As a Senior Full Time Faculty Member, I am enrolled and have participated in the following committees, focus groups and meetings:
Enrollment & Retention Committee
This committee strives to increase persistence of students in all low retention courses, especially in key targets: G150PH, PH123, PH124, PH133, PH134, PH326 and PH333. We develop new methods of teaching and structure to bring into the classrooms. One of our newest and latest requirements that emerged from this committee is the need for professors to provide a video introduction to their students. This helps students "put a name to a face" and allows the students to feel as though they are more connected to the classroom. Below is one of the video tutorials that I use in my class:
Student Mentoring Committee
This committee strives to increase the level of participation of our students both in and out of the classrooms. Our goal is to create an online setting where students can interact freely with each other as well as with faculty. Throughout our meetings, we have developed the Photography Student Professional Network and several blogs:
- First Years Focus and Fire
- The Blog of Professor Phillips
- Student Ambassadors Blog
I am the author of First Years Focus and Fire. My blog is intended for the use of students who are new to the program. Please feel free to use the navigational link to the right for details.Full Time Faculty Search Committee
In November, our department was seeking two new Full Time Faculty Members. I was asked to be on the Search Committee which helped with this process. I was also asked to lead the interviews of the top candidates. In order to prepare for the interview, I looked over the candidates resumes, personal websites, cover letters and any additional material s/he had submitted. We conducted seven interviews over two days and on the third day, those within this committee met to discuss the results.
This was a great committee to participate in not only because I was able to have a say in who was hired next but also because it gave me a stronger understanding of the photography department's goals and structure. As a result of our committee, I believe we chose the two strongest candidates who will inevitably enhance our department.Focus Group Meeting
In order for faculty members to get to know one another and become more familiar with the policies of the Photography Department, each Senior Full Time Faculty member is given a certain amount of adjunct instructors to "mentor" in a Focus Group. Every other month, the group meets to discuss topics revolved around eLearning and individual contribution to the Photography Department, achievements and successes.
When I was first hired as a SFTF, I sat in as a Support Member for Jaci Hunt's Focus Group. Afterwards, I was given my own Focus Group with ten adjunct faculty members. I held three meetings between February and June of 2013. My group and I stayed in contact via e-mail as well as our Ning Community:
Student Orientation Meeting
In July, I was co-host of the Student Orientation Meeting with Mary Yates and Brianna Burnett. These meetings occur once every few months and are helpful for students who are new to the Art Institute of Pittsburgh's Online Division.
During the Student Orientation Meetings, students learn who the full time faculty members are and what genre of photographer s/he specializes in. Students also become aware that AiP Online has over one hundred adjunct faculty members from all over the United States as well as a Photo GRAD team that provides assistance with admissions academic and financial counseling. We go over what students can expect to learn at AiP Online in terms of education, equipment that will need to be purchased and extra curricular activities to enhance the student's experience.
During this time we also go over the student's "core" and "general education" courses for each program that we offer. Students learn about the different ways s/he can get involved with the school outside of his/her online classroom, such as by signing up on Connections, the Photography Student Professional Network (PSPN), the Student Photographic Society (SPS) as well as a slew of different contents that s/he can participate in. Towards the end of the meeting, we also talk about some "general tips" that can help students get ahead and succeed with their studies.