Creating and fostering an academic environment rooted in respect in an assumed tenet of a highly-ranked university.
Commissioned by Provost Bras in May 2015, the Task force on the Learning Environment was charged to:
- Analyze results of the Student Government Association/Institute Communications student survey in order to assess the nature of academic culture at Georgia Tech - identifying programs and opportunities.
- Suggest strategies to increase civility and respect in our academic culture and foster faculty awareness of how to create a positive academic environment.
- Identify current and suggest new policies, tools, and mechanisms available to school chairs for responding to issues.
- Craft recommendations for consideration by the Provost, Vice Provosts, Deans, and Vice President for Student Life to include educations and awareness programming and/or activities, and best practices for addressing issues and situations that are counter to a respectful climate.
RECOMMENDATION #1 - ENSURE A CULTURE OF CIVILITY, COLLEGIALITY, AND RESPECT AS THE BEDROCK OF A HEALTHY INSTRUCTIONAL ENVIRONMENT.
- Development a statement of civility, collegiality, and respect as a campus-wide expectation
- Raise instructor awareness of the learning environment and its significance
- Gather and respond to student input on the learning environment
RECOMMENDATION #2 - PEDAGOGICAL GOOD PRACTICES FOR ENHANCING THE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT
- Basic course information checklist
- Transparent grading policies
- Standardization across sections
- Mid-semester survey
- Review of CIOS data and comments
- Issues of physical environments and scheduling
RECOMMENDATION #3 - DEVELOP INSTRUCTIONAL EXCELLENCE – ON-BOARDING AND ONGOING TRAINING
- Initial on-boarding, guiding, and mentoring for new instructors as key steps for ensuring healthy learning environments.
- Beyond initial phase: ongoing instructor development programs.
- Center for Teaching and Learning
- Peer Evaluation of instruction
RECOMMENDATION #4 - SCHOOL CHAIRS AS ESSENTIAL ACTORS IN ENSURING THE QUALITY OF THE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT
- Tools and best practices for school chairs
- Student engagement best practices
- Longer-term strategies
- Related ideas and options for school chairs and curriculum committees