Learning Collaborators

The Learning Collaborators Group (LCG) builds upon the foundation established by the former Training Partners network, evolving to better reflect the collaborative and dynamic nature of learning and development at UMD. This group serves as a community of practice for faculty and staff who create, promote, or support learning at the university.

LCG exists to enhance the impact of faculty and staff learning and development by fostering collaboration, innovation, and resource-sharing across campus. With UMD’s decentralized structure, professional development efforts often happen in silos—LCG connects learning professionals to align strategies, strengthen best practices, and support each other in our shared mission.

LCG is committed to empowering learning professionals across UMD by:

• Collaborating on strategic learning initiatives that benefit the broader campus community.
• Strengthening skills in instructional design, facilitation, and other learning-related practices.
• Sharing resources, insights, and best practices to enhance training programs and initiatives.
• Promoting employee engagement and talent development through meaningful learning experiences.

• Drive Innovation – Develop and implement new learning and development initiatives that support UMD’s evolving needs.
• Facilitate Communication – Serve as a conduit for sharing information between faculty, staff, and leadership.
• Advocate for Learning & Training – Represent the learning and development needs of various units and contribute to decision-making.
• Build Connections – Foster a network of learning professionals who can benchmark, discuss, and align best practices for faculty and staff development.

The Learning Collaborators Group (LCG) meets once a month to foster ongoing collaboration, share resources, and discuss emerging trends in faculty and staff learning and development. Our meetings are designed to be flexible and accessible, alternating between fully virtual sessions on Zoom and hybrid sessions that combine in-person participation with a virtual option.

This monthly cadence ensures that:

• Members can stay informed on key learning initiatives and developments across campus.
• There are regular opportunities to share best practices, challenges, and insights.
• We can collaborate on learning projects and support each other in our roles.
• The group remains an active and engaged community, with meaningful discussions and shared learning experiences.

Meeting details, including format (Zoom or hybrid), location, and agenda topics, are shared in advance. Whether you're joining virtually or in person, LCG meetings are a space to connect, learn, and contribute to UMD’s learning and development efforts!