Vision

The Faculty Center at the University of Central Florida was created to serve faculty and is made possible by the support of the administration. We envision an integrated community of scholars where life-long learning informs and complements excellence in teaching, an environment where teaching is open for both renewal and accountability and where research and service vitalize all students, the community, and ourselves. We see a haven, a safe place for consultation, reflection, or debate, providing a source of leadership and expertise, the first choice for navigating UCF's resource network for faculty.

Mission

The Faculty Center's primary mission is to support and promote faculty in their roles as teachers, researchers, scholars, and as members of UCF and the Central Florida community. Essential to such support is the enhancement of faculty success at any career stage and the promotion of collegiality. Our services, resources, and events are available to all university instructors, including full- and part-time faculty and graduate teaching assistants. We seek to promote 1) excellence in teaching and learning, 2) successful research and creative endeavors, 3) professional fulfillment, and 4) partnerships with other academic institutions and the regional, national and international community.

Goals

1. Excellence in teaching and learning

• a. support faculty in life-long learning about teaching and learning by offering workshops on curriculum development, teaching strategies, portfolio development, collaboration, assessment, and problem-based learning.
• b. promote integration of new ideas and effective pedagogy into courses, programs, and curricula by offering sponsored events for course transformation.
• c. provide a space for on-going discussions on teaching innovations and techniques such as through teaching circles and face-to-face and online fora.
• d. for both faculty and students, facilitate the sharing of resources, skills, and knowledge across academic disciplines through the development of learning communities and collaboration with other campus support units.

2. Successful research and creative endeavors

• a. provide pedagogical support and documentation for all forms of scholarship.
• b. offer a starting point for research and artistic projects through our publications, workshops, and conferences.
• c. coordinate mentoring at all academic levels and in all disciplines.
• d. promote faculty expertise in grant writing and collaborate on grant projects.

3. Professional fulfillment

• a. guide faculty through the tenure and promotion process.
• b. train faculty in self-promotion and conference participation.
• c. coordinate teaching and learning awards.
• d. provide a mentoring environment to support and encourage faculty success.

4. Local and global community building

• a. develop and support partnerships with academic institutions regionally, nationally, and internationally.
• b. develop and support partnerships with industries and service providers regionally, nationally, and internationally.
• c. support campus activities and programs that promote balanced and healthy lifestyles.