University 101 Professional Development

Faculty development is the key to a successful first-year seminar. In reality, the course is only as good as the instructor leading a given section. University 101 can be a rich and rewarding teaching experience. It can also be challenging. The content of University 101 is outside of most instructors’ discipline, the needs of students are constantly evolving, and many instructors do not have formal training in teaching and learning theory. As such, it is important to provide a high level of support and development to enable instructors to be as effective as possible in the classroom.

The annual professional development plan provides ongoing, targeted, assessment-driven resources and workshops for instructors of all experience levels. Starting with the Teaching Experience Workshop, which is required of all new instructors, prospective instructors learn and practice pedagogies relevant to an effective seminar. Beyond this one-time workshop, instructors have the opportunity throughout the year to enhance their knowledge and skills related to teaching University 101. During the spring we host two required events: the syllabus preparation workshop and the Building Connections Conference. Optional events are provided throughout the summer and fall, including a series of workshops, faculty meetings, brown bag lunches, and colleague clusters.

In addition to these valuable workshops, instructors have access to significant resources, including a faculty resource manual and SharePoint intranet that provide example lesson plans, talking points, activities, and assignments. Based on assessment findings, these resources are updated several times a year to reflect the ideas and strategies that have been shown to work.

Please click on the components below to learn more about the University 101 instructors, workshops, and resources.