Campus Connections

Learn more about Communities of Practice and Faculty Leadership Forums.

Communities of Practice

Communities of Practice (CoPs) are cohorts of faculty members from multiple disciplines who investigate teaching innovations, actively research, share feedback, assess student learning and grading techniques, and explore new models of practice. CoPs are an investment in teaching and research excellence.

CoPs offer opportunities to:

• Connect faculty members from multiple disciplines
• Simulate learning via communication, mentoring, and self-reflection
• compile and disseminate existing knowledge to promote best practices
• Support collaborative processes to explore beneficial opportunities
• Organize purposeful actions with measurable results

CoP Requirements

• Each CoP must have a minimum of three members
• Complete an application via NuRamp and submit it to the Center for Faculty Excellence by the due date determined each fall semester (view the CFE calendar for relevant due dates)
• Each CoP must meet at least five times during the academic year
• CoP groups must document one or more of the following measurable outcomes for members to be eligible for up to a $100 stipend
  1. Conference presentation
  2. Surveys/Assessments
  3. Secured Funding Sources
  4. Evidence of Application of Teaching Techniques
  5. Evidence of Incorporation of Knowledge in Classroom
• Submit outcome assessments by the due date for that academic year (available on the CFE calendar)

*To be eligible for this one-time stipend per academic year, CoP members must be full-time UNO faculty or staff (classified as "Office/Service", "Managerial/Professional", or "Non-Academic Administrator"). This stipend will be made available to participants at the beginning of the next academic year as professional development funds.

Faculty Leadership Forums

Faculty Leadership Forums (FLFs) are intended to connect faculty from across campus who either serve in similar leadership roles or are developing similar professional interests that lead toward leadership on campus.

FLFs offer opportunities to:

• Connect faculty members from multiple disciplines
• Promote shared professional development interests (chairs and directors, graduate program chairs, and research center directors)
• Compile and disseminate existing knowledge to promote best practices
• Support collaborative processes to explore beneficial opportunities
• Build a greater sense of community and continuity among individual campus entities
• Provide development opportunities for new or potential leaders on campus

FLF Requirements

• Each FLF must have a minimum of three members. There is no maximum limit.
• Each FLF must submit a brief proposal via NuRamp to the Center for Faculty Excellence each fall (view the CFE calendar for current due dates)
  1. Focus of the group
  2. Topics the group will explore
  3. Anticipated meeting dates and times
  4. Names and departmental affiliations of participants
  5. Name of FLF leader
• Each FLF must meet a minimum of three times per semester during the academic year
• Each FLF must submit an activity summary by the due date for the academic year in which they convene (available on the CFE calendar) for members to be eligible for up to $100* that reports:
  1. Regular attendees
  2. Accomplishments for the year
  3. Proposed ideas/issues for further exploration in the upcoming year

*To be eligible for this one-time stipend per academic year, FLF members must be full-time UNO faculty or staff (classified as "Office/Service", "Managerial/Professional", or "Non-Academic Administrator"). This stipend will be made available to participants at the beginning of the following academic year as professional development funds. Leaders FLFs with 8 or more will be eligible to receive a one-time stipend per academic year of $300 instead of the customary $100.