research efforts and encourage participation in conferences directly related to teaching, learning and technology.
For complete details, please refer to the Teaching Innovation Travel Fund Request for Proposals. The request for proposals was distributed in August with completed proposals being reviewed by the TIP Advisory Board at the end of August. Awardees for 2008-2009 will be notified of the status of their proposal within 30 days of their submission.
• A Teaching Excellence and Innovation Workshop Series will enlarge faculty development opportunities by providing on-campus workshops and seminars related to teaching, learning and technologically-assisted pedagogy. This workshop series will harness SCSU's internal teaching expertise and talent, reward and recognize outstanding faculty and students, and provide opportunities for development, networking and mentoring.
• A Teaching Excellence and Innovation Forum will bring recognized experts to the SCSU campus and contribute to professional development and interdisciplinary dialogue.
The TIP Advisory Board
An Advisory Board was formed in order to assist TIP with its many initiatives. Among other tasks, the TIP Advisory Board recommends guidelines for the selection process for travel funding, Teaching Innovation Forum Speakers and workshop presenters. More importantly, they assist in developing the RFP procedures, evaluation rubrics and review processes for the Teaching Innovation Fellows program.
TIP Advisor Board members include faculty with expertise in instructional design and assessment, SoTL and teaching innovation. Members represent all five of Southern's schools. The TIP Advisory Board for 2007-2008 includes:
Scott Ellis, English,
Adam Goldberg, Elementary Education,
Pam Hopkins, Management/MIS,
Klaus Peters, Computer Science,
Ray Mugno, Mathematics,
Deborah Newton, Special Education,
Diana Newman, Communication Disorders, and
Meg Sargent, Communication.
The program is administered by Dr. Bonnie Farley-Lucas, Coordinator, Faculty Development and Professor, Communication. Dr. Marianne Kennedy, Coordinator, Office of Assessment and Planning, is serving as project consultant. For more information regarding the Teaching Innovation Program, contact Dr. Bonnie Farley-Lucas at 203-392-5488 or farleylucab1@southernct.edu. You may also contact Ms. Michele Salamone, TIP Secretary, at x25358 or teachingtip@southernct.edu.
