Western Carolina University

Faculty Center for Excellence in Teaching & Learning
166 Hunter Library, Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, NC 28723
Ben Ward, Director

Western Carolina University is a public, Comprehensive I institution with about 6,000 undergrad. students, 300 grad. students, and 350 faculty.

The Center was established in 1988. In 1995, the unit was merged with the University Media Center in order to provide greater support for instructional technology and distance learning. The Center reports to the Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, and the program is guided by a faculty steering committee. The staff includes three Faculty Fellows, who are tenured faculty members each with 25% (one course) release time, a director, an associate director for instructional development, and an associate director for technical services. Support staff includes two media specialists, a video lab assistant, an A/V technician, two office assistants, work-study students and graduate assistants.

The mission of the Faculty Center is "to foster a campus climate where teaching is highly valued and excellence in teaching is the norm." Activities are designed to spread excitement for teaching and learning by featuring faculty who are enthusiastic and creative in their teaching. Major goals are to engage faculty, students, and administrators in a lively exchange of ideas on teaching and learning, and to create frequent opportunities for faculty members to enhance their teaching expertise.

Examples of activities and services include:

´Faculty Project Teams, groups of volunteers who share an interest in projects such as examining campus-wide procedures for evaluating and rewarding teaching, establishing a University Club, using cooperative learning as a teaching tool, and organizing a computer users group on instructional technology.

´Annual Celebration of Teaching Day, featuring 8 instructors who demonstrate specific teaching/learning strategies.

´Consultation on course development, lesson plans, and applications of instructional technology

´The "Faculty Sandbox," a place where faculty can "play" with instructional media, with staff assistance, to develop instructional materials

´Faculty Forum, a2 pg. monthly publication featuring provocative opinion pieces onlocal campus issues, written by WCU faculty

´Newfaculty mentoring program

´A lending library of professional literature on college teachig

Microgrants: travel funds for workshops on teaching, up to $700/event

´Instructional Improvement Grants: 4-8 grants per yr., $1,000-$1500 ea., for supplies and services for redesigning a course

´"Beyond the Classroom" Award: $2,500 to an academic department that promotes learning that goes beyond basic course and curriculum requirements

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