2007 New Faculty Orientation

Found in Union University Core Values > Excellence-Driven

Michele Atkins, Professor of Education

Our excellence honors God.

A man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father. Proverbs 29: 3

As a Christian teacher-scholar at Union University, an institution continually striving for excellence in the eyes of our Father and those around us, we are called to be a role model for our students. There is a large body of educational research indicating that a classroom environment of high expectations (obviously, in which excellence is expected and modeled) leads to increased learning.

How, then, does a faculty member create an excellence-driven environment? Listed below are a few suggestions based upon experience and the body of existing research:

Modeling Excellence For Your Students:

Be well prepared for class.
Exhibit enthusiasm for teaching and your content.
Provide immediate and frequent feedback of progress.
Develop appropriate caring relationships.
Show your students that you are human – laugh at your mistakes (of course, you have to admit them openly first).
Always strive to improve – you are either getting better or worse.
Be active in your professional organizations; scholarship; and/or local, national, and international presentations.

Expecting Excellence From Your Students:

Set high expectations.
Communicate objectives and expectations early and often.
Assign purposeful work to assess mastery of objectives – not “work for the sake of work.”
Quality is much more effective than quantity.
Expect students to take responsibility for their mistakes (just as you do), but be sensitive to individual needs.