Athens, Ga. – A national review board that provides faculty with external peer evaluations, which is codirected by a University of Georgia College of Education faculty member, has won an award from the University Continuing Education Association (UCEA).
The Clearinghouse and National Review Board for Faculty on the Scholarship of Engagement received the inaugural Excellence Award for Innovations in Outreach and Engagement. The award recognizes creative and innovative programs in the field. The award was presented during the annual UCEA conference.
Under the direction of Lorilee Sandmann, associate professor of lifelong education, administration and policy, and Amy Driscoll, assessment consultant and scholar at the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, the Clearinghouse and National Review Board provides external peer review and evaluation of faculty’s scholarship, consultation, training and technical assistance, and conducts forums on topics related to the scholarship of engagement.
“We were impressed with the national stance toward the assessment of the scholarship of engagement the Clearinghouse and National Review Board provides,” said Miriam Simmons, chair of the UCEA awards committee. “The external peer review and evaluation of faculty scholarship not only strengthens the field, it also provides necessary linkages to a wide array of like-minded faculty and administrators.”
Since its inception five years ago, the Clearinghouse has served as a source of support to faculty, administrators and institutions of higher education both in the United States and abroad. Members serve as mentors to new faculty across the country. Through the Clearinghouse’s Web site (www.scholarshipofengagement.org/) and personal requests, members are paired with interested faculty to foster dialogue, access the development of faculty dossiers, and consult on the best ways faculty members can connect their research, service, teaching and work with the community.
Over the past four years, the work of the organization and its members has documented 192 campus visits and consultations, 125 portfolio inquiries and reviews, and nearly 10,000 Web site hits.
Sandmann came to UGA as associate vice president for public service and outreach and executive director of the Georgia Center for Continuing Education in 2001. She joined the College of Education as a full-time faculty member in the department of lifelong education, administration and policy in 2002.
Prior to coming to UGA, Sandmann served as vice provost for institutional effectiveness and strategic partnerships at Cleveland State University. Before that, she was director of university outreach at Michigan State University for eight years. She began her career serving in various faculty, administrative, extension and outreach positions at the University of Minnesota for 17 years.
