Wesleyan College is pleased to announce that it is one of a select group of 26 institutions across the nation chosen by the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC), in partnership with the Association of College and University Educators (ACUE), to join the national Consortium for Instructional Excellence and Career Guidance, a new initiative that will prepare up to 500 faculty members to use evidence-based teaching practices shown to promote student success while embedding career guidance into their existing courses. The program is made possible by a $1.2 million grant from Strada Education Network, a national nonprofit dedicated to strengthening America’s pathways between education and employment.
Wesleyan is the only college in Georgia and one of only three women’s colleges in the nation to be selected for the consortium.
A cohort of Wesleyan’s faculty members will enroll in ACUE’s new course, “Career Readiness and 21st-Century Skills.” The course is based on more than 30 years of research that document the evidence-based teaching practices that have been shown to improve student outcomes while also providing course-embedded career guidance. ACUE will debut two new modules that specifically address career readiness: Embedding Career Guidance, in which faculty members will be able to learn how to provide frequent, course-embedded information about specific careers, and Preparing Students with 21st-Century Career-Ready Skills, in which faculty members will be assisted in developing course content, assignments, and assessments to help students develop “career-ready” skills.
Assistant Provost Dr. Matthew Martin said, “Wesleyan College is thrilled to be a part of the CIC/ACUE Consortium. It fits perfectly with the work on student success we're doing through our Academic Resource Center, our new exploration of online learning, and our focus on career development through our From Here to Career initiative. And, of course, great teaching is always at the core of the Wesleyan experience. The fact that so many of our faculty signed up to be a part of this experience shows their commitment to their students and to becoming even better teachers.”
Dr. Martin will lead the faculty cohort in the 25 learning modules beginning this fall and mentor them in using new skills in their classes. “Twenty Wesleyan faculty will complete this course. That's more than a third of our full-time faculty. Those faculty members will learn together and share what they learn with their peers. Being a part of this CIC/ACUE consortium will provide a focus and energy on improving and updating our teaching across campus. I am honored to be a part of the program.”
Dr. Penny MacCormack, ACUE’s chief academic officer said, “This new course prepares faculty members to develop students’ critical thinking, leadership, interpersonal, professional skills, and more, which are all crucial to success in obtaining and keeping a job. These new modules go a step further to guide faculty members in providing specific career examples and skills assessments throughout their coursework.”
The Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) is an association of 770 nonprofit independent colleges and universities, state-based councils of independent colleges, and other higher education affiliates, that works to support college and university leadership, advance institutional excellence, and enhance public understanding of independent higher education’s contributions to society. CIC is the major national organization that focuses on services to leaders of independent colleges and universities and state-based councils.
The Association of College and University Educators (ACUE) believes that all college students deserve an extraordinary education and that faculty members play a critical role in their success. In partnership with institutions of higher education nationwide, ACUE supports and credentials faculty members in the use of evidence-based teaching practices that drive student engagement, retention, and learning.