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Building Scholarship to Support College Baccalaureates…
MacEwan’s ExperienceCommunity College Baccalaureate Association
2007 Annual Conference – New Orleans
Mike Henry Susan MayAssociate Dean of Business Associate VP, [email protected] [email protected]
Grant MacEwan CollegeEdmonton, Alberta, Canada March 2007
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Baccalaureates at MacEwan
Alberta’s first public college to offer baccalaureates -
Bachelor of Arts (2006)
Bachelor of Child and Youth Care (2006)
Bachelor of Science (Nursing) (2007)
Bachelor of Commerce (2007)
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Post-Secondary Organizational Paradigms (Nemetz and Cameron, 2006)
Research Focuses on pure research and publication records (e.g.
traditional universities)
Clinical Focuses on best practices, performance, initiative and
creativity (e.g. medical schools)
Teaching Focuses on knowledge and skill, teaching and assessment
materials, pedagogical tools and research (e.g. community colleges)
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Scholarly Activity
Shift from traditional research to scholarly activity
Research is only one type of scholarly activity
Scholarly Activities must extend beyond the classroom and contribute to or advance the individual’s discipline
Examples: organizing conferences & workshops, writing case
studies, consulting, writing/publishing books and articles, producing literary and artistic works
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Strengths of College Scholarship
Responds to real needs/observations
Uses several core competencies of faculty members, not just traditional research competency
Provides best practices in discipline and pedagogy
Encourages “comprehensive excellence” over pure research exclusively
Emphasis is on dissemination rather than publication
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“Made in MacEwan” Approach
To encourage a Culture of Research / Scholarly Activity / Artistic Creation
Create this culture through Grassroots Interventions, not corporate model
StructuresPoliciesPragmatic Strategies
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Examples of Structures:
Research Council
Research Officer
Research Grants
Faculty Commons
Strategic Plan
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Impacts of Structures:
“Enabling”
Grass roots, early adapters approach
Faculty leadership with peer review
Linking research/faculty development/teaching
Concrete help to faculty to get started
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Examples of Academic Policies:Research and Scholarly Activity
Code of Conduct for Integrity in Research
Ethical Review of Research with Human Subjects
Animal Care and Ethics
Academic Freedom
Faculty Evaluation
Endowed Chairs and Scholars
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Impacts of Academic Policies:Demonstrate compliance with national standards
Create eligibility to administer external grants
Educate College about opportunities / responsibilities
Situate research/scholarly activity into faculty role and performance
Demonstrate principle-based approach
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Examples of Strategies:Broad and inclusive definitions of research / scholarly activity
Web page information and resources
Annual Reports
Research Showcase
Publication of Abstracts
Town Halls
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Impacts of Strategies:
Raise profile
Create “buy in” and acceptance
Provide concrete assistance to facultymembers
Highlight achievements (grants, publications)
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Impact of Strategies (con’t)
Celebrate successes
Demonstrate relevance/links to teaching & students
Document links/benefits to communities
Engage faculty in strategic planning centrally and in faculties/schools
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Building Scholarship…Challenges and Decision-Points (Hazenlkorn)
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Building Scholarship at MacEwan’sSchool of Business
Establishing a Faculty Development Fund & Policy to support faculty members
Formal education, attending conferences, research projects
Recruiting new faculty who have research interests and experience that align with our vision.
Establishing collaborative relationships with research institutions and external advisors
Creating a “Visiting Scholar” position
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Challenges to Cultural Change
Providing sufficient resources scholarly activity must be supported with time
(course releases and sabbaticals) and direct funding (research grants)
Establishing frameworks and structures (e.g. peer review process, grant administration)
Determining which activities are eligible for support
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Strategies for Facilitating a Cultural Shift
Build on existing strengths first
Encourage faculty to use their personal interests as a springboard to scholarly activity
Encourage faculty to make connections with other academics
Ensure institution, department, and program support
Think long-term, big-picture, future-orientated
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Thank you!
Questions?