Northwestern University (Evanston, Ill.). Center for the Teaching Professions
Biography
The Center for the Teaching Professions was established on September 1, 1969 under the administrative direction of Northwestern University's School of Education. The Center's purpose was to focus “its resources and energies on the problem of teaching within Northwestern University and in other educational contexts to provide both pre-service and in-service support for the development of more effective strategies for creative teaching and curriculum reform in all profession.” The energies of the Center were sparked by its first director, B. Claude Mathis, who served in this role from its founding until his death late in 1989.
The Kellogg Foundation provided the majority of the Center's early financial support by initially guaranteeing six years of basic funding with the expectation that Northwestern would provide, or obtain, funds to support the Center following this period. Efforts toward acquiring this funding led to several other grants early in the Center's life from such organizations as the Wieboldt Foundation. Beginning in 1975 the Danforth Foundation assisted the Center with financial support and program development.
During the Center's first three years it concentrated on teaching at Northwestern. Over the next three years the Center expanded its scope gradually to include other educational institutions. By its second year the Center had increased its full-time staff to four. A steady growth in the number of staff and the Center's programs occurred during the ensuing years. The development of the E-70 Seminar in College Teaching marked an important step in curriculum innovation. The Faculty Fellow Program, a highly successful endeavor, made a substantial impact over the years. Individual projects, a variety of seminars, and other activities, also encouraged improvement in college teaching and its evaluation.
In addition to its direct role in improving teaching, the Center has been involved significantly in increasing the availability and use of media resources within the University. The establishment of the Center's Learning Resources Facility provided opportunities for practical workshops and a variety of consulting services for both Northwestern faculty and staff and those in other institutions. The Center also has played a major role in computer-assisted instruction.
In 1974 the Center initiated a Visiting Scholars Program which has enabled faculty members from colleges and universities throughout the country “to provide an opportunity for (themselves) to use the resources of the Center, of Northwestern's colleges and schools, and of other cooperating institutions to accomplish self-development goals through independent study and interaction with the Center staff.” That same year the Center founded The Writing Place to help students improve their writing skills.