Support the teaching mission of the faculty by providing increased resources for curricular development and collaborative pedagogy, including resources for multidisciplinary concentrations and innovative training in the sciences
Action Taken
- Received and began to implement recommendations from the Task Force on Undergraduate Education related to teaching and learning
- Established a series of faculty and student forums to promote campus-wide discussion about the Brown curriculum
- Developed plans for new Science Center at Brown and hired new coordinator
- Developed new seminars for juniors and seniors taught by Cogut Humanities Center visiting faculty, postdoctorates, and fellows
- Conducted external review of writing at Brown
- Began planning and implementing the review of all concentrations
- Implemented an orientation program for new faculty in August 2008 focusing on Brown’s educational philosophy
- Developed a new statement on writing for all undergraduates
- Successfully piloted a new online course evaluation form in 17 departments. In 2010-11, 30 departments participates
- Encouraged the development of new community-based learning courses through the Swearer Center for Public Service
- Expanded First Year Seminar program to 75 seminars in 2008–09, with greater emphasis on seminars devoted to writing
- Offered 69 First-Year Seminars for 2009–10
- Engaged faculty in the question of measuring student learning through the College Curriculum Council (CCC) concentration review process. (6 departments reviewed in 2009-10)
- Developed a database to track senior capstone experiences
- Developed several tools to increase faculty and student fluency in utilizing technology, including a syllabus upload process, Advising Sidekick (ASK) and the “First Readings” website
- Opened new Science Center which promotes curricular innovation in the sciences and allows faculty to share best practices in science teaching
- Implemented WRIT course designation for courses that engage students in the writing process; 31 departments are offering 211 WRIT courses in the 2010-11 academic year
- Beginning with class of 2013, all students are now required to provide evidence that they have worked on their writing across the four years
- Implemented a new online course proposal system that streamlines process for proposing, approving, and scheduling new and modified courses
- Expanded the University’s online course evaluation system to include 30 academic departments, a 50% increase from last year
- Hired Director of Science Center Outreach, a new position designed to support and coordinate outreach efforts on campus and in the Providence community
- Launched new science outreach website and database that allows Brown community members and Providence-area teachers to connect with other science educators and to download lesson plans and materials lists that are linked to RI state educational standards
- Offered 74 first-year seminars in the 2010-11 academic year
- Funded 24 faculty from 17 departments to develop community-based courses and research. Over 600 students participated in the courses and related programs, which were sponsored by the Swearer Center
Action Needed
- Develop new courses that include community service
- Partner with Brown’s ADVANCE grant to create new teaching support programs for women faculty in the sciences
- Develop methods to encourage senior capstone experiences
- Continue to develop tools that help students and faculty become fluent in utilizing technology, and help students develop lifelong learning skills for finding, critically evaluating, and using information
- Work with Wayland Collegium, Cogut Humanities Center, and Watson Institute to develop new team-teaching initiatives
- Improve effectiveness of undergraduate teaching assistants (TAs) by developing support programs based on “best practices”
- Maintain First-Year Seminar Program at minimum of 75 seminars each year
- Work with Brown’s medical school to develop innovative first-year seminars taught by medical school faculty
- Develop online digital repository that will archive evidence of all students’ writing while at Brown and writing proficiency upon graduation
- Continue review of undergraduate concentrations through the College Curriculum Council (CCC)
- Complete new UFund web application that coordinates student and faculty funding requests and disbursements across major administrative offices (President’s office, International Affairs, Dean of the College, and Campus Life)
Responsible
- Dean of the College
- Dean of the Faculty
Return to [Phase II - Continue to Strengthen Undergraduate Education]