Welcome to our World!

Over the past six years, Eastern Illinois University’s Faculty Development office has made significant contributions to the EIU learning community of scholars. Our motto, “Promoting the Wholesome Professor, while Providing Teaching, Research, and Service,” is based on five strands: physically fit, mentally ready, emotionally healthy, scholastically prepared, and socially engaged. Alexander and Helen Astin’s and Jennifer Lindholm's national study of spirituality in higher education finds that for both faculty and students, the search for wholeness, authenticity, renewal, meaning and purpose is central. Because of the various demands on the lives of academicians, conversations and dialogue on a holistic approach to faculty development are essential, requiring focus on the individual as well as the teacher within the learning community as a whole.

As an institution, we have responded by providing workshops, seminars, mentors, special receptions, faculty appreciation days, and national speakers to motivate, encourage and propel you to continue to enhance your journey as an academician. And you are a vital part of our success! You have encouraged new faculty by serving as mentors or simply with your presence at functions. As mid-career and veteran faculty, your dedication has been the hallmark of true leaders and you have served as role models in the areas of teaching, research and service. Life-long learning in the academy is essential and this year’s fall speaker, Dr. Laurie Richlin will present on “Evidence-based Learning” and “Getting Credit for What You Do” on November 5, 2009. (More information here) In the Spring semester, Dr. Pat Hutchings will help us with our Integrative Learning initiative on April 8, 2010, with “Integrative Learning: Challenges and Opportunities (Session for administrators)” and “More than the Sum of the Parts: Fostering Integrative Learning.” (More information here)

On behalf of President William Perry and Provost Blair Lord, we want to make certain that Faculty Development continues to be a rich resource for improving teaching and learning. We are working with each College Dean to provide opportunities to thrive in whatever area of Boyer’s work you are talented, whether in teaching, application, discovery or integration. As we strive to be the best in the nation in the integrated academic and personal development, we encourage you to attend workshops that apply to your specific needs so that we can grow together and better serve our students, beyond specific pedagogical or disciplinary contexts.

As we continue to thrive to be a relationship-driven campus, we will continue to celebrate “YOU” at our 5th Annual Faculty Appreciation Day, co-sponsored by Campus Recreation, will be held on September 18, 2009 from 6:00 – 9:00pm in the Intramural Fields. Registration for all events can be found at http://cats.eiu.edu/FacultyDevelopmentRegistration/index.asp

We wish you a productive year at EIU, where we believe in the importance of teaching and learning, giving and receiving, mentoring, modeling and growing our own in order to enhance those we serve, our students!

Remember, there can be NO new beginning without YOU!

Dr. Mildred M. Pearson
Associate Professor, Education
Director, Faculty Development

References

Astin, A., Astin, H. and Lindholm, J. (2008). Spirituality in Higher Education: A National Study of College Students' Search for Meaning and Purpose. Higher Education Research Institute. University of California, Los Angeles, CA. Accessed from http://spirituality.ucla.edu/research/index.html 

Boyer, E. L. (1990).  Scholarship reconsidered:  New priorities for the professoriate. Princeton, NJ:  The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.