The work of the Center for Faculty Excellence began months before President Joan Develin Coley snipped green and gold ribbons Oct. 2 to mark its official opening,

In fact, under the directorship of English Professor Pam Regis, the center is moving ahead full throttle: surveying faculty to determine ways it can support professors’ development, sponsoring teaching analysis polls to help professors find out what their students think most helps or impedes learning in their courses, coordinating with the faculty development committee and serving as a resource for new faculty orientation.

Soon, a focus will be the new curriculum, in particular supporting implementation of the sophomore seminars and the junior writing experience that are key components of The McDaniel Plan.

Established through a $200,000 Mellon Grant, the center is “of the faculty, by the faculty and for the faculty,” said Provost Tom Falkner during the Oct. 2 opening.

Coley agreed and emphasized the value of McDaniel’s teaching faculty.

“There is nothing more important than teaching. Nothing more important than you…except, of course, our students,” she said.