Instructional Support works closely with the Committee for College Teaching and Learning 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 15 members:

Members of the CCTL for the 2012-2013 academic year include

• Co-Chair: Dr. W. Burt Thompson (Psychology); Grants Co-coordinator
• Co-Chair: Danyelle Moore (Instructional Support Specialist); Grants Co-coordinator
• Dr. Ann Rensel (Commerce)
• Dr. Mary Ellen Bardsley (Education)
• Dr. Thomas Chambers (History)
• Dr. Peggy Choong (Commerce)
• Dr. William Cliff (Biology)
• Dr. Paula Kot (English)
• Dr. Paul Richardson (Commerce)
• Dr. Paul Vermette (Education)
• Mitchell Alegre (Campus Activities & Business)
• Dr. Rachel Madsen (Sports Management)
• Kristy Barrett (Student Representative, Instructional Support Assistant)
• Dr. Tim Downs (Ex-officio Member; Vice President of Academic Affairs)
• Dr. Jerry Carpenter (Honorary CCTL Historian for Life)

If you are interested in becoming a part of the CCTL, please contact one of the co-chairs.

CCTL Active Learning Grants

Each spring since the program's inception in 2003, the CCTL has awarded numerous $1,000 active learning grants to Niagara University faculty across all departments. Currently, up to 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. By late spring, once all applications are received, the CCTL will select the recipients and award the grants.

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.