How to Form an FLC

The FCTL supports the creation of new FLCs and provides resources to facilitators to promote the success of their communities of practice.

Selected FLCs receive a budget of $2000 per semester.
Primary FLC facilitators receive a stipend of $750 per semester.

Planning your FLC

Identify a Shared Purpose

Identifying the common purpose for the community is central to an FLC. While FLCs do spend time getting to know each other and build relationships over time, they are distinguished by the topic of interest bringing the group together. In communities of practice have a shared vision and mission.

Defining community purpose supports the overall success of the group. People who join the FLC find clarity in the group's focus and are able to select a community most aligned to their interests and level of involvement (networking, discussion, writing, advocacy, etc...).

Joining a group focused on a specific pedagogical practice will likely be very different than one involved in campus-wide teaching and learning initiatives.

image of a mountain with a path leading to a flag representing reaching a goal

Define the FLC Goals

Part of being involved in an FLC is supporting each member's individual goal-setting and progress in reaching those goals. Individual member goals should be aligned to over-arching group goals. Establishing clear community outcomes with established checkpoints sets the group's direction and provides opportunities for reflection on the group's progress towards achieving its goal.

3 Guiding Principles

1. Learning

Conversations focus on teaching and learning and are informed by evidence-based practices. Community members engage in critical reflective practice and are encouraged to share and grow together.

2. Collaboration

Community members are actively engaged and meet regularly in a safe, inclusive environment that values all perspectives and contributions.

3. Results

The community creates goals that focus on student learning outcomes and deliverables for their FLC.

What Type of an FLC are your forming?

The cohort FLC is made up of a group of faculty who are comitted to learning together for an extended period of time (semester/year). Cohort FLCs focus on teaching, learning, and professional development topics. An example of a cohort FLC would be a learning community for early career faculty. The Women Faculty Writing Circle is an example of a cohort-based FLC.
Communities coming together around specific topics and/or issues impacting teaching and learning on campus would be considered topic-baed. Shared interest in topics-based groups may range from specific pedagogical practicies to campus-wide teaching and learning initiatives.

What will characterize the community when it is successful and has met its goal?

FCTL Support for FLCs

Management of Funds

FCTL supported FLCs will receive a budget of $2000 per semester budget to cover costs associated with the FLC (books, supplies, catering, bringing in an outside speaker, conference fees, continued professional development). The FCTL will manage funds for the FLC and can help with ordering, payments, and tracking of expenses related to hosting the community.

In addition to supporting costs associated with FLC operations, the primary FLC facilitator will receive a stipend of $750 per semester for leading the FLC.

Logistics

Marketing
Registration
Space
Catering Orders

Evaluation Services

The FCTL conducts a program evaluation on FCTL-supported FLCS to gather information about the success of the program. FLCs are encouraged to design and implement methods for evaluating the group's progress towards community outcomes. The FCTL can support the creation and management of community-specific strategies for identifying community progress.

What to Include in an FLC Proposal

FLC Name
Facilitator Name
Semester/Year
Description of your FLC
- Abstract (100-150 Words)
- Specific Goals/Outcomes (must be tied to faculty/student learning outcomes/impacts)
- Meeting plan (dates, times, and descriptions of session topic/outcomes). The plan should include a semester minimum of 4-5 sessions with a total of 10 contact hours spread across the semester).
- Proposed Itemized Budget ($2000 per semester)
- Methods for assessing progress towards meeting FLC goals/outcomes. How will you measure your FLCs progress and success?
- Deliverables to demonstrate evidence of FLC impact. Please provide a description of deliverables which may be generated to communicate evidence of the impact of your FLC on the university, faculty, and/or students. Deliverables and evidence of impact should align to FLC goals and focus on teaching and learning.

Submitting the FLC Proposal Form

Form a New FLC

Complete Proposal Form

image showing the title FCTL Learning Community Proposal

What happens after I submit my idea for an FLC?

If your idea for an FLC is accepted, we will schedule a planning meeting to provide additional information and support to facilitators.

Important Timelines & Deadlines

June 1, 2023	Deadline: FLC Proposals for Fall
June - August	Fall FLC Registration Period
August - December	Fall FLCs in Session
October 15	Deadline: FLC Proposals for Spring
November 1	Notification of proposal status
November	Spring FLC Facilitators Meeting (Information & Planning)
November - January	Spring FLC Registration Period
January - May	Spring FLCs in Session
March 15, 2024	Deadline: FLC Proposals for Fall
April 1, 2024	Notification of proposal status
May, 2024	Fall FLC Facilitators Meeting (Information & Planning)
May - August, 2024	Fall FLC Registration Period