ACIE Meeting Minutes - November 12, 2024

ADVISORY COUNCIL ON INSTRUCTIONAL EXCELLENCE
November 12, 2024, 3-4 p.m.
Minutes

Present: M. Bridges (Chair), L. Delale-O’Connor, B. Falcione, L. Fennimore, J. Hart, P. Harper, K. Heffernan,
Z. Horvath, B. Keown, T. Klinbubpa-Neff, J. Martinson, M. Norman, A. Tuttle, E. Votruba-Drzal

Not present: C. Bonneau

Mike Bridges called the meeting to order at 3:07 p.m. and welcomed the members. Marie Norman formally moved for the approval of the October minutes, which Jeremy Martinson seconded.

Agenda Items and Discussion

Brief Update on TEACH @Pitt

Charge and Recommendations:

  • Questions regarding the timeline were addressed. The timeline depends on the provost's decision, and implementation could be set for spring.
  • There were questions about the modules, particularly their asynchronous delivery. The decision is pending.
  • The actual implementation may vary slightly from the set of recommendations. There was a question about whether there would be requirements. Mike has accepted the SEPC’s invitation to join their December meeting to provide an overview pending the provost’s approval. We can propose a presentation to the Faculty Assembly upon the provost's approval.
  • Mike will provide ongoing updates.

Innovation in Education Award

Timeline and RFP Review:

  • Mike reviewed the timeline, emphasizing flexibility in thematic areas.
  • Noon suggested using examples from submissions that were previously awarded.
  • Laura proposed adding phrases from previous minutes to the RFP, emphasizing "reflecting on experience."
  • A broader scope for learning environments outside traditional classrooms was discussed.

Key Thematic Areas:

  • Literacy and critical thinking were added as thematic priorities.
  • Jeremy said the School of Public Health’s emphasis on literacy.
  • Paul suggested building on the second bullet, emphasizing dialogue on differences, including interdisciplinary and community-specific factors.
  • "Interprofessional" was identified as a recurring theme across submissions.
  • Laura recommended clarifying language related to motivating student engagement across disciplines.
  • Item 4 – focus on environments where student engagement is a challenge – then provide examples
  • High enrollment.
  • High failure rate (drop, fail, withdraw)

Terminology Alternatives:

  • Suggestions to replace "constructive dialogue" included:
  • productive conversation
  • collaborative discussion
  • meaningful exchange
  • solution-focused dialogue
  • engaged communication
  • purposeful conversation
  • mutual exchange
  • progressive discussion

Eligibility and Application Process:

  • Eligibility criteria clarified: Postdocs in the School of Medicine are residents.
  • Proposed holding a one-hour informational session for potential applicants.
  • It is essential to have transparency by sharing rubrics or previous awards.

Additional Considerations:

  • Clarify terms for part-time vs. full-time eligibility.
  • Ensure alignment with the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
  • Adjust the budget section to reflect "NUMBER, SIZE, AND DURATION OF AWARDS."
  • Consult the Office of Counsel on intellectual property issues.
  • Mike will finalize the slide deck for further review.

Next Steps and Action Items

  • Focus on preparing for the January 2025 meeting.
  • Mike will send a Qualtrics survey to gather input on raising the impact and visibility of the Teaching Center.

Adjournment

The meeting ended at 4:01 p.m. with no further business to discuss.

 

Return to ACIE Overview

Download Meeting Minutes PDF