A Collaborative Approach to Faculty Support: The Coulter Faculty Center Robert Orr Western Carolina University

UNC CAUSE - November 8-10, Wilmington, NC Robert Orr, Western Carolina University History of Teaching and Learning Support at Western Carolina Colloquy Carolina Colloquy ICUT ICUT Faculty Center for Teaching Excellence Faculty Center for Teaching Excellence merged with University Media Center and become Coulter Faculty Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning merged with University Media Center and become Coulter Faculty Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning Integrated Technology into Faculty Center support Integrated Technology into Faculty Center support First online course developed (MPM) - international First online course developed (MPM) - international Distance Learning support in Distance and Continuing Education Distance Learning support in Distance and Continuing Education Computer Center - IT : Faculty Center - TLT Computer Center - IT : Faculty Center - TLT

UNC CAUSE - November 8-10, Wilmington, NC Robert Orr, Western Carolina University 2003 brings change PriceWaterhouseCoopers report PriceWaterhouseCoopers report Information Technology Division formed Information Technology Division formed Educational Technologies created from Faculty Center and Continuing Education staff Educational Technologies created from Faculty Center and Continuing Education staff TLT and Distance Education technical support brought under Educational Technologies TLT and Distance Education technical support brought under Educational Technologies Faculty Center focus primarily SoTL Faculty Center focus primarily SoTL

UNC CAUSE - November 8-10, Wilmington, NC Robert Orr, Western Carolina University Faculty Concerns Faculty uncertain of service outlets Faculty uncertain of service outlets Conflict of approaches, IT vs Teaching and Learning Conflict of approaches, IT vs Teaching and Learning Spring 2004 Faculty Senate survey on technology support Spring 2004 Faculty Senate survey on technology support Faculty wanted one place for teaching, learning, and technology support. Faculty wanted one place for teaching, learning, and technology support. Grounded in academics Grounded in academics

UNC CAUSE - November 8-10, Wilmington, NC Robert Orr, Western Carolina University Information Technology Assessment Engaged Faculty Senate Chair and Computer Science Faculty member Engaged Faculty Senate Chair and Computer Science Faculty member Associate CIO with Faculty Center background appointed for Educational Technologies Associate CIO with Faculty Center background appointed for Educational Technologies Interviewed 98% of academic departments Interviewed 98% of academic departments Faculty desired one place for services Faculty desired one place for services Faculty needed distance learning/ WebCT support Faculty needed distance learning/ WebCT support High demand for digital media support High demand for digital media support Faculty prefer hands-on approach Faculty prefer hands-on approach

UNC CAUSE - November 8-10, Wilmington, NC Robert Orr, Western Carolina University Fall 2004 – Spring 2005 A team is formed Distance and Continuing Education, Dean Pat Brown Distance and Continuing Education, Dean Pat Brown –DE expanding rapidly - faculty training –Concerned with quality Faculty Senate Chair, Newton Smith Faculty Senate Chair, Newton Smith –Representing faculty concerns –Interest in improving student learning outcomes

UNC CAUSE - November 8-10, Wilmington, NC Robert Orr, Western Carolina University Fall 2004 – Spring 2005 A team is formed Director of Faculty Center, Alan Altany Director of Faculty Center, Alan Altany –Preserving SoTL initiatives –Supporting faculty learning communities Associate CIO, Bob Orr Associate CIO, Bob Orr –Meeting technology support needs of faculty –Integrating technology into curriculum development Associate Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Beth Tyson-Lofquist Associate Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Beth Tyson-Lofquist –Appointed by Provost to oversee Faculty Center –Concerned with responding to faculty needs

UNC CAUSE - November 8-10, Wilmington, NC Robert Orr, Western Carolina University Development Stage Spring 2005 Focused on creating “one stop” for faculty support Focused on creating “one stop” for faculty support Brainstorming possibilities Brainstorming possibilities Determined existing resources Determined existing resources Determined what other available resources could be marshaled Determined what other available resources could be marshaled Decided what else was needed Decided what else was needed Developed organizational chart based upon services to support seven dimensions of teaching Developed organizational chart based upon services to support seven dimensions of teaching Outlined a two-stage implementation plan Outlined a two-stage implementation plan

UNC CAUSE - November 8-10, Wilmington, NC Robert Orr, Western Carolina University Recommendations Faculty support for TLT and DE in Coulter Faculty Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning Faculty support for TLT and DE in Coulter Faculty Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning Combine staffing from Educational Technologies with Faculty Center Combine staffing from Educational Technologies with Faculty Center New positions New positions –New Interim Director –Two instructional designers, one DE, one AA –Two half-time senior faculty fellows supported by AA –Nine staff members from Educational Technologies –Eight new faculty fellows (one course release) funded by DE

UNC CAUSE - November 8-10, Wilmington, NC Robert Orr, Western Carolina University Changes Coulter Faculty Center dual reports Coulter Faculty Center dual reports –Vice-Chancellor Academic Affairs –Associate Chief Information Officer Retains teaching and learning focus Retains teaching and learning focus Integrates Information Technology Integrates Information Technology Services in one place - Faculty see seamless solution Services in one place - Faculty see seamless solution Management deals with bringing together resources and sorting out differences of approach Management deals with bringing together resources and sorting out differences of approach Dual funding streams Dual funding streams

UNC CAUSE - November 8-10, Wilmington, NC Robert Orr, Western Carolina University Changes Interim Director – Anna McFadden hired following internal search Interim Director – Anna McFadden hired following internal search Advisory Council being re-energized Advisory Council being re-energized Former director now focuses on developing national reputation as leader in SoTL as Senior Fellow Former director now focuses on developing national reputation as leader in SoTL as Senior Fellow Senior Fellow for planned activities to be named Senior Fellow for planned activities to be named Educational Technologies staff beginning transition Educational Technologies staff beginning transition Instructional designer positions advertised soon Instructional designer positions advertised soon Eight faculty fellows coming on-board Eight faculty fellows coming on-board

UNC CAUSE - November 8-10, Wilmington, NC Robert Orr, Western Carolina University Phase II Addition of Instructional Designer for Assessment Addition of Instructional Designer for Assessment Addition of Instructional Designer for Engagement Addition of Instructional Designer for Engagement Faculty Center assumes major role in Quality Enhancement Plan Faculty Center assumes major role in Quality Enhancement Plan