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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. ’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

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

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

14. 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