The experiences of a chemistry professor and a physics professor at a regional branch campus of Penn State University are described. In both instances, the faculty members had previously served as teaching assistants at a research intensive institution, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The unique pedagogical struggles involved in…

Using a review of current literature, this article discusses faculty preparation and higher education's commitment to pedagogical instruction and skill development. Identifies 19 institutions that offer graduate degree programs, exclusive of the Doctor of Arts, intended to prepare college faculty. Asserts that the teaching disciplines must…

Reports on effects of educational interventions on faculty and administration knowledge of, and attitude toward, student course evaluations. Aims to assess whether attitudes can be changed through education. Results suggest that interventions were effective, and even moderate instruction had the effect of improving attitudes toward student…

Provides overview of process of switching from paper-based grade reporting to computer-based grading. Authors found that paperless grading decreased number of errors, made student access more immediate, and reduced costs incurred by purchasing and storing grade-scanning sheets. Authors also argue that direct entry grading encourages faculty to…

Describes the process by which one institution created a comprehensive faculty development program by systematically following general guidelines drawn from the literature. Makes recommendations for developing a task force and initiating a program. Design and development of program conforms to four generic characteristics of faculty development…

Argues that, although student evaluation of instruction is ubiquitous at colleges and universities, evaluations are rarely used for formative evaluation. Offers a guide for faculty use of student evaluations for the improvement of teaching. Suggests ways of finding meaning in both the numbers and student comments. (Contains 14 references.) (NB)

Discusses the teaching perspective of Systemocentrism, or teacher/learner-centeredness, and two of its main elements: (1) attention to teachers' and learners' inner experience; and (2) attention to the intersubjective systems that develop among teachers and learners. Suggests that Systemocentrism provides faculty developers with a new tool for…

Focuses on the benefits provided by telecommunication and the adaptation of distance learning models in higher education. Argues that distance learning is cost-effective, time-effective, accessible, and flexible, and that varying student populations and a changing economy make distance education a vital new tool. (NB)

Analyzes the professional development aspects of incorporating information technology (IT) into teaching and learning. Asserts that because the majority of faculty still do not use technology other than e-mail to support instruction, and because institutions continue to struggle to meet technology support needs, professional development for IT…

Discusses practical strategies for incorporating diversity in college and university faculty and staff development programs, regardless of content. Presents Malcolm Knowles' seven-step program planning model as a framework--steps include assessing needs and interests, defining purposes and objectives, and designing learning activities. Contains…

The UMass Lilly Teaching Fellows early career faculty development program was rated a success at its 10-year mark by fellows who were asked in a survey to assess the program and its effects on their careers. In order not only to continue the program's success but improve upon it, the UMass Center for Teaching, guided by the survey, significantly…

Following a comparison of two approaches to mentoring--the traditional model and a relatively new "synergistic" or co-mentoring model--a new formal mentoring program for faculty in the School of Education at the University of Colorado at Denver, based on the synergistic approach, is described. First-year program evaluation data revealed…

The number of international faculty members in the United States is steadily increasing. However, few of these instructors have formal training in pedagogy and many experience at least some communication difficulties. To address the needs of nonnative-speaking instructors at an urban college in New York, an international faculty program was…

Faculty reading groups explored the potential for creating a discussion series among departmental colleagues at a regional university. The objectives of this initiative were to enhance collegiality and to facilitate communication and consensus-building skills among peers. Two titles were read by participating faculty during sessions spanning two…