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色界吧鈥檚 Innovation in Action Plan supercharges teaching, learning, and community.

They meet in groups of five or six, faculty and staff members representing a swath of the 色界吧 academic experience. Each community comes together with a singular purpose: to learn how to become better teachers and stronger supporters of student success at one of the nation鈥檚 most diverse institutions of higher learning.

The Communities of Practice, as the groups are called, are at the heart of a larger five-year strategic action plan鈥斏�界吧: Innovation in Action鈥攁lso called the Strategic Action Plan, whose four priority areas not only support teaching excellence at 色界吧, but also promote an 鈥渆nhanced鈥� student experience outside the classroom.

The Communities of Practice align with a priority to drive innovation and discovery with diverse talent. The three other priority areas include optimize student success, sharpen institutional identity, and fortify institutional viability (in part, by engaging in innovative community partnerships).

Innovation in Action kicked off in 2022. The Communities of Practice started meeting last year. To date, more than 40 faculty and staff members have joined one of eight independently operating communities. Administrators are hoping to expand the number by publicizing their presence more widely this year in the form of emails, digital signage, and announcements at meetings, says Francine Glazer, Ph.D., associate provost and director of the Center for Teaching and Learning.

The communities allow professors to share success stories and thereby nurture excellence in their colleagues. They meet weekly or monthly to discuss effective practices and support one another.

鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot of research out there that says change comes from talking with a trusted colleague, like at the water cooler, where someone says, 鈥楬ey, I鈥檝e been trying this,鈥欌�� Glazer says. 鈥淧eople came together in these communities who didn鈥檛 previously know each other, and they built relationships.鈥�

This article originally appeared in the spring/summer 2024 issue of .

By Andrew Faught