CTE Newsletter April 2018 | Page 3

We are growing constantly with new ways to serve you. The CTE nurtures personal and professional growth. We strive to inspire innovative teaching practices that benefit our diverse student body, as well as to foster an institutional climate that values faculty achievement. In addition, we provide opportunities for collaboration between faculty, staff and administration. Know that the Center for Teaching Excellence serves as a catalyst for a collegewide, student-centered approach to teaching. We promote academic excellence by providing leadership, resources and opportunities for collaboration. So whether it’s the “Five Fun Facts About Your Fellow Faculty” or the publication of this newsletter created as a fun way to communicate, it’s all about celebrating you. INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGN CONSULTATIONS Did you know that our Academic Technology HQ offers curriculum and instructional design support? Contact us set up a consultation today: Cherylan Bacheller [email protected] 321-433-7506 EFSC Hosts Florida Undergraduate Research Conference by Dr. Janet Rubin In February, Eastern Florida State College welcomed the Florida Undergraduate Research Conference (FURC) to the Melbourne Campus. This was the first time that a state college hosted the event. EFSC faculty members Dr. Ashley Spring and Scott Herber organized the conference, while the keynote speaker was Dr. Duane DeFreese, Executive Director of the Indian River Lagoon Council. FURC is one of the nation’s largest multi-disciplinary research conferences. This annual conference is open to undergraduate researchers throughout the state of Florida. To be selected, students must submit their abstracts to a committee. Those who are accepted present their research in poster form. At EFSC, there were over 400 posters presented in one-hour sessions. Between the poster sessions, education workshops were also offered. Topics included how to do research through networking, plagiarism and how to write opening statements. This conference provides an opportunity for students to gain research experience at as early as the freshman or sophomore level, laying the foundation for a greater chance of acceptance into graduate school. Heber noted that one advantage EFSC students have is their one-on-one relationships with faculty. Conference organizers lauded the help they received from EFSC student volunteers, the Foundation, departments across campus and College administration. While they look forward to hosting again, Herber noted that EFSC only can host once every five years. This is to keep the conference exciting and new for students, as it gives them the opportunity to present their research at different institutions. In total, 700 attendees and 30 recruiters from around the country were in attendance. There were exhibitors from graduate programs and other opportunities for students engaged in research. Major colleges and universities were represented. Spring and Herber were successful in showing that EFSC is on par with any large university. Feedback included praise that EFSC has the ability and the facilities to pull off a great conference. Because we hosted the conference, EFSC has now become the only state college to have a voting membership with FURC. According to Herber, “We’re on the map now.” CTE FAST FACTS PLAF Funds distributed for faculty development, professional memberships and conferences in 2017-18: $68,100 WORKSHOPS AND RESOURCES The CTE is always looking for amazing presenters to facilitate one to three-hour faculty-led workshops on a wide variety of topics. If you have ideas to share, please contact Michelle Maseman to be added to our Fall 2018/Spring 2019 workshop schedule: [email protected] Page 3