Process education and continual process improvement at Western Michigan University (WMU)

The College of Engineering and Applied Sciences (CEAS) at Western Michigan University has initiated several strategic studies and programs to shape and direct the next five to ten years. With new leadership in the college and the University, the college began a major self-study and planning activity in Fall 1999 to re-assess mission, vision, goals, and objectives. One significant outcome of this activity was specific goals and objectives related to curriculum development and faculty professional development. Education of faculty in improved methods of teaching/learning was initiated in February 2000 when a group of six faculty, including several engineering department chairs, participated in a Teaching Institute (TI) led by Pacific Crest at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. This activity was followed by WMU's sponsorship of a TI for CEAS and other colleges within WMU at which the initial group served as mentors. An Advanced TI for curriculum design was conducted for the college, followed by another introductory TI in cooperation with a local community college and WMU's Center for Teaching and Learning. Finally, a Program Design and Assessment Institute was conducted in January 2001 to integrate the curriculum assessment systems within the college. Over two thirds of the faculty within the College of Engineering anal Applied Sciences, along with other faculty from the College of Education, College of Arts and Sciences, Kalamazoo Valley Community College, and several universities from across the country have now participated in workshops at WMU. These activities have seeded an ongoing plan of faculty development, program review, and continuous improvement of college programs and processes. The details and results are presented.