Rider faculty and academic student affairs administrators will examine critical issues in higher education at Rider on Thursday, May 18 during the eighth annual Faculty Development Day. The day’s theme is “Learner-Centered Teaching: Improving Student Performance and Instructor Satisfaction.”

The day begins at 8:30 a.m. with registration and continental breakfast in the lobby of The Yvonne Theater. At 9 a.m., Dr. Terrence Doyle, professor of reading and coordinator of the Center for Teaching, Learning and Faculty Development at Ferris State University in Big Rapids, MI, will open the day’s programming with the keynote address, “The Changing Role of Teachers and Students in a Learner-Centered Environment.”

Doyle is a 28-year veteran of higher education and professor of reading at Ferris State University, where he also serves as the coordinator of the year-long New Faculty Transition Program. He is co-author of books on the freshman year experience and the transition process for new faculty. His latest book, “Helping Students Learn in a Learner-Centered Environment,” is scheduled to be published during the summer of 2007.

After the plenary session, several concurrent sessions offered by Rider faculty and staff will take place throughout the day focusing on various topics related to student-centered teaching and learning. For a schedule of sessions, go to http://tlc.rider.edu/ The day will close at 4:30 p.m. with a wine and cheese reception honoring Dr. Phyllis Frakt, associate vice president for academic affairs and provost, for her contributions to faculty development at Rider. Dr. Frakt will retire this June.

The registration deadline for Faculty Development Day is May 11.