It is my pleasure to introduce to you the Ursuline Center for Teaching and Learning (UCTL) and its components. The UCTL supports students, faculty, and staff through professional development programming, as well as other learning resources designed to optimize the teaching and learning environment for all Brescia community members.
The UCTL is responsible for the following three areas:
development, delivery, coordination and assessment of programs that promote faculty development and thereby student learning;
coordination, development, management, delivery and assessment of programs that provide workforce development and life-long learning tools to community groups, organizations, and individuals; and
assistance on identification, data gathering, writing and application of private, state, and federal grants that support teaching and learning environment.
And there is me, the Director of the Ursuline Center for Teaching and Learning. Aside from coordinating the components mentioned above, my job focuses on identifying and providing professional development resources for Brescia faculty and staff. I also offer individual support to faculty in the development of pedagogical excellence, programming in teaching and learning, teaching observations and consultations. With the spirit of life-long learning, the UCTL also leads Workforce Development Initiative, working with business partners in the community and beyond on developing their employees in the framework in liberal arts mindset.
What is Workforce Development Initiative? Brescia now offers unique, highly customizable, active-learning courses for employer-sponsored workforce development initiatives. Focused on soft skills such as critical thinking, effective communication, and information literacy, Brescia’s program pushes forward employee skills vital to running a successful organization. Employees who strengthen these skills are able to make decisions quickly, share creative yet practical ideas in a team setting, advance as effective leaders, and benefit their place of business through their own continuous development.
In this highly customizable program, Brescia faculty design programs which address the needs identified by the organization. Brescia works in collaboration with the leadership to offer a teaching and learning environment fit to the culture of the organization, and focused on the particular needs and characteristics of its employees. In preparation for success in an ever-changing environment, employees learn how to adapt, adjust, and solve complex problems in the commitment to lifelong learning. This active learning program is delivered virtually, with extensive synchronous learning opportunities to actively learn with and from their coworkers and Brescia faculty.
Thank you for letting me introduce the UCTL and its operations. If there is anything we can do, if you ever have any questions, observations, or ideas, please don't hesitate to contact us. We are happy to help! We hope to hear from you soon!
