Engaging Faculty

OK, we need to kick this forum off. I'll start with something that is on my mind. If you wish to respond to this, please add a comment to this post.

It seems like one of the main themes from the meeting was communication, especially with faculty. It's important that the faculty understand the support roll we play for them. We want them to see us as partners in the education of their students.

I heard one idea that I think we are going to implement right away. I love the idea of offering a "textbook scholarship" to a few departments every semester. These "scholarships" could we awarded to students that they feel deserve the scholarship and would cover the textbook costs of one student for one semester. The departments could select a student based on scholarship, hardship, or whatever criteria they desire.

Textbook "scholarships" could be awarded to departments that have turned in their textbook requests on time. Or, they could awarded to departments we are trying to enhance our relationship with. There may be other reasons we may want to award one of these "scholarships" to any particular department...who knows.

I was thinking that in order to award the "scholarship," the department chair would have to at least sign a form that the winning student would bring to the bookstore in order to "claim the scholarship." This way at least the chair would be involved and see the bookstore's "good works." Hopefully he would engage all of the faculty in the department in the selection process.

Theoretically, the academic side of the university would see our efforts and better understand our desire to be of support to them and students. What do you all think of this idea? Is anyone doing this? Does anyone have other ideas on how to better tell our story to faculty?