Keith Barker, director of the Institute for Teaching and Learning, has been appointed associate vice provost in the Division of Undergraduate Education and Instruction.

In this new role, he is responsible for the International Teaching Assistant Program, the Instructional Resource Center, and the University Center for Instructional Media and Technology, in addition to the Institute for Teaching and Learning. The appointment took effect last month.

"From the resources of these units and in collaboration with other campus units, he will build a well-developed support system for the instructional responsibilities of faculty members and graduate students," says Susan Steele, vice provost for undergraduate education and instruction, in a memo announcing the appointment.

"The range of his position will be far-reaching, both within the university community and beyond," says Steele. "Internally, Dr. Barker will be responsible for ensuring the integrity of the classroom and for supporting the integration of the assessment of teaching into promotion and tenure review."

Barker, a professor of computer science and engineering, will also act as a liaison between undergraduate education and instruction and Paul Kobulnicky, vice chancellor for information services, in developing and supporting the application of information technology to teaching and learning.

"We're looking at a coordinated approach to developing information technology across the campus, not only for business and administration, but also for the academic area as well as student services," says Barker. "It's important that we have some academic input to that at the highest level. I represent the academic constituents that will be relying on Paul's information technology group."

"We're trying to provide seamless support across all of the units," he says. "The library, the media center, the computer center, and the instructional resource center all have expertise which has grown independently. Now we'll be able to use them so that teams can be built and cooperation can take place."

Barker also emphasizes that he wants to work closely with the regional campuses.

Externally, Barker will seek funding to support teaching and leaning on campus, and will develop connections with other institutions, especially the community-technical colleges and the Connecticut State University system.

Sherry Fisher