Professional Development

Professional development involves the various activities that increase the faculty member’s knowledge and exemplify pedagogical or artistic expertise.  It includes, but is not limited to, research in pedagogy, appropriate studies within and outside one’s specialties, and creative activities in practice and performance in the fine arts.  Instructors maintain currency in the content of courses taught and in pedagogical techniques.  They sustain professional contact with colleagues and engage in continuing professional activities to maintain, upgrade, and augment existing skills or develop new ones. The College of Charleston offers numerous professional development opportunities including, but not limited to, those listed below. 

Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning

Go to the CETL HUB (CofC login required) for a complete listing of professional development workshops and resources including but not limited to:

  • Faculty Writer's Retreats,
  • Faculty Learning Communities,
  • Faculty Teaching Resources,
  • Faculty Wellness Workshops, and more.

 

Instructional Technology Development 

IT's Teaching & Learning Team (TLT) offers a wide variety of faculty professional development programs and services to all faculty at the College.  

Instructional Technologists
Faculty members often hear about a new technology tool for instruction or research, but they are unsure what it is, how it works or how they can use it effectively in their teaching. TLT's Instructional Technologists are available to meet with faculty to determine which new technology may best solve their teaching challenges, regardless of whether they occur in your face-to-face, online, or hybrid courses. TLT can also help by creating customized student tutorials to help facilitate the use of the technology.The Instructional Technologists of TLT endeavor to meet the unique needs of each faculty member to achieve his/her technological and pedagogical objectives: innovation, life-long learning, pedagogy, collaboration and assessment.We provide hands-on, one-on-one consultations (by appointment) for faculty either in their office, the Faculty Technology Center, or their classrooms. Consultations and TLT resources range from OAKS training, online tutorials, Online Education Readiness Courses, and discussions on pedagogical/technological needs you have in your teaching.  Just contact the Instructional Technologist for your school to schedule an appointment.
Events & Training
To browse TLT programs and services please visit http://blogs.cofc.edu/tlt. You can also view a calendar of upcoming programs and sessions by visiting http://tlt.eventbrite.com.
Each year, TLT hosts TLT Con designed to bring together expertise from across campus, spotlight teaching technology, teaching excellence, and provide a space for idea sharing and networking, sponsored by Academic Affairs and IT. Over the past 15+ years, this conference has evolved into one of the most successful faculty development programs on campus. We are excited to provide this opportunity for greater campus discussion and collaboration about pedagogy. Learn more about TLT Con.
Faculty Professional Learning Clubs (PLC)
A Professional Learning Club is a group of faculty that meet to collaboratively reflect on and improve their teaching practices. It involves examining the relationship between teaching practices and student outcomes and then evaluating those practices using the students’ work. These learning clubs will consist of 6-8 faculty who will take the year to explore, implement, and reflect on specific, empirically-grounded instructional strategies.  Learn more about the Professional Learning Clubs.

First Year Experience (FYE) Faculty Development

The First Year Experience program provides faculty an opportunity to develop new course ideas and challenge themselves by working with first year students in an alternative and interactive way. To support faculty in this program, FYE holds various workshops for pedagogical conversations that focus on teaching first years, writing, and integrating new themes across disciplines. Each year, we host the FYE Writing Across the Curriculum Workshop, a week-long summer workshop offers faculty the opportunity to meet in a small group setting with colleagues from across the campus to discuss and explore how writing can be used in classes from our many diverse disciplines. While it is supported by the FYE program, the workshop is open to all faculty on campus. 

FYE Faculty Development Site

Visit FYE Faculty Development for information about the following opportunities: 

    • Exploring FYE Workshop
    • Faculty Liberal Arts and Sciences Colloquium (FLASC)
    • Writing Across the Curriculum Workshop (WAC), and 
    • Faculty for Compassionate and Sustainable Living Workshop (FCSL).
Interested faculty should email the Director of FYE with the items below or go to http://fye.cofc.edu/faculty-development/index.php to apply for a specific workshop. 

Monday Morning Mentor

The Monday Morning Mentor series delivers 20-Minute Mentor programs once a week for 16 weeks in the fall, 16 weeks in the spring. 

Faculty receive an email invitation from Associate Vice President Lynne Ford each Monday (password included). Monday Morning Mentor packs an impressive amount of practical information into a fast, focused format that covers traditional & online teaching as well as administrative issues. Each video is brief enough to fit busy schedules, but long enough to deliver valuable, actionable content. In only 20 minutes, a critical topic that affects the higher education landscape is effectively and efficiently covered, leaving you with actionable insights and information to take back to your campus.

View Schedule

What's Up Wednesday

The What's Up Wednesday series delivers weekly news about academic and international programs from the Offices of Provost, the Registrar, and International Education.

Faculty receive an email each Wednesday. W.U.W. provides timely messages about academic affairs, including but not limited to, grading deadlines, important academic calendar milestones, changes in academic administrative policies and procedures, curriculum management timelines, and other important information. 

Look for emails from whatsupwednesday@cofc.edu in your faculty inbox. 

 

Adjunct Faculty Development

The Office of the Provost supports adjunct faculty development opportunities that are offered by schools, departments, and programs. Please contact your department, program, or school for information. 

Chairs, Directors, of school coordinators may apply for funding for a development activity (e.g. refreshments and adjunct faculty compensation) using the Adjunct Professional Development Funding Authorization form and Adjunct Professional Development Transfer of Funds form. Submit the signed authorization form and any supporting documentation to the Office of the Provost at least 1-2 weeks PRIOR to the Adjunct Professional Development. Academic Affairs will review the request, complete Section 4, and return the form to allow the department/program to proceed with Section 5 for the preparation of payments and the transfer of funds.

.