Departmental Actions Teams Panel Discussion Pam Coke, English; Tony Maciejewski, ECE Linda Nagel, Forest and Rangeland Services; Karen Falkenberg, TILT Jennifer Todd, TILT

Purpose of this session An opportunity to hear about a new way for departmental teams to collaborate A sharing opportunity as a conversation to examine the DAT concept Panel members charged with sharing their area of inquiry and why they feel a DAT would be a good strategy for progress

Agenda Overview of Departmental Action Teams (DATs): Karen Comments from each panel member: Pam Coke: English Department Tony Maciejewski: ECE Linda Nagel: Forestry and Rangeland Services Table talk Open time for Q/A

DAT History and Grant Funding CSU – Mary E. Pilgrim (Co-PI), Ernest Chavez CU Boulder – Joel Corbo (PI), Noah Finkelstein San Diego State University – Daniel Reinholz

Departmental Action Team Working group of about 4 to 8 faculty, staff, and/or students Develop/Extend/Revise a vision for undergraduate education in their department Area of inquiry: a cross-cutting issue related to undergraduate education in their department Support by outside facilitators with experience in best practices in curriculum, instruction, and assessment; group dynamics; organizational culture; and education research The DAT is sanctioned by the department chair, with the knowledge of the rest of the faculty

What do DATs do? DATs meet regularly to design and implement change and focus on creating lasting structures (e.g., committees, positions, policies) DATs maintain transparency by sharing information with and making recommendations for change to the chair, appropriate departmental committees, and the department as a whole DATs act as a catalyst for enhancing departmental inclusive culture; the culture can transcend the area of inquiry

CSU Principles of Community These form a foundation of DAT work Inclusion Integrity Respect Service Social Justice

Examples of DAT work Curricular/instructional revision and alignment Restructured a course sequence to better support majors transitioning to upper division Structured a new major, with a focus on course alignment and student cohort-building Work toward improving equity and diversity Formed a standing committee focused on student diversity, retention, and recruitment Enhancing community among faculty, students, and staff Allocated several instructor course equivalents to serve as curriculum coordinators

More details Meet twice a month or weekly during academic year, occasionally “out of meeting” tasks Stipends for students over the life of the 3-year grant Often faculty participation is acknowledged as credit for service Staff service can be recognized favorably performance reviews

Role of Facilitators Provide support to help departments achieve their goals as effectively as possible Provide expertise in education research and institutional change Provide logistical support Interface with administration Support collaboration and a positive working environment Provide an outsider perspective Have skills in team dynamics

’17-’18 CSU Math DAT Spring 2017 Process: Slide presentation at a faculty meeting. Faculty meeting: Brainstorm of ideas. In post faculty meeting common themes identified: REUs, Internships, Advising and Recruiting Google Form for soliciting volunteers

Panel charge What is your area of inquiry? Why do you think a DAT would be a useful tool for your work?

Linda Nagel, Forest and Rangeland Services Panel Members Pam Coke, English Tony Maciejewski, ECE Linda Nagel, Forest and Rangeland Services

At your table Share your thoughts about what you heard with the intent to: Clarify what was said Formulate questions for panel members on content or process Converse about your own thoughts on how this process might (or might not) align with your needs