Enriching Faculty Scholarship through the Creation of Alternative Settings
Meg A. Bond, Jana Sladkova

Abstract
In institutions of higher learning, faculty often conducts their research and scholarship on their own, in isolation. Yet, many faculties yearn to engage in scholarly discussion and benefit greatly from exchanges with peers across disciplines. We present one program designed to facilitate such interdisciplinary engagement and support through the creation of an alternative setting, or ‘counter space’, called IDEA communities. Evaluations of the first year of the program document substantial benefits for faculty participants, including reduced sense of isolation, increased productivity, deeper understanding of methods across disciplines, access to new collaborations, and help in more effectively navigating their academic setting.

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