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CFDE provides resources and services to support faculty so that our students have an optimum learning experience. Click here to contact us or you can email us at cfde@scuhs.edu
In support of the University Mission, the SCU Center for Faculty Development & Excellence identifies, designs, develops and implements programs and services that address all the training needs of our faculty members with regards to technology, andragogy, and active learning. CFDE also supports and leads the instructional design and curriculum design aspects of our academic infrastructure.
Cultivating a student-success focused and sustainable academic culture where faculty have the time and tools for reflection and assessment and easy access to teaching resources. CFDE will do this by:
Vincent Wiggins, EdD
Director of Faculty Development
& Curriculum Management
Megan Chandler
Associate Vice President
of Online Education
Selom Assignon, PhD
Director,
Instructional Design
Bill Kessler
LMS Administrator
(Canvas and Examsoft)
Scott Standifer, PhD
Instructional
Designer
Pre-Term Training Information
The following SCU faculty courses have successfully met Quality Matters rigorous set of standards to be identified as Quality Matters certified courses. This acknowledgement is awarded by a global organization leading in quality assurance in online and innovative digital teaching and learning environments. Congratulations to the following faculty in achieving this accomplishment.
Thank you to the SCU Instructional Designers, Dr. Selom Assignon and Dr. Scott Standifer, for supporting the QM Peer Review Process. Please contact cfde@scuhs.edu to find out more about the process.
SCU offers QM workshops to faculty as part of faculty professional development. Click on this link to learn more.
Check out the latest OLC’s live, recorded, and on-demand webinars that discuss hot topics and best practices in education provided by teaching experts. Click on this link to access the free webinars for SCU faculty (https://onlinelearningconsortium.org/learn/webinars/).
Faculty Mentoring Program
Join the Faculty Mentoring program to collaborate with your colleagues as an educator in higher education. Click on this link to learn more.
Faculty Engagement
CFDE offers the opportunity for faculty to engage with other colleagues to share resources and discuss engaging topics. Click on this link to enroll.
CFDE offers resources to support faculty in teaching and course design. Below are the resources that are available to SCU faculty. If you do not see a resource that you would like provided, please email cfde@scuhs.edu.
New Faculty Onboarding Training is scheduled on the 2nd and 4th Mondays of each month. New faculty will receive an invitation to attend the required training. In addition, faculty are required to complete the CFDE Faculty Onboarding Self-Paced course located. Please contact us if you need additional information about CFDE resources and assistance with enrolling in the self-paced course.
Quality Matters is an internationally recognized program with broad appeal. QM professional development provides education professionals with many opportunities to gain and strengthen skills that enhance their professional abilities. QM courses that lead to certified roles such as QM-Certified Reviewer can help individuals stand out professionally and get compensated for QM peer review projects. QM-Certified roles get noticed on resumés and LinkedIn profiles. For additional information about Quality Matters click on this link or go to www.qualitymatters.org.
How to Register for Quality Matters?
Click on this link to download instructions to register for approved QM workshops and get a list of approved Quality Matter workshops for SCU faculty.
OLC has been leading the way in advancing online and digital learning since 1999. They provide the research, resources and services to support the online learning strategy.
As an OLC Institutional Member, faculty have access to the tools, resources and thought leaders to ensure quality online teaching and learning. Membership benefits include webinars, peer networking, early access to research, access to OLC consulting, member pricing on professional development and OLC conferences and events, and more.
Click on this link to create an account to access OLC resources or go https://my.onlinelearningconsortium.org/OLC/s/fs-newuserreg
Theory into Practice:
There are several learning theories that can support you as an educator and a subject matter expert in your discipline. Below are three of the major theories in learning.
Click on this link to learn more about the theories in learning. (go to https://scu.sharepoint.com/sites/CFDE/SitePages/Teaching-and-Learning-Resources.aspx)
Quality Matters Course:
Learn how to apply different learning theories that include andragogy, pedagogy, and heutagogy into your own teaching practices. SCU is a member of Quality Matters that offers the following course related to putting theory into your own teaching practices.
Link to QM workshop to link Connecting Learning Theories to Your Teaching Strategies. (https://www.qualitymatters.org/professional-development/toc/connect-theory-to-strategy)
CFDE assists faculty in effective teaching and course design strategies for increasing engagement, improving assessment, and supporting student learning.
Course Design
CFDE, in collaboration with SCU course designers, helps faculty and program directors apply instructional design principles and best practices in course preparation.
Consultation
CFDE provides complimentary individual consultations related to course design and instructional professional development that supports any SCU faculty.
Customized
Workshops
CFDE provides customized workshops for academic departments related to specific departmental instructional requirements, delivery modes, and alignment of courses to program learning outcomes.
Faculty Online
Learning Community
CFDE offers and organizes Faculty Online Learning Communities to support flexible virtual communities for faculty to engage in topics related to theory into practice, share best practices, understand industry trends, discuss innovative teaching, and other topics related to educators in higher education. Join our community by clicking below to be directed to our Microsoft Teams page working group.
SCU faculty onboarding program is available to new and junior faculty. The process starts within the first week of the semester when all faculty have finished the pre-hire process and are going through their orientation.
Senior faculty are encouraged to participate in the Faculty Mentoring Program and select at least one new or junior faculty member to mentee for at least one year. The Faculty Mentoring program also offers the option for co-mentoring or group mentoring.
You can sign up to participate in the Faculty Mentoring Program using the form below.
Please contact the Center for Faculty Development & Excellence at cfde@scuhs.edu if you have any questions.
SCU’s industry leading faculty provide a rigorous program for students to gain the knowledge and experience needed to be practice ready. Learn about and with our colleagues who are subject matter experts in supporting students’ academic success. SCU’s faculty approach is aligned with SCU’s Interprofessional Education curriculum framework which is tied to the achievement of outcomes in key areas that reflect SCU’s commitment to health equity: patient care, health systems, population health, and underserved communities. CFDE celebrate these efforts by spotlighting our impressive faculty.
Thank you, faculty, for your commitment to student’s academic success.
I am truly honored to receive the Faculty Spotlight award for the Spring 2025 semester - thank you so much!
Teaching Diagnostic Imaging can already be a daunting task to students, so where is the fun in that? I've made it my mission to shake things up in my online classroom. My secret weapon? Breaking down those long Zoom sessions into smaller, livelier breakout rooms where my students work with our fantastic DI experts to tackle these concepts together. And because who doesn't love a good game, I've brought some friendly competition into the mix with “Kahoot!” and “Jeopardy”-style activities. Recently, I've started experimenting with AI tools to create more engaging ways to learn. It's amazing to see how mixing traditional teaching with new technology can turn challenging material into something students look forward to.
This recognition shows that I’m on the right track in my style of teaching and it continues to fuel my enthusiasm to keep finding creative ways to make learning both effective and enjoyable. Thank you again to the administration and my colleagues for this acknowledgment and to my students for their unwavering dedication.
I am honored to be recognized for the Fall 2024 Faculty Spotlight at SCUHS. My teaching approach is deeply rooted in the values that define our institution—commitment to student success, innovative learning, and a holistic view of education. I take great joy not only in engaging with students about their academic journey, but also guiding them through their career ventures and aspirations. I extend my heartfelt thanks to my students for their enthusiasm and dedication, and to the institution for fostering a space where excellence and growth are truly valued. Thank you for this incredible acknowledgment.
I am deeply honored to receive this faculty spotlight recognition from the CFDE. Engaging and supporting our students through technology and personal connection has always been a part of my teaching approach. I am grateful for the opportunity to make a difference in our students’ academic success and thrilled to see the positive impact of these efforts. My sincerest thanks to the CFDE, my colleagues and students for inspiring me every day to explore, innovate, and refresh my thinking and perspective on health care education.”
The Center for Faculty Development and Excellence is always looking for faculty or staff who are utilizing technology resources in innovative ways to engage and support our students. Please use the form below to submit a nomination for next term’s faculty member spotlight.
The Faculty Development Advisory Council formalizes and facilitates engagement between the Center for Faculty Development and Excellence (CFDE) and faculty so that Southern California University of Health Sciences (SCU) may provide appropriate and intentional support to faculty for the continuous improvement of teaching and learning.
The Council advocates for the advancement of best practices in course design, educational technology, application of learning theories (pedagogy, andragogy, and heutagogy), faculty mentoring, and interprofessional education.
Brett Buford, OTD, OTR/L
Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy
Doctorate of Occupational Therapy Program
Sonya Earley, EdD, MA, PA-C, CDCES
MSPA Principal Faculty – Physician Assistant
Amber McCallum, DC
FSTT Faculty Lead
– Chiropractic
Xavier Ortiz Ramirez, DC, CME, IIE
SCU Health Faculty – Chiropractic
Melinda Turner, DC, DHPE
Cohort Advisor
– Chiropractic
S. Prasad Vinjamury, DACM, MPH
Assistant Program Director – Eastern Medicine
Vincent Wiggins, EdD
Director
– CFDE
