Faculty development activities are organized throughout the college in various venues ranging from Academic Assembly to Academic Departments to the Teaching / Learning / Center to the Provost's Office. The Faculty Development Committee acts as a central advisory and/or coordinating body for these activities. (2007-08 Committee Co-Chairs: Randy Lavender and Joan Takayama-Ogawa).

Presentations in Academic Assembly. Presentations at monthly meetings are regular occurrences. Topics relate to such concerns as instructional technologies, best practices, and reports on faculty projects, grants, and academic travel.  Presentations are generally 10-20 minutes long.

Annual Convocation. A college-wide event featuring a keynote presentation and discussion groups/workshops related to the education of artists and designers. Past keynote speakers include Ken Robinson, internationally-renowned expert in the field of creativity and innovation in education.

Annual TLC “Teach-In.” Numerous workshops are offered during the two weeks before school starts. These are usually technology related, but with an emphasis on how technology can support pedagogy. When grant funding is available, faculty are offered honoraria to attend.

Weekly Workshops. The TLC provides such activities, usually related to technologies. Workshops are generally scheduled during the Wednesday or Thursday free periods. Schedule.

NEW Brown Bag Discussion. Once a month faculty convene to discuss issues of art/design pedagogy, related research, and/or teaching tips. Led by some of Otis' most experienced and respected teachers. Schedule.

"Just in time" Drop-In Assistance.  The Teaching/Learning Center offers technical support related to all sorts of technologies from email to OSpace.  Staff in the TLC includes a full-time coordinator and others who are available to assist faculty with technology issues and provide information literacy training.

Discipline-Specific Discussions in Department Meetings. Department Chairs often lead pedagogical discussions during faculty meetings, especially during the week preceding the start of the school year. Assessment has been a frequent topic over recent years, as Otis prepared for accreditation visits.

Instructional Technologies Wiki. An interactive website where faculty can find resources related to teaching, learning, and technology. There are links to all faculty resources, profiles of Otis faculty and their best practices.  Because the wiki is easy to update, faculty are encouraged to add descriptions of their own projects, successes, and professional/academic interests.  In-person wiki workshops and help are also available through the TLC.

O Teaching Matters Blog. Edited by Debra Ballard, this online faculty resource covers a range of topics relevant to beginning and experienced teaching practitioners alike. Topics include learning styles, assessment, information literacy, writing across the curriculum, best practices, the new Integrated Learning curriculum at Otis, ESL learners in the classroom, technology and teaching, active learning, layered curricula, Liberal Studies in the 21st century, and “core” in art and design higher education today. Any faculty may contribute and may be paid honoraria (through Jones Grant funding).

Books and Articles: New Browsing Shelf in the Library and TLC. The library provides many books and e-books to support faculty in teaching practice. The TLC maintains a shelf of selected books and recent issues of the Chronicle of Higher Education for easy faculty access.

NEW  One-on-One Consultations and Mentoring. Assistance and Mentoring in Pedagogy was launched in Fall, 2007, to address faculty concerns about best teaching practices and related topics. Experienced faculty are available to coach and assist colleagues with specific teaching challenges, and to guide faculty toward some of the latest relevant research on teaching and learning.

Books and Articles: New Browsing Shelf in the Library and TLC
There are also many books and e-books that the library provides. A small shelf of selected books is kept within the TLC as well as the recent issues of the Chronicle for faculty to pursue.

Activities Focused on Professional Development

NEW  Faculty Learning Exchange (FleX). FleX fosters integrated learning, community building, and faculty professional development by enabling faculty members to take Otis courses offered by other departments.  This opportunity to learn from colleagues and explore new curricula provides enriching experience that supports faculty interests in interdisciplinary professional and/or teaching activities.   

• Participation in FleX expands the knowledge, skills, and information available to faculty and provides a means to enrich professional and teaching resources.  Further, FleX fosters curricular connections between disciplines within the college and strengthens the educational community.
• Faculty members may apply for a Faculty Development Grant (see below) to support FleX class attendance as overload for three hours per week throughout one semester.  FleX activities are subject to Department Chair and Teaching Faculty approval (i.e. those providing the FleX course).  FleX course participation includes all in-class work, but FleX faculty are exempt from homework and testing.
  

Conferences.  Each department has a travel budget that enables faculty to participate in professional/academic conferences.  Faculty who present or otherwise participate are expected to share what is learned at the conference with their Department or the larger academic community.

Grants

Faculty Development Grants. The College maintains a commitment to support faculty in their pursuit of excellence in professional activities, teaching effectiveness, and contributions to the college. Modest grants are available to support activities including, but not limited to, the following:

• professional activities such as research, exhibitions, publishing, funding for supplies and materials, or participation in conferences and workshops
• enhancing teaching effectiveness by learning more about today’s students’ learning styles, dealing with problem students, the Millennial generation, or educating the whole student
• contributions to the college such as building departmental teamwork, fostering collegiality, hosting interdisciplinary events, or enhancing inter-departmental communications

Grants awarded by the Faculty Development Committee support faculty needs such as travel, exhibition assistance, research, supplies and equipment, and more. (Application Deadlines are October 29th and March 1st; submit applications to Chair or Co-Chairs, Faculty Development Committee). 

TLC Grants. Thanks to funding from the Fletcher Jones Foundation, the TLC is able to provide mini-grants to faculty who wish to explore innovative instructional technologies as means of better serving their students, or who write and develop "learning objects" to better student learning.  Applications for TLC Technology Grants and Learning Object Production Grants are accepted throughout the academic year. (Please contact Sue Maberry or Kathleen Forrest for more information).

Past awards and application forms are here.

Sabbaticals. Professional Leave enables faculty to pursue scholarly, creative, or professional activities with support from the College. Each year, three full-time faculty members are eligible to receive one semester of paid leave. (See p.49 of the Faculty Handbook for important details about eligibility and processes).