Common(s) Wisdom: Ohio University’s Faculty Commons

Jan MaxwellAssistant Dean, Collections & Access

Ohio University

Ohio University

• Located in Athens, Ohio• Established 1804• 20,000+ students • 1000+ full-time faculty• 5 regional campuses• Carnegie classification: Research Universities

(high research activity)

Ohio University Libraries

• Vernon R. Alden Library – 7 floors• 2 branch libraries and remote storage• 89 full-time staff, 3M volumes• ARL member since 1996• Learning Commons opened 2004• Faculty Commons opened 2007

Faculty Commons Key Players

• University Libraries• Center for Academic Technology (CAT )

• Center Teaching and Learning (CTL)• Center for Writing Excellence (CWE)• DesignGroup of Columbus OH, architects for

master plan

Original Goal: Better space for CAT, CTL and CWE

Concept: Faculty Commons as analogous and complementary to Learning Commons

Faculty Commonsentry

entry Learning Commons

Customer Service

Stacks

Archives/ Special Collections

Third Floor

Expanded Goals

• Better space for CAT, CTL and CWE• One-stop shopping for faculty

Planned Faculty Commons Units

• University Libraries– AD, Collections & Access– Media Production

• Center for Academic Technology (CAT)• Center Teaching and Learning (CTL)• Center for Writing Excellence (CWE)

One-stop shopping? Other services we considered:

• Reserves• Assistance with Blackboard• Interlibrary Loan• Grant-writing assistance• Statistical assistance

Expanded goals

Display space for faculty research and creative activity

Expanded Goals

• Better space for CAT, CTL and CWE• One-stop shopping for faculty• Display space for faculty research and

creative activity • Faculty Club atmosphere

Learning Commons Faculty Commons

FRIENDS ROOM HERE

Goals and Outcomes

Pre-construction goals:• Relocate CAT, CTL, CWE to

high visibility venue• Provide one-stop shopping

for faculty services• Create ‘faculty club’ space• Showcase faculty research

Outcomes:• Primary venue for faculty

development programs• Faculty Club atmosphere:

somewhat• Faculty research showcase:

didn’t happen

Faculty Commons Units

Year One:

• University Libraries– AD, Collections & Access– Media Production

• Center for Academic Technology (CAT)

• Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL)

• Center for Writing Excellence (CWE)

• Campus-Community Engagement

Year Two:

• University Libraries– AD, Collections & Access– Media Production

• CAT (leadership change)• CTL (reduced staffing)• CWE• Campus-Community

Engagement (reduced staffing)

Faculty Commons UnitsYear Three:• University Libraries

– Assistant Deans for Collections & Access, Research & Education Services

• CAT (interim director)• CTL (reduced staffing and

operating budget)• CWE (reduced staffing) • Office of Nationally

Competitive Awards (ONCA) and Director of Fulbright Programs

Beginning Year Four:• University Libraries

– Assistant Deans for Collections & Access, Research & Education Services

• CAT (2nd interim director)• CTL (staffing and operating

budget reduced further)• CWE (reduced staffing)• ONCA and Director of

Fulbright Programs

Some surprises

• Differences in work cultures among the units were greater than anticipated

• Summer is the busiest season• The conference room specifically designed as

creative space is the least popular• Students do not wander in, even when there

is no seating available elsewhere in the building

Things to think about if you are planning a faculty commons

• Can you truly have one-stop shopping?• Leadership and reporting lines• Operating budget• What will success look like?• Design flexibility

QUESTIONS?EMAIL ADDRESSES

Jan Maxwell: maxwelj2@ohio.edu