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Academic Commons: Home

About

The Academic Commons (AC) at University of Western States (UWS) is a university initiative designed to propel knowledge acquisition, knowledge generation, and knowledge dissemination by providing focused support and services to members of the UWS community through the: AC Library Team, AC Research Team, and AC Teaching & Learning Team.

At the center of our work lies the university’s understanding of scholarship as a multi-faceted way of approaching knowledge. Leaning on the seminal work of Ernest Boyer, the university has defined seven main areas of scholarship pursued by community members:

  • Scholarship of Teaching & Learning
  • Scholarship of Discovery
  • Scholarship of Invention
  • Scholarship of Application
  • Scholarship of Integration
  • Scholarship of Service and Administration
  • Scholarship of Clinical Practice

Each of the AC's teams actively supports these areas of scholarship in a variety of ways.

To get oriented with the Academic Commons website layout, please watch the introductory video below. 

Library
The AC Library Team offers the university community a comprehensive suite of services and tools to help all patrons succeed in their academic and scholarly work. The library maintains a substantive collection of electronic resources (databases, e-books, journals, library resource guides, and interlibrary loan services) in addition to a sizeable collection of physical resources (books, media, anatomical and bone models, and study support materials such as electronics chargers, headphones, and laptops). Patrons can search the library's extensive collection through the integrated OneSearch for articles, books, and more. Library staff are available for on-campus (walk-in) and online (chat, phone, and email) consultations 6 days a week. For help with specific reference services, or to get a document notarized, individual appointments can be made through the convenient online scheduler.
Research
The AC Research Team provides a robust system of support and services for faculty, staff, and students who are pursuing research activities to advance their scholarship. The team seeks to foster an interdisciplinary research culture at UWS. We work collaboratively with university partners like the faculty-led Community of Research and Scholarly Practice to advance research literacy and scholarly engagement. We work to create connections and opportunities with university stakeholders and community partners to advance research locally and nationally. We are supported by the UWS Research Development Committee whose faculty and student members focus on advancing research and scholarly output at the university. The AC Research Team's key offerings include: trainings on the planning, conducting, and management of research projects; curation of research literacy resources in the form of research guides, databases, and software; identification of funding opportunities; and collection and promotion of university scholarly output.
Teaching & Learning
The AC Teaching and Learning Team provides support and services for faculty in creating high-quality, engaging, and accessible learning experiences for on-campus and online students. We provide expert guidance and resources for: best practices in teaching and learning, developing engaging assessments, creating accessible course designs, ensuring strong course alignment, copyright compliance, and instructional design. Our team also offers course reviews, helps integrate educational technology, and assists in the creation of interactive learning opportunities to enhance student engagement. Additionally, we design and support faculty development opportunities, offering a variety of trainings including on-demand sessions, microlearning options, and facilitated workshops. UWS’s participation in The Community Solution Education System provides the Teaching and Learning team with the ability to collaborate with The Education System teams in the areas of Instructional Design, Teaching and Learning, and Online Services to ensure continuity of services and support for faculty.
Marty A. Bullis, PhD

Marty A. Bullis, PhD

Academic Commons Director

Nicole Vollum, MA MLIS

Nicole Vollum, MA MLIS

Library Information & Instruction Specialist

Katie Lockwood, MSLIS

Katie Lockwood, MSLIS

Resource, Discovery & Access Librarian

Melissa Laurie, MPH

Melissa Laurie, MPH

Research Services Administrator

Amanda Blum, EdD

Amanda Blum, EdD

Instructional Support Administrator

McKinsey Fidellow

McKinsey Fidellow

Library Access Services Coordinator

Melissa Bevency

Melissa Bevency

Library Access Services Associate