Auburn University
Auburn University
Auburn University
 

Programs and Services

Faculty Programs

Graduate Student Programs

Seminars and Workshops

Services


New Faculty Convocation

The New Faculty Convocation is an orientation to teaching at AU. It is held each fall prior to the start of classes. The day-long event includes plenary, a resource fair, and a reception with department heads.

To view news of the 2008 Convocation, click here.

New Faculty Scholars

New Faculty to Auburn University are nominated to this prestigious program which begins with an early year retreat program focusing on the professoriate and best practices for teaching effectiveness and culminating in a spring retreat focusing on portfolio construction.

For information about the 2008-09 New Faculty Scholars Program, click here.

Instructional Grants

Daniel F. Breeden Endowed Grant Program supports teaching and learning projects that directly benefit the instructor, students, and AU's overall teaching program. Approximately $30,000 is available each academic year for awards of up to $3,000 each. The Breeden Program is managed by the Biggio Center for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning; and the grant review and selection panel is drawn from the University Senate Teaching Effectiveness Committee. The Request for Proposals is issued each January for projects to be completed during the following academic year.

The Instructional Development- Incorporating Service-Learning into the Curriculum Program supports teaching and learning projects that benefit the instructor, students, and the community. Provided funding is available, awards of up to $1,000 are made each spring for curricular projects to be conducted during the following academic year. This mini-grant opportunity is managed by the Biggio Center for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning through its Partners in Community Service Program.

For titles of funded Breeden proposals, click here.

For titles of funded Service-Learning proposals, click here.

To find out more about the 2008-09 Breeden program, click here.

New Graduate Teaching Assistants Convocation

The New Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA) Convocation is an orientation to teaching for GTAs who will be instructors or record or have significant teaching responsibilities. The Convocation is held each fall prior to the start of classes. The day-long event includes plenary, interactive sessions, and a resource fair.

To view news of the 2008 Convocation, click here.

Preparing Future Faculty

The Preparing Future Faculty (PFF) Program, coordinated by the Biggio Center for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning, was modeled after the national PFF movement.  The goal is to prepare future faculty to meet the challenges of the 21st Century by increasing Auburn University graduate student readiness to assume faculty roles, helping graduate students understand the expectations and functional realities of faculty life, developing wider institutional and personal networks, and making graduate study even more responsive to disciplinary and professional needs.  Graduate students from all disciplines at Auburn University are eligible to participate in the program. 

To view the Preparing Future Faculty information brochure, click here.

Professional Development Seminar Series

Conducted throughout the academic year, the Professional Development Seminar (PDS) series presents topics ranging from course and syllabus design to conducting a peer review of teaching.  Held at noon in Foy Union, the Auburn University community is invited to bring a brown bag lunch.  Beverages are provided.

Book Group

At least once per semester, faculty join together for an hour or two to discuss books of common interest and relevance to the practice of teaching.

To see a list of selections, click here.

Forum

The Biggio Center's biennial Forum is an opportunity for faculty from AU and area campuses to make presentations, conduct workshops, or hold roundtable discussions around a theme about college and university teaching and learning. The Forum is held during February of even-numbered years.

Symposium

The Biggio Center's biennial Symposium features a plenary by a noted expert in research on college and university teaching and learning. Attendees participate in small group discussions that focus on research applications in the classroom. The Symposium is held during February of odd-numbered years.

Small Group Instructional Feedback

The Small Group Instructional Feedback (SGIF) process is one of several formative evaluation of teaching services the Biggio Center offers.  At approximately mid-semester, a Biggio consultant spends about thirty minutes in the classroom obtaining the students’ voluntary and anonymous perspectives about which aspects of the instructor’s teaching have been facilitating learning and suggestions for improvement.  The feedback is summarized and reported to the instructor during a one-on-one, confidential consultation.  Then, the instructor has the opportunity to make adjustments that will improve teaching.  An announcement about how to request an SGIF session is disseminated at the beginning of each semester. 

For more information about the SGIF process, click here.

To schedule an SGIF, click here.

Consultations

Instructors may request a consultation with a Biggio Center staff member about any teaching and learning concern.  Consultations are confidential.

Classroom Observations

Upon request, the Biggio Center staff will conduct a classroom observation. Unless the instructor has specific concerns, the typical observation will include:  session organization and teaching techniques, instructor-student interactions, student behavior, and instructor behavior; this is proceeded by a confidential consultation.

Videotaping

Upon request, the Biggio Center will videotape a classroom session.  The instructor receives the tape for personal viewing, and may then request a confidential consultation to discuss any concerns or questions.