DE Oracle @ UMUC

Dr. Michael Frank, Senior Vice President for Academic Programs and Dean of the Graduate School of Management and Technology, and the Faculty Research Grant Selection Committee recently announced the award winners of the UMUC Faculty Research Grant Program for Summer 2011, Fall 2011, and Spring 2012.

A study with graduate students from the California Public University System who were experienced in virtual teamwork determined that traditional social and cultural influences remain important in current virtual teamwork. The survey results are discussed in this first article of a two-part series, noting virtual team challenges as well as the suggestions they offered for improving the multicultural, virtual team experience. The student suggestions also inform guidelines for online faculty and students who are involved with forming a cultural hybrid to accomplish virtual team goals.

ILS has been notified that its proposal was chosen as a preconference for the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) to be held at the American Library Association Annual Conference 2009 in Chicago.

The Writing Conference presentations were geared for faculty across the disciplines and provided much practical assistance, covering a variety of ways to provide effective feedback on writing as well as strategies for being an overall effective instructor.

UMUC made a remarkable presence at the 13th Sloan-C Conference that was held in Orlando, November 2007. Relative to this year's theme, The Power of Online Learning: Making a Difference, UMUC presenters from various departments spoke on topics ranging from best instructional practices to faculty development to emerging trends.

Collegiate Professors Emmett Fleming and Alan Carswell completed a massive and comprehensive study of course evaluation data for the Graduate School. The purpose of the analysis was to provide the Graduate School with additional insights into the relationships among the many variables and factors contained in the student evaluation data, as well as additional data that may affect evaluations.

Drs. Stella Porto and John Aje were awarded the Best Paper Award from the Distance Learning Administration for their paper looking at the development, delivery, and support of online learning and looking at GSMT as a case study.

Quality assurance of online courses is of prime importance to all the stakeholders in higher education: students, faculty, administrators, institutions, accrediting agencies, and legislators all benefit from a rigorous process of quality assurance and control.