The 3 and 1/2 day portfolio program involves faculty participants completing preparatory work before the program begins. On day one, participants meet as a group and then individually with mentors to review their preparatory work. They spend the rest of day one drafting their portfolio individually. On day two, participants meet again with mentors to review drafts and spend the rest of the day revising. Day three involves a group lunch and teaching session, followed by individual work and another review meeting. Day four includes a graduation ceremony where final portfolios are displayed and certificates are awarded, concluding the program. This model has been used successfully at over 100 institutions.

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HOW THE THREE AND ½ -DAY PORTFOLIO PROGRAM WORKS
BEFORE THE PROGRAM BEGINS: Each faculty participant is given a copy of The
Academic Portfolio (Seldin and Miller, Jossey-Bass Publishers, 2009) and the “Getting
Started on your Academic Portfolio” form. The form is to be completed prior to the start
of the program. Estimated time: 2-3 hours.
Participants will be given an advance list of materials / data to bring to the program so
they will have everything they need on hand as they develop their academic portfolios.
DAY ONE: The program begins with a short meeting of all participants. During the
course of the first day, each participant also meets individually with his or her mentor and
reviews the previously completed “Getting Started” form. That meeting lasts about 45
minutes. During the rest of the day, faculty work individually (at a place of their
choosing) on their first draft. It will probably take 3-4 hours.
DAY TWO: On the next day, a second meeting is held between each faculty member and
his or her mentor for the purpose of reviewing the first draft of their portfolio (45
minutes). During the rest of the day, faculty work individually on their second draft.
This will likely take 3-4 hours.
DAY THREE: The entire group of participants and mentors get together for lunch and a
meeting. The purposes of the meeting are: a) team building; and b) teaching participants
how to mentor others at their own institution.
The third draft is prepared (at a location of their choosing) by the faculty participants
(probably another 3 hours) and they meet with their mentor to review it (45 minutes).
DAY FOUR: A “graduation” ceremony is held. Certificates of completion are
distributed and final drafts of portfolios are displayed (1 hour and 15 minutes).
Typically, the program ends by late morning on day four.
This is the 3 and ½ day model that we’ve used successfully at more than 100 colleges
and universities. It’s been field-tested and honed through trial and error. Bottom line:
we know that it works, and works very well!