The Center for Teaching and Research Excellence (CTRE)

The CTRE is a unit within the Library and Instruction Services and is comprised of two areas of responsibility: 1) faculty development; and 2) online learning.

It is managed by a director who reports to the Associate Dean of Library and Instruction Services. Staff is hired to work within a specific area of the CTRE; however, extensive collaboration is expected between the two areas. The online learning area has a program specialist, an instructional specialist, and an instructional system administrator. The faculty development area has a program specialist. Both areas and the director are supported by an office administrator.

Student workers, graduate assistants, and interns are brought on staff as needed to provide necessary coverage and assistance.

Core Functions

Support to Enhance Teaching and Research

Faculty development activities offered by the CTRE to support faculty in their teaching and research take the form of workshops, mini-grants, individual consultations, access to off-campus meetings and events, and the provision of online resources. Outside organizations and conferences have been utilized in the past when funding was available.

The various areas where support is provided to faculty focus on online instruction, teaching, research, and individual professional development.

Support for Online Instruction

The CTRE supports faculty (and students) in the use of Moodle, our online learning management system. A formal process for training faculty and managing the quality of online courses is underway. The CTRE plans to increase the number of departments offering online and hybrid courses and the number of courses offered through targeted planning and initiatives.

Support for Improved Teaching

In order to provide additional opportunities and information to the faculty, the CTRE holds a membership with the following organizations:

• Faculty Resource Network (FRN) - This organization out of New York University organizes programs and events year-round, providing faculty from member institutions with a broad range of faculty development opportunities ranging from intensive summer seminars, longer research residencies, lunchtime lectures, panel discussions, national symposia, and more.

• Professional and Organizational Development Network in Higher Education (POD) - This organization provides support and services for its members through publications, conferences, consulting, and networking to those interested in and responsible for faculty development in higher education.

• Chicago Area Faculty Development Network (CAFDN) - The Chicago Area Faculty Development Network is a non-profit consortium of colleges and universities dedicated to promoting the improvement of college teaching by providing a convenient and affordable way for professionals to exchange information and best practices in the field.

• Illinois Online Network (ION) - ION provides faculty professional development courses, onsite presentations, annual conferences, and access to an online rubric to assess and guide the development of online courses.

• Consortium for Illinois Learning Communities (CILC) - This organization seeks to promote and support the development of learning communities in Illinois colleges and universities. The CILC sponsors an annual best practices symposium, offers expertise to institutions seeking to develop learning communities, and provides a means of facilitating collaboration between member institutions.

• Chicago Area Assessment Group (CAAG) - The mission of the Chicago Area Assessment Group is to advance understanding of assessment and its impact on college and university planning and effectiveness. Its goal is to serve as a professional peer group that provides a forum for sharing good practices, soliciting feedback and creating an open dialogue for gathering information and thinking through ideas. It is an informal group of approximately 15 institutions that meet periodically in the city to share assessment best practices.

Support for Improved Research - Seed Grants

Seed Grants are the primary method provided by the CTRE to support faculty research initiatives is through the provision of research seed grants. These grants are available to faculty members to help develope proposals for external funding or to support long-term research projects that are already underway.

Support for Professional Development - Enrichment Grants

Faculty Enrichment Grants are awarded annually and the CTRE is responsible for coordination of the grant application process, which includes a faculty review panel. The award is typically used to subsidize travel, professional development activities, or needed equipment.

Support for Student Engagement - Student Engagement Grants

The Student Engagement Grant is a pilot project to encourage the active engagement of faculty with our students outside the traditional classroom. By providing financial resources, we are hoping faculty members will be encouraged to develop creative ways to connect with our students. These connections should help our students explore new ideas, cultures, and experiences, while being able to engage with faculty outside the traditional role of instructor-student.