Faculty Professional Development Opportunities
Policy: Board of Regents Policy Manual, Section 8.3.13 & Section 8.2.7.4, http://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section8/
GCSU Faculty Development Resources
Faculty are evaluated based on instruction, student success activities, research/scholarship, and service. Decisions regarding tenure, promotion, and merit are made on the basis of faculty performance within these areas. Given the importance of faculty performance, it is equally important that Georgia College & State University also provide faculty with support in meeting the expectations for faculty performance. That is why faculty development resources are so vital to the development of a vibrant teaching and learning environment. This page provides a brief overview of general faculty development resources at GCSU.
New Faculty Orientation & Mentoring
In early August of each year, new faculty members are welcomed to Georgia College & State University. A variety of informational and social orientation activities are offered for new faculty at that time and throughout the academic year. A faculty mentoring program, teaming new faculty with experienced faculty, exists to provide on-going assistance. The Center for Teaching and Learning,multi-day orientation that highlights resources and responsibilities of being a faculty member at GCSU. Throughout the academic year a Faculty Mentor Program continues acclimating new faculty to GCSU. There are monthly meetings where new faculty and their mentors discuss teaching techniques and other issues. Through the new Faculty Mentoring Program, new faculty gain an understanding and appreciation of the institutional context, the expectations for faculty members, and the available resources to help faculty meet these expectations.
Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL)
CTL focuses on faculty success by creating a single entity that encompasses faculty development, and instructional design and support. It addresses advancements in teaching and learning and finding innovative approaches to engaging learning in hands-on, active learning approaches. CTL coordinates existing and new initiatives related to teaching and learning and provides support to Georgia College’s instructional base. CTL is a one-stop shop that advances faculty success.
The Academic Affairs Small Grants Program provides seed funding up to $5,000 for faculty research projects. Funds can be used for supplies, equipment, software, or travel expenses incurred in carrying out the research. Faculty Research Grant Committee members individually read and rank research proposals using a rubric to make funding decisions. The calls for proposals are every fall and spring semester.
Higher education seeks to serve a variety of faculty, staff and students in a world including greater diversity of thought, global connections, experiences, and cultures. To understand the impact diversity has on an institution’s constituents, research is necessary to explore campus practices, policies, infrastructure, and procedures. More specifically, research is needed to understand how to foster the development of one’s learning skills when working with people from different backgrounds, demographics, and perspectives. Such efforts will help members of the Georgia College & State University community develop and thrive in an ever-changing world.
Every year there is a call for nominations for faculty awards in the three general areas of teaching, scholarly/artistic endeavors, and service. Review of these nominations is by a peer group of faculty based on stated criteria. A cash award for the winners of these awards is provided by the Georgia College & State University Foundation Heritage Fund. For more specific information on the award processes see the "Faculty Awards" in this Policy Manual.
Part of the mission of GC Journeys is to engage our learners with real-world problems in real-world settings. Doing so provides learners with experiences and activities that they will face when they leave our programs. To aid in this process, institutions engage their students in community-based engaged learning.
Collaborative research involves scholars from across disciplines working together to address a common research goal or question. Collaborating on a common goal utilizes different perspectives and disciplines combining their respective skills and backgrounds to study and understand unique and diverse problems. Conducting collaborative research allows for the sharing of knowledge, data, resources, equipment, while developing trust and reciprocity among the participants. Such efforts bring about a synergistic effect of innovative problem solving, creative thinking, new approaches, while enabling greater discussion during the research process.
Office of Grants and Sponsored Projects
The faculty and staff of Georgia College & State University are encouraged to obtain external funding in the form of grants for various projects and programs. This funding allows the University to expand and enhance the variety of opportunities available in the University community. Support includes the following activities:
- Finding grant opportunities
- Proposal preparation
- Editing and proofreading drafts and final copies
- Budget preparation and justifications
- Compliance review with the Request for Proposals and with GC guidelines
- University routing
- Submissions
- Post-award help
- Resources for successful grant activities include:
- A monthly newsletter of grant opportunities
- Workshops on such topics as how to use grant databases effectively, how to prepare successful proposals, including budgets and budget narratives.
- Web Conferences with National Program Officers
The Office of Grants and Sponsored Projects, located in Chappell Hall, houses grant resources and provides support to assist faculty and staff with grant seeking and grant writing during the initial stage of grant proposal preparation. Through the Office of Grants and Sponsored Projects, faculty and staff members have access to grant databases
University System of Georgia Opportunities
In addition to the support faculty receive from GCSU, there are additional opportunities for faculty development provided through the University System of Georgia. Faculty development opportunities are competitive across the System and have specific deadlines for each program. Selected opportunities include the following.
Faculty Development in Georgia (FDIG) is a doctoral level assistantship for faculty members teaching in Georgia institutions of higher learning. The Faculty Development in Georgia (FDIG) program, established in 1964 and conducted in cooperation with the University of Georgia Graduate School, gives faculty members from institutions across the state with demonstrated competence in teaching an opportunity to continue their graduate education on a full-time basis. FDIG provides an assistantship that will enrich the faculty member's professional and academic endeavors, and ensures an academic year of full-time doctoral study at the University of Georgia in the faculty member's chosen field.
The Governor's Teaching Fellows Program was established by Zell Miller, governor of Georgia, 1991-1999, to provide Georgia's higher education faculty with expanded opportunities for developing important teaching skills. The Governor's Teaching Fellows Program is jointly sponsored by the Institute of Higher Education and the Center for Teaching and Learning at the University of Georgia.Governor's Teaching Fellows may participate in academic year symposia; an intensive summer symposium; or an academic-year residency at the University of Georgia. Past symposia have addressed numerous topics in using technology in the classroom and other pedagogical innovations.
USG Opportunities for Teaching Abroad
In addition to the teaching opportunities provided by GCSU, the University System of Georgia offers numerous international programs offered during Maymester and summer terms. Faculty from across the System are invited to teach in these programs. These programs provide an excellent opportunity for faculty to work with their peers from other institutions and teach students from across the system institutions. For more information, see: https://www.usg.edu/international_education/
Educational and Professional Leave (with and without pay)
Tuition Assistance Program
Updated November 13, 2023