Faculty Think Tank/Scholars' Studio is funded by a Walmart Minority Success Grant through the Institute for Higher Education Policy. The project advances teaching and learning at Bowie State University by providing a venue for faculty, staff, administrators, and students to explore issues related to pedagogy and scholarship. Vision Than Faculty Thing Tank/ Scholars' Studio aspires to recognize and foster an acedemic culture that values all voices within the university community. We envision Bowie State University as an institution that engages learners by developing diverse spaces where knowledge is created; cultivating responsive, research-based pedagogy; and offering learners numerous avenues for exploration and large canvases for expression. Mission The Faculty Think Tank/ Scholars' Studio operates with the belief that our students are capable of flourishing in an academic environment. The project reframes the campus-wide discussion about student success to focus on how the practices and attitudes of faculty, staff, and administrators shape the academic culture. The FTT asks professors to consider how their pedagogical practices stifle or encourage budding scholars, and offers members of the BSU community space to explore both the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning and their own scholarly processes. The project places assessmen at the heart of its work and uses the Scholars' Studio (a project-based learning community) as a lab for testing and refining innovative, high-impact practices. Within the Scholars' Studio faculty and students work collaboratively to generate knowledge and solve problems. Through this engagement, students think critically, develop agency and self-efficacy, and learn how to position themselves within the discourse communities of the academy. the use of intentional, research-driven practices and sound assessment ultimately impacts the academic success and retention of BSU students. Project Goals 1) Understand the obstacles that learners face. 2) Increase first-generation student success. 3) Develop a shared pedagogical vision and enhanced pedagogical repertoire. 4) Create an enduring community dedicated to exploring issues related to pedagogy and student engagement. For more information, visit the Faculty Think Tank, Scholars' Studio, and Faculty Learning Communities project pages.
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