The Faculty Professional Development Center (fpdc)
had its beginnings in the collaborative efforts of the Faculty
Professional Development Study Committee (FPDSC), a body initiated
by the American Association of University Professors (AAUP),
developed with the Administration, and put forth in the contract
agreement signed in April, 1993. In their report, based on two
and one-half years of study, the committee drew attention to
the many and diverse forms of support for faculty professional
development in existence at Kent State University, most notably
the
University Research Council
(URC) and the University Teaching
Council (UTC). The report contained suggestions for strengthening
some of these efforts, for making all efforts more broadly known
and available, and for creating other opportunities as needed.
The committee offered a conceptual framework for faculty professional
development and recommended the creation of the Center. The
report was presented to the President and to the Faculty Senate
for discussion. President Cartwright and Senate Chair Robert
Johnson created a planning committee to provide detailed recommendations
on housing, staff, budget and reporting. In February of 1997
the planning committee submitted its report. By late August
1998 a director was appointed and in September the Center and
its staff began formal operations.
