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Faculty Affairs

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Faculty Development

Center for the Advancement of Teaching (CAT)

The Center for the Advancement of Teaching (CAT) promotes the value and practice of excellent teaching, teaching that facilitates student learning and growth. CAT’s programs and resources support evidence-based teaching and provide opportunities for faculty and TAs to learn from the experience and expertise of their colleagues and build instructional technology skills.

Provost’s Teaching Academy

Each summer, the CAT hosts The Provost’s Teaching Academy (PTA), an intensive six-week academy for Temple educators on the research and practice of teaching excellence. CAT staff facilitate sessions on topics including student development theory, integrated course design, active learning, assessing student learning, teaching for equity, and developing a reflective teaching practice. Faculty who complete PTA continue to support the CAT’s mission by promoting learner-centered teaching in their departments and colleges, working with the CAT to support the growth of evidence-based teaching practices, and modeling what they have learned in their own work with students.

Interdisciplinary Collaboration

The Office of the Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs is dedicated to helping faculty connect with other members of the Temple community in activities that require interdisciplinary collaboration and mentoring, such as interdisciplinary course development, interdisciplinary research and scholarship, and interdisciplinary creative projects. Faculty may wish to receive guidance on how to use different forms of communication to disseminate interdisciplinary discoveries and practices to internal and external audiences. One of the ways we aim to increase interdisciplinary activity is through a coordinated approach by the newly created Faculty Development and Collaboration Hub (FDC-Hub).

Leadership and Mentorship Programming

The university community is committed to providing excellent resources and support that help faculty reach their professional goals. All faculty have access to professional development opportunities, largely free of charge, that cater to their career progression as well as their skills, competencies and ambitions. Professional development classes are conveniently scheduled and held in a comfortable space on campus.

Information Technology Services

Information Technology Services (ITS) provides the university with comprehensive services and support that contribute to excellence in teaching, research and administration. ITS works closely with faculty to understand their technology needs and is very responsive to ideas for innovation and personalization.

LinkedIn Learning

Faculty and staff can access a free online unlimited subscription library of high-quality instructional videos presented by recognized industry experts on the latest software tools (i.e. Canvas and Microsoft Office) and skills.

Associate Deans Support

Team members from the Office of the Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs (OVPFA), including representatives of the Center for the Advancement of Teaching (CAT), meet several times each semester with associate, vice and deputy deans that lead faculty affairs portfolios. These sessions are designed to support professional development and peer-to-peer learning among all leaders supporting faculty affairs and faculty development across schools and colleges and centrally. The meetings cover latest updates and current issues and create a space for faculty affairs leaders to pose questions, identify critical issues and offer novel strategies for better supporting faculty success and advancement. CAT representatives also meet with academic associate deans, as needed, to collaborate on university-wide academic initiatives and to provide support to schools and colleges for their academic work.

 

Dept. Chair/Program Director Support

The Office of the Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs (OVPFA), is strongly committed to supporting and building the capacity of departmental chairs in their critical roles as faculty leaders. Chairs are on the front lines of faculty activity, behavior and culture. In support of their multi-faceted roles, the OVPFA works to educate chairs on the university ecosystem of supports and resources that offer specialist knowledge and expertise on a range of topics including but not limited to Human Resources, ethics and compliance, equity and inclusion, information technology, teaching and learning, research and leadership and development opportunities for faculty and faculty leaders. As part of the OVPFA, the Center for the Advancement of Teaching routinely shares with chairs the range of programming, consultations, workshops and customized solutions they offer to chairs and their faculty.

In August 2024, the OVPFA hosted its inaugural day-long Chairs’ Retreat, which will continue to be an annual tradition. Chairs’ development sessions are hosted several times per semester in hybrid format.

 

Global Engagement Opportunities for Temple Faculty

Temple faculty are crucial to the mission and efforts of Global Engagement. It is only in partnership with Temple faculty that we are able to create and promote global educational opportunities that enrich the Temple community.