Scholarship & Support

Faculty Development

"I hadn't realized how much support a small college could provide for our professional development ... the college makes it possible to stay active in their field and to grow as educators and researchers. I think it is also important that many of my colleagues believe that those last two pursuits, education and research, when done most effectively, are not mutually exclusive and are both accomplished, first and foremost, to the benefit of our students."
Dr. Ian Harrington, assistant professor of psychology

Augustana College actively supports the development of its 172 full-time teacher-scholars. The college operates on three ten-week trimesters, with opportunities for summer and international teaching. Faculty salaries are in the top third for all liberal arts colleges. With exceptions noted below, the standard teaching load is seven courses (2-2-3), the average class size is 22 and the student:faculty ratio is below 12:1. In addition to a collegial pre-tenure review system, Augustana supports the growth of its faculty through a substantial, continually-evolving array of programs.

Support for teaching development

First year course release: All tenure-track faculty have a reduced teaching load of 18 credit hours (2-2-2 in most disciplines other than science) in the first year.

The New Faculty Orientation Program and the Teaching Circle Sessions provides new faculty with programming lasting throughout their first year at the college. The programs engage colleagues in conversations about developing careers as teachers and scholars, introduces the college and its various areas, division and programs. Teaching Circle sessions focus on issues related to teaching and learning and include such topics as reaching the typical Augustana student, improving a course syllabus, evaluating writing assignments, fostering critical thinking, preparing for pre-tenure and tenure evaluation or discussing case studies. The Augustana Center for Teaching and Learning provides additional resources on teaching pedagogy including mentoring groups, a teaching and learning Moodle site as well as material available in the Tredway Library. Moodle is a course management software package akin to WebCT or Blackboard.

Augustana provides substantial information technology support to its faculty. ITS has two educational technology specialists, one full-time and one half-time. These individuals assist faculty in learning how to effectively integrate technology into their teaching. Faculty development is fostered through an annual series of workshops offered the week following graduation ceremonies in May. Typical offerings include course management, digital imaging and video, and a "best practices showcase" of projects faculty have implemented in the past academic year.

To help support student research as a teaching strategy, Augustana provides research and travel funding for student scholars.

In support of the general education program, Augustana sponsors workshops throughout the year on topics such as how to teach and assess student writing, incorporating original research into class assignments, and teaching ethical behavior.

The annual end-of-summer faculty retreat brings together all faculty for presentations on topics of common concern and faculty-designed workshops. The 2007 keynote address, "Survival Skills for Instructors in Higher Education," was delivered by Dr. Peter Saunders who directs the Center for Teaching and Learning at Oregon State. Saunders also led small group work sessions on managing student collaborative teams. Two other major presentations (on diversity issues and on demographic shifts in the decade ahead) and 14 other work sessions (on topics ranging from "incorporating oral communication assignments in your courses" to "writing, critical thinking and civic engagement") also took place.

Departments often offer course packs – sample syllabi, textbooks, assignments, and readings – for new colleagues preparing for their first term's classes.

Support for professional development

The college provides an optional pre-tenure sabbatical in the third year for new faculty.

Our professional meeting allowance provides $1000 annually to attend professional meetings. A $500 supplementary allowance is available for presenters.

All new faculty may apply to the New Faculty Research Fund for up to $4000 in support for research per year (in any of the four areas of scholarship defined by Ernest Boyer) in their first three years of service to Augustana. Those funds can be combined with the grants mentioned below.

The Faculty Research Committee funds creative and scholarly work. Funds are available for such items as student salaries, special equipment, supplies, computer time, typing costs, journal page costs, work in major archives, and additional study. On average, the Committee funds 65% of requests.

Bridge Funding is available for faculty with equipment needs related to their research. This fund enables faculty to build on their research in anticipation of a grant application.

Each summer, Augustana sponsors stipends for several dozen Faculty-Student Fellowships for collaborative research projects.

All faculty are eligible to apply for a three-credit Major Project Course Release each year for the completion of a major project.

Each year, the president offers summer Presidential Research Fellowships of $4000 plus $750 in expenses.

The academic grants officers encourage, assist and support faculty and administrators as they seek internal and external funding sources for projects that enhance the college's ability to achieve its mission, that strengthen academic and college departments, and that lead to greater professional development. The grants officers can help you identify opportunities, write proposals, create budgets, coordinate approvals and administer the awards.

The dean's office has sponsored several intensive, week-long From Idea to Article workshops for faculty members working to finalize journal submissions (or, in some cases, dissertations). The workshops are part of a national series facilitated by Sonja Foss of the University of Colorado, Denver.

The Friday Conversations Series provides an opportunity for faculty to share their scholarly work, report on sabbatical leaves, introduce new publications and research with the larger Augustana community. The series also includes guest scholars from outside the college to present on areas of interest to the campus.

The dean's weekly Faculty Newsletter offers continuing updates on new grants, grant opportunities, conference sponsorships and speakers.

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