Faculty Development at Westmont
The Goals of our Faculty Development Program
We hope that our faculty will grow throughout their time at Westmont as practitioners of their disciplines, as teachers, as Christian thinkers, and as individuals.
We hope that our faculty will grow as a community of Christian teacher-scholars—that our concerns and interests will complement one another and we will discover new horizons for teaching, scholarship, and service.
New Initiatives 2012-13
| Grant Writing |
| Pedagogical Enrichment |
Resources for Interdisciplinary Pursuits (applications due October 1)
| Faculty Interdisciplinary Study Grants | Reading Groups |
| Interdisciplinary Curriculum Grants | Wandering Scholar |
Resources for Individual Scholarship and Teaching
| Sabbaticals (applications due Oct. 1) | Professional Development Account |
| Professional Development Grants (applications due Nov. 1) | Library Cubicles (applications due Sep. 1) |
Reports
Professional Development Grant Reports
Program Descriptions
Grant Writing
Faculty who prepare and submit an application for funding to an outside foundation, corporation, or agency may receive up to $200 additional money in their professional dvelopment accounts, to be spent within the next 12 months (these awards are for grant applications other than those being made in connection with the Presidential Planning Grants). Faculty should submit an Academic Grant Worksheet to the Vice Provost and schedule a meeting. After meeting with the Vice Provost, faculty can begin working with the appropriate people in the Office of College Advancement (OCA). The professional development money will be made available upon completion of the outside grant application. Amount awarded will depend on the nature of the grant application and the availability of funds.
Pedagogical Enrichment
Initiaives will be posted here and announced in Faculty Meetings.
Interdisciplinary Study Grants (applications due October 1)
An annual grant to one or more faculty study groups who wish to give sustained time and energy to the exploration of an interdisciplinary question with particular connections to the Christian community. The assumption is that this grant may provide seed money for a project that might later result in further funding from summer development money.
To apply, submit a proposal to the Provost's Office with the following:
- 3-4 faculty from at least 3 disciplines – with some statement of each faculty's interest and expertise in the area of study being proposed.
- A specific question to be addressed: one that has some history (it might be a variation on one of the "classic" questions or one of more recent origin, but there ought to be a body of existing literature as a point of departure); one that clearly invites interdisciplinary dialogue; one that has special connections to the Christian community – either in terms of what the Christian tradition might contribute to the dialogue, or in terms of the challenge that the question poses to the Christian community.
- A plan of study. This should include at least the following items: a time frame (up to one year); a fairly specific statement of what is to be accomplished; a general strategy for pursuing that goal.
- A Budget.
- A Plan of Accountability: Though there will be flexibility in this matter, each study group will be responsible for at least one concrete contribution to the Westmont community so that we will all benefit from your work. It may also include a projected contribution to the larger academic community or to the church. (This plan might include some combination of the following: production of a reading list, a bibliographic essay, an original essay or article, a presentation at Faculty Exchange, creation of a new class, etc.)
Interdisciplinary Curriculum Grants (applications due October 1)
Oversight - Interdisciplinary learning, as a curricular approach that consciously applies methodology and terminology from more than one discipline, emphasizes connections between traditionally discrete disciplines rather than limiting learning to one content area at a time. When teaching and learning are organized around themes, issues, or problems studentspursue knowledge and skills from a variety of disciplines to provide an expanded and more complex understanding of the topics they are studying. The Interdisciplinary Curriculum Development Grant is awarded and administered by the Provost Office to support and promote interdisciplinary learning at Westmont. The grant must be used in ways that enhance interdisciplinary curriculum development and learning on campus in general education, major courses, or applied courses.
Funding - One interdisciplinary curriculum development grant is available for each academic year in the amount of $3000 paid in two installments. The first installment of $1500 will be paid immediately after receiving the electronic confirmation of acceptance; the second installment of $1500 will be paid after
- the course/courses proposal with clearly articulated, meaningful, and measurable student learning outcomes has been submitted to the Academic Senate Review Committee for revision and approval;
- the final report has been filed with the Provost Office.
Competitive - Receiving an interdisciplinary curriculum development grant is a competitive process; not all applications are funded. Each application is judged on its own merit based on: 1) stated purpose, 2) proposed budget, and 3) available interdisciplinary curriculum development grant funds.
Eligibility - All academic departments and programs are eligible to apply. The Interdisciplinary Curriculum Development Grant application must identify the faculty requesting the grant and, if different, the person administering the grant. If the grant is funded, these identified persons assume responsibility for completing the project as stated and ensuring the grant funds are spent in accordance with the approved budget. The grant can be awarded to two or more faculty members or a faculty learning community who wish todedicate substantial time and energy to developing an interdisciplinary course or cluster of courses, or to significantly modify and restructure the already existing course(s) to be taught within an interdisciplinary framework, including but not limited to team- taught courses; learning community linked or clustered courses; a learning community within autonomous classes; learning communities with a service-learning component; or interdisciplinary capstone courses and senior seminars.
The monies cannot be used for funding guest speakers or organizing and facilitating co-curricular events even if the aforementioned activities can contribute to interdisciplinary learning.
Reporting - A written report is required and should be submitted to the Provost Office at the end of the grant period. While no particular form is required, the report must clearly state
- which new or significantly amended interdisciplinary course or courses has/have been developed and submitted to the Academic Senate Review Committee. The course syllabus or syllabi with clear and measurable student learning outcomes should be attached to the report.
- how the grant money was spent.
Grant holders may be asked to present their work at various College forums.
Application process - At least two faculty from two different disciplines, or faculty and co-curricular specialist or administrator should submit the request to the Provost that clearly state
1. their learning objectives, interest and expertise in the area of the proposed curriculum development
2. intended student learning outcomes for the proposed interdisciplinary course or courses
3. a clear identification of how the course/courses connect to and contribute to the Christian community and holistic development of Westmont students
4. an action plan including:
- a time frame (up to one year)
- a specific statement of what is to be accomplished
- a general strategy for pursuing the goal
- a fairly specific statement of how course learning outcomes in the proposed interdisciplinary course or cluster of courses will be assessed
5. project budget
Timelines - The following dates govern the interdisciplinary curriculum development grant process:
Deadline to submit an application: October 1
Funding notification: the applicants will be notified by the second week of October, the work on the grant proposal should begin immediately after funding notification.
Final Report due: Upon submitting the course/courses proposal to the Academic Senate Review Committee for revision and approval.
Reading Groups (applications due October 1)
Have you ever thought that you would like to read about a particular topic with colleagues from another discipline?
Have you ever thought that you would like to read some of the classic writings in theology, as part of developing a deeper framework for "faithful scholarship?"
This is your chance. . .
The Provost Office will be authorizing money again this fall for the formation of new Faculty Reading Groups
What is the purpose of these "Reading Groups?'
- To cultivate faculty growth as individuals in community.
- In particular, to help the faculty develop deeper sensitivity and deeper sophistication as Christian thinkers and as interdisciplinary thinkers.
- To help faculty enrich their library in general resources.
What do you need to do to form your own group?
1. Find 3-5 other faculty members from 2 or more disciplines.
2. Choose a reading program that has either a theological or inter-disciplinary
emphasis. (For example: this would be an ideal opportunity to read more in areas related to ethnic and gender diversity.) The program should challenge you, but should also be realistic in terms of time. Better to succeed and to want more than to be frustrated.
(The program might run for the semester or the year)
3. Plan a schedule of meetings.
4. Submit a budget. The money is designed to cover books and refreshments, rather than time.
Proposals should be submitted to the Provost's Office by October 1. They need not be lengthy or elaborate. Include names of participants, the material to be read, and a budget.
Wandering Scholar (applications due October 1)
Provides a course release to allow a faculty member to take a course from a colleague in another discipline. Submit proposal to the Provost's Office by October 1 for a course release for the following academic year. Proposal should name the course one plans to take along with a brief rationale. This program is designed to encourage the development of interdisciplinary expertise, to model ongoing learning for our students, and to enrich informal conversations within the community.
Sabbaticals (applications due October 1)
See http://www.westmont.edu/_offices/provost/Sabbatical.html for a description. The online application form will be available here beginning September 3. Sabbatical applications require chair approval. Chairs will be asked to submit load reports for the following academic year before sabbaticals will be approved by the provost.
Online application:
Link available after May 15.
Online chair-approval form:
(Link available after May 15.)
Professional Development Grants (applications Due November 1)
Grants support scholarly or curricular projects. See
(Link available after May 15. )
Professional Development Account
Full-time faculty receive $500 per year to use for memberships in professional organizations, journal subscriptions and travel to local or regional meetings. Supplementary funds of up to $700 per year are available with prior authorization from the Vice Provost to cover conference expenses for faculty who are reading a paper, leading a session, or participating as a member of an organizational ruling body. To draw on these funds, submit receipts to the Administrative Assistant in the Provost’s Office.
Library Cubicles
Available on a semester-by-semester basis, cubicles provide a private study space in Voskuyl Library. Application forms are available here: http://forms.westmont.edu/forms/provost/cubicle/request.php