Partnerships in Faculty Development for Online Learning

Online teaching and learning are becoming more prevalent in institutions of higher education across the globe. Too often, the attendant faculty development needs related to equipping faculty members with the knowledge, skills, perspectives, and confidence to succeed in online environments lacks sufficient coherence, connection, and context. This paper discusses partnerships for faculty development in online learning taking place at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI), a large, urban-serving institution in the USA. The introduction and context for online teaching and learning and the faculty development needs is established; the significance of partnerships for faculty development is explained; an example of partnerships using a Curriculum Enhancement Grant process is highlighted; and next steps, recommendations, and conclusions are included. This paper is especially useful for individuals involved in developing, implementing, supporting, and evaluating programs aimed at increasing faculty effectiveness in online teaching and learning.