UML Cuts Ribbon on Space for Collaboration and Innovation at University Crossing
Image by Ed Brennen
Chancellor Julie Chen, left, cuts the ribbon on the new Faculty Success Center at University Crossing with Vice Provost for Academic Affairs Julie Nash and Provost Joe Hartman.
03/24/2023
By Ed Brennen
鈥淣ever let a crisis go to waste,鈥� said Vice Provost for Academic Affairs听Julie Nash, echoing the words of Winston Churchill, as she welcomed dozens of faculty, staff and administrators to the center鈥檚 ceremonial grand opening. 鈥淲ith the pandemic, we were able to see that teaching doesn鈥檛 happen in a vacuum. We need a space where people can come together and support their teaching and careers.鈥�
Located on the first floor of University Crossing Building B (UC-140), the Faculty Success Center brings three resources together under one roof: the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning听(CELT),听Academic and Instructional Technology听and the听ADVANCE Office for Faculty Equity.
While UML is first and foremost an institution of learning for students, Chancellor听Julie Chen听noted that it鈥檚 also a place where faculty, staff and administrators continue to learn and create new ideas.
鈥淭his space is about faculty being able to test new ideas and support each other, and for staff to be a part of that,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t will be exciting to see this place bustling.鈥�
Image by Ed Brennen
Faculty and staff chat during the opening of the Faculty Success Center at University Crossing's Building B.
In addition to spaces for meetings and workshops, the center has a听Faculty Technology Sandbox听where faculty can try instructional tools such as lightboards, virtual whiteboards and one-button lecture recording. Faculty can email听classrooms@uml.edu听to schedule a training session.
There is also a library featuring faculty-authored books and a collection of pedagogy-related publications on topics such as assessment and universal design. The library is curated by the CELT strategy team of Nash,听Shaima Ragab听(Director of Faculty Success),听Donna Mellen听(Director of Academic Technology),听Paula Haines听(Senior Director of Curriculum Assessment and Accreditation) and Patrick Connell (Executive Director of Online Learning and Faculty Development for Graduate & Professional Studies).
鈥淚t鈥檚 great to see the faculty-authored books in one place. I wasn鈥檛 aware of all the different things our faculty were doing,鈥�听Amit Deokar, associate dean for undergraduate programs in the听Manning School of Business, said after browsing the titles.
The center鈥檚 walls, meanwhile, are decorated with works by five faculty members from the听Art & Design Department: Assoc. Prof.听Pouya Afshar, Assoc. Teaching Prof.听Regina Milan, Asst. Teaching Profs.听Melissa Schrenker听and听Pavel Romaniko听and adjunct听Meghan Ambra.
The center officially opened its doors at the beginning of the semester and, for its first in-person event, hosted a faculty panel discussion on incorporating the artificial intelligence application ChatGPT in the classroom. A follow-up discussion is planned for late April.
鈥淲e鈥檙e hoping this will be a focal point where all faculty, whether they鈥檙e adjunct or have been here for 10 years, can come together for a coffee and discuss topics,鈥� Ragab said. 鈥淲hether they鈥檙e perfecting a skill or learning a completely new skill, that鈥檚 what we鈥檙e here for.鈥�