The CTE helps organize, sponsor, and support faculty learning communities on various teaching topics on a fairly regular basis.  To date these have primarily been focused on helping faculty who teach in the first year CSP Seminars.  These learning communities usually consist of some 8-12 faculty who gather every two weeks during a given semester to learn from each other about a variety of topics of mutual interest.  Sometimes the learning community also tries to focus on developing a particular "final product."  For example, in the Fall Semester 2007, a faculty learning community on the topic of "Writing Instruction" met and developed a "best practices" website for other CSP instructors.  Prof. Tom Burkdall and Prof. Deborah Martinson from the English Writing Department served as co-facilitators.  A similar learning community has been planned for Fall 2009 for interested CSP Faculty.  Another previous faculty learning community was held in Spring 2009 for interested spring semester CSP instructors on the topic of Writing and Research Instruction.  The CTE plans to co-sponsor (with the Core Program) another faculty learning community on this topic for interested faculty teaching in the Spring 2010 CSP program.  Faculty participants in these learning communities also receive a significant honorarium for their participation.  Qualifying faculty are invited to submit an application expressing their interest in participated in a faculty learning community.