CCTL
Instructional Support works closely with the Committee for College Teaching and Learning (CCTL) to promote active and integrative learning at Niagara University. Both the Director of Instructional Support and the Instructional Support Assistant serve on the committee and assist in the planning and implementation of CCTL programs. Instructional Support and the CCTL work together to bring Niagara University guest speakers, conferences, and “brown-bag” meetings to enhance the scholarship and practice of teaching and learning.
CCTL Membership
The Committee for College Teaching and Learning began as an informal group of four people passionate about improving instruction: Dr. Rita Pollard (English), Dr. Jerry Carpenter (History), Dr. William Martin (English) and Dr. Paul Vermette (Education). Today, the committee has grown to include a total of thirteen members:
- Co-Chair: Dr. William Cliff (Biology)
- Co-Chair: Mitchell Alegre (Campus Activities & Business); Programs Coordinator
- Dr. Paul Richardson (Commerce); Annual Conference Coordinator
- Dr. Mary Ellen Bardsley (Education); Grants Co-coordinator
- Dr. Ann Rensel (Commerce); Grants Co-coordinator
- Dr. Roselind Bogner (Education)
- Dr. Peggy Choong (Commerce)
- Dr. Paula Kot (English)
- Dr. W. Burt Thompson (Psychology)
- Dr. Paul Vermette (Education)
- Qing Yang; Graduate Student Representative
- Dr. Bonnie Rose (Ex Officio Member; Vice President of Academic Affairs)
- Jennifer Herman (Ex Officio Member; Director of Instructional Support)
- Dr. Jerry Carpenter (Honorary CCTL Historian-for-Life)
If you are interested in becoming a part of the CCTL, please contact Dr. Bill Cliff.
CCTL Active Learning Grants
Each spring since the program's inception in 2003, the CCTL awards numerous $1000 active learning grants to Niagara University faculty across all departments. Currently, up to twenty (20) grants are awarded annually. These incentive grants are designed to support and encourage faculty who conduct classroom-based inquiry into active learning.
Grant recipients are expected to present their findings at a conference or seminar organized by Niagara University’s CCTL. In addition, CCTL grant recipients are encouraged to submit a workshop proposal for presentation.
Any full-time or part-time faculty member who teaches a credit-bearing course at Niagara University is eligible to apply. A call for grant applications is issued every spring. Once all applications are received, CCTL will select the recipients and award the grants by late spring.
Brown Bag Lunches
CCTL organizes informal “brown bag” lunch presentations about a topic related to the scholarship of teaching and learning or active learning each semester. The times and days of these presentations vary to accommodate faculty with conflicting class schedules. All presentations are open to the public. Please contact the CCTL or Instructional Support for further information about upcoming brown bag events.