Research Center Chairs continuously work to better serve their Center’s members by offering a number of scholarly activities such as participating in monthly webinars, conducting research projects, and publishing and presenting research results.

To effectively work with the Research Center Chair and make the most of a Center membership, it’s important to become an active member within the Center. Center members – including faculty, students and alumni – may adopt the following approaches to enhance members’ scholarly and research skills.

1. Take Ownership

One of the best ways a Center’s members can work with the Chair is by taking ownership of the research projects made available by the Chair. They may also bring their own projects and ideas to enhance the Center and help fulfill the Center’s mission. 

2. Collaborate

Members may collaborate with their Chair in forming research projects and creating new ways of supporting research or chairing students within the Center. The ongoing interactions and collaborations with the Chairs and members create a rich, resourceful community of scholars that cultivates research and benefits all members as they evolve and grow as scholarly practitioners.   

3. Reflect

Members are encouraged to critically reflect on the Center’s activities and share their feedback with the Chair.

4. Support

Members may also support the Center by helping them promote the research agenda; involving other members in the Centers’ activities; and encouraging interested faculty members, students, and alumni to join the Center.

5. Engage Continuously

The most important element to working effectively with your Center is developing and maintaining continuous involvement with the Center’s activities. Research Centers encourage members to fully participate in various opportunities including posting blogs related to the research center agenda and participating in discussion forums. For example, the Center for Educational and Instructional Technology Research offers two support forums: one related to research and publication issues and the other related to dissertation chairing issues. Members may post their questions and issues related to these topics into the forums and the Center Chair or other members may address the questions. A list of activities is provided in each Research Center’s event calendar.      

The Center Chairs’ overarching goal is to develop democratic, resourceful spaces for sharing knowledge and scholarly activities. Center members are strongly encouraged to help reach that goal.