What are some of the common pitfalls and challenges that faculty developers encounter in their work?

1 Alignment with institutional goals

One of the first challenges that faculty developers encounter is aligning their programs and initiatives with the strategic goals and priorities of their institutions. This requires a clear understanding of the mission, vision, values, and culture of the institution, as well as the expectations and needs of the stakeholders, such as administrators, faculty, students, and external partners. Faculty developers need to communicate effectively with these groups, and demonstrate how their work contributes to the institutional outcomes and impact. They also need to balance the demands and constraints of the institutional context, such as budget, resources, policies, and accreditation standards.

2 Diversity and inclusivity

Another challenge that faculty developers face is addressing the diversity and inclusivity of the faculty and the student body. Faculty development programs and practices need to respect and respond to the different backgrounds, experiences, perspectives, and needs of the faculty members, and help them create inclusive and equitable learning environments for their students. Faculty developers need to be aware of their own biases and assumptions, and foster a culture of openness, dialogue, and collaboration among the faculty. They also need to incorporate principles of universal design for learning, anti-racism, and social justice into their curriculum design, instructional strategies, and assessment methods.

3 Engagement and motivation

A third challenge that faculty developers encounter is engaging and motivating the faculty to participate in and benefit from their programs and services. Faculty development is often seen as an optional or additional activity, rather than an integral part of the professional development and career advancement of the faculty. Faculty developers need to understand the intrinsic and extrinsic factors that influence the faculty's willingness and readiness to engage in faculty development, such as their beliefs, attitudes, goals, values, interests, self-efficacy, and workload. They also need to design and deliver faculty development programs and activities that are relevant, meaningful, practical, flexible, and rewarding for the faculty.

4 Evaluation and impact

A fourth challenge that faculty developers face is evaluating and demonstrating the impact of their work on the faculty's teaching practices and the students' learning outcomes. Faculty development is a complex and multifaceted process, involving cognitive, affective, behavioral, and contextual dimensions. It is not easy to measure and attribute the changes and improvements that result from faculty development interventions, especially in the long term. Faculty developers need to use multiple and diverse methods and sources of data to collect and analyze evidence of the effectiveness and value of their work, such as feedback surveys, interviews, focus groups, observations, portfolios, reflections, and learning analytics. They also need to communicate and disseminate their findings and recommendations to the relevant stakeholders, and use them to inform and improve their future work.

5 Innovation and change

A fifth challenge that faculty developers encounter is fostering and supporting innovation and change in teaching and learning. Faculty development is not only about enhancing the existing skills and knowledge of the faculty, but also about introducing and implementing new ideas, approaches, tools, and technologies that can transform the teaching and learning processes and outcomes. Faculty developers need to be aware of the emerging trends and best practices in teaching and learning, and be able to adapt and apply them to their own contexts and disciplines. They also need to help the faculty overcome the barriers and resistance to innovation and change, such as fear of failure, lack of time, resources, or support, or attachment to tradition or comfort zones.

6 Collaboration and networking

A sixth challenge that faculty developers face is collaborating and networking with other faculty developers within and outside their institutions. Faculty development is not a solitary or isolated endeavor, but rather a collaborative and networked one. Faculty developers need to share their experiences, insights, resources, and challenges with their peers, and learn from their successes and failures. They also need to seek and establish partnerships and alliances with other faculty development centers, associations, or organizations, and participate in professional development opportunities, such as conferences, workshops, webinars, or publications. By collaborating and networking with other faculty developers, they can enhance their own skills and knowledge, expand their perspectives and horizons, and increase their impact and influence.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?