Center for Teaching
History
by Bill
Searle, January 2004; edited by W. Brown, 2007.
In 1987, the President of Norwalk Community College, Dr. William Schwab, brought a new idea to the state of Connecticut. President Schwab had talked with people in other parts of the country, and their colleges were starting something new, called a "Center for Teaching," on their campuses. This innovative president worked with several others to develop a proposal and present the idea to the Council of Presidents. After convincing them that it was worth trying and getting support from Chancellor Andy McKirdy, President Schwab asked every president in the system to select a faculty member to attend a meeting to make the Center for Teaching operational. The Council of Academic Deans was also asked to send three representatives.
President Schwab presented the idea at the first meeting. The initial proposal involved setting up a physical location for the Center in the System Office, with a director and a support staff person. Almost immediately, the faculty opposed a centralized administrative office. For several months, the discussion was heated, but it quickly became apparent that both sides did share a common goal of promoting the best teaching practices possible. LeRoy Barnes of Middlesex had been to a "Great Teachers Seminar" in Wisconsin, and thought that a formal planning experience might help the planning group work together. That September, he convened the full group at the Mercy Center in Madison.
After three days of intensive talk, with considerable flexibility shown by both sides, it was agreed that President Schwab and Dean Charlie Wall from Northwestern would meet with LeRoy Barnes of Middlesex, Ann Robinson from South Central (now Gateway Community College), and Bill Searle from Asnuntuck to hammer out a plan. Because of the flexibility of President Schwab and Dean Wall, a new idea emerged.
The Center for Teaching would be an idea, not a physical location (a "virtual" organization!). It would be run by a Steering Committee composed of 3 Presidents, 3 Academic Deans, and 12 representatives selected by the faculty at each of our community colleges. The Center would be run by a director, who would be a faculty member selected by the Steering Committee. Each college would have its own Center for Teaching committee and a local budget to implement initiatives for improving teaching.
Under the leadership of President Schwab, and with strong support from President Bob Chapman from Middlesex, Conrad Mallet from what was then the Capital Region Community College District, and Bob Miller from Quinebaug Valley, the Presidents' Council bought into the idea. Dean Wall sold it to the Academic Deans' Council. Faculty sold it on their own campuses, and the 4Cs union also became an early supporter. The Connecticut Center for Teaching was born.
Because of the leadership demonstrated by Professor Barnes during these formative discussions, and especially for his leadership during the retreat at the Mercy Center, he was nominated and unanimously elected to be the first Chair of the Center for Teaching. Professor Barnes began the daunting task of bringing 12 colleges together, getting union members and management to agree on ideas and programs, and then actually getting the programs off the ground.
Over the following years, programs such as the Barnes Seminar, Instructional Skills Workshops, Teaching Partners, Spirit of Teaching and department Chairs Workshops have been established through the hard work of several individuals. The teaching/learning consultant position was initiated in 2000.
Today, because of such visionaries as President Bill Schwab and LeRoy Barnes, the Connecticut Community College System continues to support excellence in teaching and learning.
Chairs of the NCC Center for Teaching
Arlette Werner – 1997-2000
Angeles Dam – 2000-2005
Daria Santerre – 2005-2006
Dr. William (Terry) Brown – 2006 - 2007