New office supports staff in ALTC activities

Professor Sally Sandover was appointed last year to establish the UWA Australian Learning and Teaching Council (ALTC) Support Office.

The UWA ALTC Support Office was established through an ALTC Promoting Excellence grant of $220,000, with additional support from UWA funds. Working closely with Professor Jane Long in this exciting new development, Sally’s appointment came out of UWA’s desire to raise the profile of the ALTC activities throughout the University combined with a commitment to enhance the student learning experience by supporting quality teaching practice.

Last year UWA was one of the most successful universities in gaining ALTC awards and grants. UWA received:

• 4 citation awards (Professor Philippa Maddern, Dr Di Gardiner, Associate Professor Tony Celenza and Professor Geoff Soutar)
• 2 teaching awards (Dr Peter Whipp and Ms Violet Bacon)
• 1 program award (UniSkills)
• 2 project grants (Business education in the 21st century: Examining the antecedents and consequences of student team virtuality and Enabling and developing leadership in multi-campus universities through the development of communities of practice)

Based on the second floor of the Clocktower, Sally and her project officer, Andrea Fraser, publicise ALTC events and provide educational support to assist UWA staff in being more competitive in ALTC activities.

The goals of the UWA ALTC Support Office are:

In the short term:

Grants and Fellowships

• Assistance with applications
• Development of submission processes
• Dissemination of projects

Awards

• Assistance with nomination, development, writing and collation
• Assistance with development of policies and processes for selection
• Dissemination of outcomes

In the longer term:

• Development of a mentoring program for future teaching and learning leaders
• Identification of future ALTC program nominations
• Advice on activities for future nominations such as evaluation practices, evidence collection, assessment practices

During the twelve months that the UWA ALTC Support Office has been operating, Sally and Andrea have established their website (www.teachingandlearning.uwa.edu.au/ page/109212), which provides more information, forms and links to other useful sites.

Sally aims to enhance UWA’s relationship with the ALTC while continuing to strengthen UWA’s teaching and learning practices. The UWA ALTC Support Office works in collaboration with CATL and the Education Policy Services Office. Sally and Andrea are happy to assist Teaching and Learning committees, CATLysts, Associate Deans Teaching and Learning and individual staff members.

The UWA ALTC Support Office has also established an email list which notifies staff about ALTC activities. Those wishing to join this, please email Andrea Fraser .

UWA ALTC Support OfficeProfessor Sally Sandover: x5571 or sally.sandover@uwa.edu.au
Ms Andrea Fraser: x5572 or andrea.fraser@uwa.edu.au