Research on senior faculty members, now the largest cohort, provides a profile of their characteristics, careers, and the nature of their work experience. Findings suggest generational and disciplinary differences within this group, but also commonalities that set senior faculty members apart from both their junior colleagues and the next…

Discusses the personal and professional role of the president in promoting scholarship on campus. Considers the distinction between scholarship and research, the current status of faculty scholarship, the need to strengthen the link between teaching and scholarship, and the development of faculty scholarship programs. (DMM)

Underscores the importance of scholarship to the community college president's professional development, presenting scholarship as a way of keeping in touch with core values, setting an institutional climate, gaining credibility, renewing and revitalizing oneself, and enhancing leadership effectiveness. Identifies barriers to presidential…

Analysis of Bush Foundation regional programs in faculty development resulted in conclusions concerning the characteristics of successful development activities. It was found that grants encouraging teamwork are more productive than isolated grants for scholarship. Guidelines are also needed to assist in faculty evaluations and prepare faculty for…

Based on a review of studies on junior faculty development programs, this paper focuses specifically on development of research skills. It stresses the importance of administrative support, good management, orientation toward the future, collegiality, mentoring, group projects, research centers, travel money, time for research, financial support,…

Describes a program in which groups of middle school and junior high teachers read and discuss popular, best-selling literature, for the purposes of promoting their personal reading and enhancing school faculty camaraderie. (PRA)

Suggestions are offered to help department chairs make faculty development an overall professional approach rather than a separate program of activities. They include the following: make development your main job, emphasize planning, and examine your formal reward system. (Contains eight references.) (LB)

Intended to draw attention to the need for department chair training, this article uses Michigan State University as a model of faculty development. It illustrates various types of chair training, including general faculty development programs and workshops designed for administrators and chairs. (Contains three references.) (LB)

Discusses the uses of teaching portfolios, collections of documents, and reflections designed to assist both administrators and teachers to determine the scope and quality of teacher performance; and reviews pros and cons in their use. Suggests methods for developing portfolios and briefly describes successful portfolio projects. (MAB)

Argues that faculty writing groups are the single most effective way to change faculty attitudes about writing and to build support for writing across the curriculum. Discusses challenges facing colleges or universities that decide to develop a writing program across the disciplines. (RS)

A junior high school social studies teacher describes changes that occurred when he took a sabbatical to study for a master's degree in school guidance, noting the experience was less taxing and more enjoyable than expected. The article highly recommends teachers take sabbatical leave because it has a rejuvenating effect. (SM)

Urges community college libraries to provide and expand services in faculty development. Considers trends toward an increasing emphasis on faculty development, the professional development needs of community college faculty, faculty development methods, consulting services, reward structures for faculty development, and program evaluation. (DMM)

The excerpt from the Carnegie Report stresses the need for a more inclusive definition of a scholar; recognition that knowledge is acquired through research, synthesis, practice, and teaching; use of "creativity contracts" that broaden, individualize, and give continuity to faculty careers; and aggressive support of teaching in research…

To be approached realistically, improvement of college teaching must be viewed from a faculty perspective. The real world of college teaching offers little information about objectives and outcomes. The situation can be changed most effectively by increasing available information and stimulating communication among faculty about instruction. (MSE)

A well-conceived and effective faculty development program should focus on individual as well as institutional development, so that the environment encourages and supports both individuals and groups. Eleven institutional and four individual and group strategies for making development efforts effective are outlined. (MSE)