Faculty Engagement in UC's Online Initiative

This session will provide a summary of the University of California's online initiative and discuss how the project is addressing the challenge of building faculty member support and participation. Through interviews with other institutions and a review of best practices, UC has developed a two-pronged approach to engage faculty actively in the online project: (1) the Academic Senate leadership were consulted and participated in the development of project parameters and goals, and continue to be involved in guiding the project, and (2) the project was designed as a research initiative to explore how online instruction can be most effectively integrated into UC's undergraduate curriculum. Presenters will describe both approaches in detail. Through this session, participants will understand the importance of faculty member engagement in online initiatives, strategies that successfully encourage faculty member participation and support, and how the project's research initiative is designed.