The ASA Academic and Professional Affairs Program (APAP) advances the place of sociology in colleges and universities; strengthens departments and their programs; engenders effective communication and collaboration with sociology departments; and encourages the best practices in education, training, and teaching. We seek to provide services for those engaged in the teaching and practice of sociology. The program includes Department Affiliates, Chair and Director of Graduate Study Conferences, teaching, career and professional publications.
APAP oversees publications, and resources that support teaching excellence in sociology and is responsible for (1) continuously developing a diversified line of materials useful in teaching sociology courses; (2) providing these materials at reasonable cost to the profession; (3) making their availability known through the media of the profession, teaching workshops, and professional meetings; and (4) responding to inquiries regarding the teaching of sociology. APAP's Teaching Resources Center distributes and produces various publications, including career materials, brochures, syllabi sets, and other teaching manuals.
The Teaching Resources Center (TRC), based in the national office to provide leadership, publications, and resources that support teaching excellence in sociology. TRC was started in 1976 by Charles A. Goldsmid and was initially housed in the Carnegie Library at Oberlin College. With the approval of ASA Council, the TRC became an ongoing function of the ASA Executive Office in August 1978. In March 1980, it became a major component of the ASA Academic & Professional Affairs Program. The TRC is responsible for (1) continuously developing a diversified line of materials useful in teaching sociology courses; (2) providing these materials at low cost to the profession; (3) making their availability known through the media of the profession, teaching workshops, and professional meetings; and (4) responding to inquiries regarding the teaching of sociology. The ASA Teaching Resources Center was established through the efforts of the ASA Projects on Teaching Undergraduate Sociology; producers of the teaching resources materials; the Lilly Endowment, Inc.; the Fund for the Improvement of Post Secondary Education (FIPSE); Oberlin College; and ASA Council.
The Departmental Resources Group (DRG), a cadre of trained consultants who make departmental visits to assist with reviews, evaluations, curriculum building, and program development. The Departmental Resources Group (DRG) is a network of over 50 consultants who are available for departmental visits or teaching workshops. DRG sociologists go through an intensive training program in some aspect of sociology teaching and curriculum and in helping others to strengthen their teaching skills. As experienced outside visitors, DRG consultants bring a fresh and informed perspective to departments undergoing review and/or self-evaluation. Some DRG consultants are prepared to help departments improve the quality of services they provide to undergraduate students, bolster faculty development efforts, develop outcomes assessment procedures, or revamp the major. Consultants are matched to departmental needs. Departments are expected to provide DRG visitors with a reasonable honorarium and to cover travel-related expenses. DRG consultants also participate in state and regional sociological society sessions on teaching, departmental development and leadership, or curriculum development. The consultants also conduct teaching seminars and workshops on-campus by invitation. Teaching Workshops and seminars are held in conjunction with the Annual Meeting and regional sociology meetings.
