July 24, 2011

Some Colleges Earn an A+ in Career Development

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David Stephenson for The Chronicle

Stephen J. Haggerty (center), assistant director of student support at Eastern Kentucky U., leads a learning group for professional staff members. Here they play a card game designed for students, in which players cure “zombies” who need critical-thinking skills.

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David Stephenson for The Chronicle

Stephen J. Haggerty (center), assistant director of student support at Eastern Kentucky U., leads a learning group for professional staff members. Here they play a card game designed for students, in which players cure “zombies” who need critical-thinking skills.

By Katherine Mangan

Eastern Kentucky University used to conduct faculty-development programs by bribing professors with a free lunch.

"We were lucky if 10 percent showed up," says Charlie Sweet, a co-director of the university's Teaching and Learning Center.

When the university switched gears and invited both faculty and staff members to take a more active role—through so-called professional-learning communities—participation soared.

Now, at any given time,