Appalachian State University
AC-7: Incentives for Developing Courses

The department of faculty and academic development runs the Learning Communities Leadership Institute, a faculty training program that is held every semester. The workshop aims to help develop learning communities on campus through faculty involvement. Learning communities are trans-disciplinary groups of persons who share a common interest and through a process of collaborative inquiry, learn, develop, and share ideas relevant to accomplishing a specified goal. An important characteristic of a learning community is that it exists, in large part, to maximize and promote the individual and collective learning of its members. As such, an effective learning community not only illuminates and advances a topic of interest, it also enhances the professional capacity of its members as teachers, scholars, and leaders. It is democratic, inclusive, and collaborative, and genuinely dedicated to fostering learning and community. One of the four learning communities at Appalachian State is Sustainability. Through faculty education of the sustainability learning community more classes have incorporated sustainability topics and issues into their lessons. Faculty are made more aware of sustainability programs and how to connect them into their department. Faculty are made more aware of sustainability goals and how to obtain them. Faculty are more equipped to carry out the Strategic Plan which has focuses on increased sustainability throughout campus.

Faculty that are selected receive a $300 stipend upon completion of the five day workshop and all lunches are provided.