The Engineering Study Group Initiative At Virginia Tech: Involving Engineering Faculty In The Discussion And Exploration Of Educational Issues

An initiative to promote the formation of voluntary study groups amongst engineering faculty at Virginia Tech is described. The groups provide an opportunity for faculty to freely discuss and exchange their teaching ideas and collaborate with more and less experienced colleagues, thus reducing the isolation they often experience when facing instructional challenges. The formation of study groups centered in engineering departments has been encouraged through a structure independent of the normal department administration. As a result of this effort participation in study groups has rapidly risen and currently over one third of all engineering faculty participate. If only by this measure the initiative has had an impact on the overall quality of teaching in the College of Engineering