The University Teaching Center is sponsoring four professional development programs for academic administrators during spring semester.
“UT faculty administrators can enhance their skills and increase the quality of their overall leadership by taking advantage of these professional development programs,” said Dr. Constance Shriner, vice provost for academic program development. “Professional development programs can prepare and mentor administrators for the challenges they face, which may be very different from the ones they faced in their classrooms or labs.”
The first program will be on “Building a Department of Colleagues” and take place Friday, Feb. 13, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. in the Driscoll Alumni Center Schmakel Room.
Dr. Patrick L. Lawrence, professor and chair of geography and planning, will discuss what approaches chairs can employ to create an academic department of faculty who are collegial and supportive, while providing a productive learning and investigative environment for faculty and students. He also will address some of the typical challenges in dealing with faculty and potential solutions.
“I believe these programs will provide our academic administrators with helpful information and the opportunity for discussion about how they can improve their effectiveness as administrators and better support their faculty members,” said Interim Provost John Barrett. “I encourage UT’s academic administrators to take full advantage of these upcoming professional development opportunities.”
Additional programs also will take place from 1 to 2:30 p.m. in the Driscoll Alumni Center Schmakel Room. Listed by date, they are:
• Friday, Feb. 27 — “What Data Do I Need to Do My Job and Where Do I Find It? ”
• Friday, March 27 — “Maintaining Work-Life Balance ” and
• Friday, April 24 — “Mentoring New Employees .”
Registration forms can be completed online here.