Attachment #6 – Partnership Update
MNSCU PARTNERSHIP FOR FACULTY DEVELOPMENT
Planning Group Activities – Spring 2013
Faculty and staff from four colleges and universities met on January 11, 2013 to explore how they and
interested others might join forces to partner on developing and offering systemwide faculty
development programs. They formed a planning group to work in spring 2013 on a.) focus-group
conversations at colleges and universities, and b.) development of a shared-services business plan. The
group’s efforts will begin in February with conversations facilitated by Professor Stewart Ross.
At the end of the spring 2013 feedback/information-gathering process, a report and Partnership
Business Plan will be prepared and shared with chief academic officers at their May statewide meeting.
The planning group envisions seeking Leadership Council approval for the plan in June, 2013. The
working assumptions are outlined below. The partnership is envisioned as a non-profit, self-supporting
cooperative, and the assumption is that costs of the program will be supported by payments from other
colleges interested in shared offerings for their faculty. Additional assumptions and details are outlined
below. Beyond these beginning ideas, the group has formed no closed framework or firm plans and is
seeking the best thinking and guidance of our faculty and academic leaders.
If you are interested in providing feedback on this concept, and perhaps in joining the partnership or
the planning group, you are invited to contact Dr. Ross (Stewart.Ross@mnsu.edu) or other members
of the planning group to schedule a focus group interview at your college or university. Full contact
information is provided below. The group hopes to engage all of the Minnesota State Colleges and
Universities in the focus groups this spring, and eventually in the partnership.
MODEL: SYSTEMWIDE PARTNERSHIP FOR FACULTY DEVELOPMENT
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Open-ended (expect it to start with limited programs, but grow out of partnership)
Will depend on "contribution/membership" campus funds
Will definitely depend on shared faculty expertise and campus resources (programs, speakers,
facilities, technologies, etc.)
Will be accessed through system-office web portal, but not all web-delivered
PURPOSE
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Improve student success (learning outcomes, persistence and completion; align instruction and
active academic advising; improve connections and relationships campus and system-wide)
Aid faculty in working with increasingly diverse student body (underserved, first generation,
adults)
Aid faculty in designing/redesigning quality courses to create extraordinary learning experiences
and outcomes
Increase student engagement (through quality courses/teaching) in their education
Provide tools for all faculty as lifelong learners and teachers
Offer opportunities for faculty networking to share innovative practices
Attachment #6 – Partnership Update
TIMELINE
January, 2013:
Planning committee members of 4 institutions (MSU-Mankato, Century, Winona
State, Hennepin Tech) shares this plan with our CAO and/or President
January 24
Present to system-level Academic Affairs Council
February – April Gather input and assess needs. Send invitation for campus visits via facdevteams@googlegroups.com. Campus visits for conversations with individuals and
focus groups (Share questions, ask who else to interview, identify questions for later
survey). Develop crowd sourcing site and send invitation to participate.
April
Survey about website/portal (faculty and admin versions)
April 12
Planning group meeting to finalize needs and resource assessment, partnership plan
May 22-23
Presentation to CAOs; discussion (at spring meeting)
June
Presentation to Leadership Council; presidents’ signatures
September
Web portal goes live. Partnership begins designing, offering services
SOME QUESTIONS FOR CONSIDERATION
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How do we ensure that learning opportunities are project- or problem-based and that a slate of
workshops is not the goal, but the means to accomplish larger learning outcomes?
(development programs occur over time, situated in real course and curriculum development –
not just one time workshops)
How can we tie faculty development programs into reward system of needed credentials, PDPs,
etc.?
PLANNING GROUP CONTACTS
Michele Neaton michele.neaton@century.edu
Communication Instructor
Century College
651-779-3245
Stewart Ross stewart.ross@mnsu.edu
Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning
Minnesota State University, Mankato
507-389-1098
Zala Fashant zfashant@hennepintech.edu
Dean, General Education
Hennepin Technical College
763-488-2549
Patrick Paulson ppaulson@winona.edu
Professor, Business Administration
Winona State University
507-457-5581
Lynda Milne lynda.milne@so.mnscu.edu
Interim Senior System Director,
Extraordinary Education/Student Success
Minnesota State Colleges & Universities
651-201-1887