Allegheny College provides a range of resources to support the professional development of its faculty. A brief summary of these resources is provided here. Resources for teaching and advising are located on the Learning Commons pages. Please contact Associate Dean of the College Ben Slote at bslote@allegheny.edu for more information about our faculty development program.
Professional Development Funds
All continuing faculty are eligible for up to $1600 to support research and teaching. Travel to conferences at which the faculty member presents a paper or plays an official role is fully reimbursable. Other professional development expenses are reimbursable at two-thirds of the actual cost. Questions about the program should be directed to Associate Dean Ben Slote.
Requests for reimbursement should be submitted to the Dean's Office on the appropriate form. To ensure that the anticipated reimbursement will materialize or to receive a travel advance, faculty are encouraged to have their travel funding pre-approved by submitting a completed Faculty Travel Authorization Form to the Dean's Office. Hard copies of the forms are available from departmental secretaries or Samantha Stephens in the Dean's Office.
Academic Support Committee Funds
Continuing faculty can apply for funding from the committee to support specific projects. In practice, awards are limited to $2500, with the exception of funding for first sabbatical leaves, which may be as high as $3500. More information is available at the committee's web site.
Learning, Information, and Technology Services
Pelletier Library is committed to providing faculty access to the resources they need for their teaching and research. Faculty are encouraged to contact library staff with questions about materials for their specific research or teaching needs. In addition, the library maintains a collection of books on teaching and related topics of interest to faculty. The collection is located near the circulation desk on the main floor.
Support for technology is shared by Pelletier Library and Computing Services. Pelletier houses Allegheny's instructional technologists who can help faculty develop their skills in the effective use of technology to support student learning. Computing Services is responsible for maintaining the infrastructure faculty require and maintains the technology assets on Allegheny's campus.
Allegheny's Leaning Commons, which is located in Pelletier Library, provides academic support for students and welcomes inquiries from faculty. The Learning Commons' services include consultations for writing, public speaking, technology use, time management, and study skills, in addition to coordinating accommodations for students with disabilities.
Faculty Orientation Lunch Seminars
A year-long program designed to support incoming faculty with resources for teaching and professional development, these bi-weekly seminars offer an informal setting for discussion and reflection. They provide an opportunity for faculty to share a meal, develop connections that cross disciplinary and departmental boundaries, and address concerns specific to the first year of teaching at Allegheny College.
Pre-Tenure Leave Program
Tenure-track faculty may apply through the department chairperson and the Academic Support Committee for a pre-tenure leave to study and travel in the interest of professional growth. Pre-tenure leaves provide for a one-semester leave at full pay with no responsibilities on campus to allow the faculty member extended time for conducting research or working on course development. Faculty members who take a pre-tenure leave are eligible to receive their first regular sabbatical leave after an additional six years of full-time teaching.
Sabbatical Leave Program
Faculty are eligible for a sabbatical leave every seven years. Applications for leave in the next academic year should be sent to the Academic Support Committee and are due by November 1. More information is available in the Faculty Handbook and at the Academic Support Committee's web site.
Demmler Awards for Teaching Innovation
The Demmler Endowment provides up to $6000 to one or more faculty members for projects that involve innovative teaching The endowment supports work in alternative pedagogies as well as efforts to address issues in teaching and learning. The funds may be used to purchase materials, to support summer work, or to provide release time. Proposals are due in the Dean's Office on March 1 and are evaluated on the basis of their potential impact and their consistency with the College's mission. Recipients are selected by the President in consultation with the Dean.
Divisional Teacher-Scholars
The College sponsors six Divisional Teacher-Scholars, two in each academic division. These are three-year, nonrenewable appointments that provide a six-course reduction over three years and are available only to tenured faculty. The Dean of the College calls for applications as positions become available. Recipients are chosen by the President, based on a recommendation of the Dean in consultation with appropriate department and program chairs.
Institutional Mentoring Program
Each year two or three senior faculty members serve as Institutional Mentors to new tenure track faculty. The senior faculty members, who are experienced with the tenure and promotion system, also bring leadership experience in faculty governance and a strong commitment to teaching and research in a liberal arts context to their role as mentors for new faculty. The program supports one-on-one consultation between Institutional Mentors and new faculty members, as well as opportunities for teaching observation.
Humanities Lecture Series
The Humanities Lecture Series spotlights the work of faculty from each of the College's three divisions. Monthly, an invited Allegheny faculty member presents his or her research before an audience of colleagues, students, and the greater community, with subsequent discussion and refreshments. Aisha Lockridge, Assistant Professor of English, will coordinate the series in 2008/2009.
Allegheny College Colloquium Vinosum (ACCV)
Sponsored by the Academic Support Committee, the Allegheny College Colloquium Vinosum is a regular gathering to foster social and intellectual mingling in the Allegheny Community. The colloquium highlights scholarly work at Allegheny in an informal setting, and provides the opportunity for dialogue across disciplines.
Biennial Faculty Intramural Conference
Since 2000, small groups of Allegheny faculty have convened in a post-Commencement two-day conference at the William Seward Inn to share their research with colleagues and to engage in opportunities for discussion among the disciplines. The Dean's office supported the first three conferences through a Mellon Foundation Grant and now provides direct support. Participants gain a general awareness of the scholarship that is ongoing on campus, have the chance to foster ideas for collaboration, improve collegiality, and receive diverse perspectives on their own work.
Other Sources of Funding
Faculty are encouraged to meet with the Dean or Associate Dean of the College to explore other sources of funding. In addition, faculty should bear in mind that many projects are potentially fundable by external granting agencies. Faculty interested in pursuing granting opportunities should contact Ann Areson in the Development Office (aareson@allegheny.edu).
For more information about any of these programs, contact Associate Dean Ben Slote at bslote@allegheny.edu.
