Mission

The Excellence in Teaching and Learning Project is a professional development initiative that supports the College’s vision of putting learning first and promoting the continuous improvement of educational programs and services offered to students and stakeholders. Because we see professional development as both student-centered and faculty-driven, the project strives to provide support to educators at all our campuses who seek fulfillment and challenge in their work and who are continually improving their delivery of information and lifelong skills to students as adult learners.

Goals of the Excellence Project

To encourage faculty to strive for excellence in teaching and learning.
To support innovation in the teaching and learning process.
To mentor and support new and returning faculty, both full- and part-time.
To provide communication among all campuses within the College with regard to professional development, as well as the general activities important to a community of learners.
To be a renewable and dynamic source of resources for professional development.

Definition of Professional Development

Using the guidelines underscored by the Professional and Organizational Development Network in Higher Education, professional development at Delaware County Community College can be defined in terms of three major areas:

Faculty Development looks at the faculty member as teacher, scholar/professional, and as a person, and supports these aspects of professional life through training, research assistance, and workshops.
Instructional Development assists the faculty member in the areas of coursework, curriculum, and student learning, with an emphasis on instructional design, teamwork, and innovation in teaching.
Organizational Development helps faculty members recognize, establish and/or develop their roles within the organizational structure of the institution, as well as strengthens institutional effectiveness by assisting faculty in understanding how they can be empowered to produce change.