Faculty Professional Development Activities
The Department promotes the professional development and intellectual growth of its faculty and staff by encouragement, material support and recognition. The members of the Department encourage one another’s efforts to strengthen their teaching skills by means of informal exchanges about teaching methods, workshops related to teaching strategies and technology and suggestions arising out of visits to classes. Departmental support through acquisition of equipment and allocation and remodeling of spaces is exemplified in the Department’s two computer laboratories designed especially for the expanded curriculum in geographic information systems. The Department encourages its members to pursue their particular research interests through its support in the form of equipment and space. The most recent example is the development of a paleoecology laboratory by our two recently hired physical geographers to facilitate research in dendrochronology and sediment studies. The Department fosters interaction with peers in professional contexts both on and off campus by encouraging interdisciplinary research and attendance and presentations at meetings of regional and national professional organizations. The Department supports the educational activities of its staff through personal encouragement and adjustment of workloads. The chair provides scope to the staff in the expression of job-related skills and activities and has pressed for the recognition of those contributions by the University. In the execution of its formal evaluation procedures as well as by informal means the members of the Department recognize professional accomplishments and personal contributions of faculty and staff.
