Research Circles: Supporting the Scholarship of Junior Faculty

This article describes and assesses “Research Circles” as a mechanism for enhancing faculty collegiality and research. Recently established on our campus, these circles, composed of three to four faculty members, have had a particularly powerful effect on the new faculty members' adjustment to their tenure track positions, especially since they entered a context that might otherwise have been challenging: a new interdisciplinary upper-division campus with high expectations for teaching excellence. Based on the end-of-year evaluations, journals, and focus groups, the co-authors described themes that emerged from their participation in these circles. Circle participation not only facilitated faculty writing throughout their first year, but it also fostered the development of an interdisciplinary community which nurtured creativity and risk taking in writing. All authors are currently teaching in Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences (IAS) at The University of Washington, Bothell (UWB). Except for Diane Gillespie, Professor and Associate Director of IAS, all other authors are Assistant Professors in IAS. Diane Gillespie received her Ph.D. in cultural and psychological studies in education from The University of Nebraska, Lincoln. Her interests include critical pedagogy, narrative psychology, and cultural diversity. Nives Dolšak received a joint Ph.D. in public policy and political science from Indiana University. Her interests include public policy, environmental policy, and international relations. Bruce Kochis, received his Ph.D. in Slavic languages & literatures at the University of Michigan. He focuses on global human rights policy, discourse analysis, and political theory. Ron Krabill received his Ph.D. in sociology and historical studies from New School for Social Research. His interests include comparative media, politics and social movements with a special emphasis on South Africa, as well as the study of peace, conflict, social justice, and human rights. Kari Lerum received her Ph.D. in sociology from The University of Washington. Her interests include culture, organizations, sexuality, qualitative methods, and visual studies. Anne Peterson received her Ph.D. from Washington University. Her interests include urban politics and policy and the distribution of natural resources at the local level. Elizabeth Thomas received her Ph.D. in psychology from The University of Illinois at Urbana—Champaign. Her interests include community-based resources for adolescent development, cultural psychology, and the social context of learning.     

Teaching-for-Learning (TFL): A Model for Faculty to Advance Student Learning

In light of the widespread recognition of the enduring challenge of enhancing the learning of all students—including a growing number of students representing diverse racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds—there has been an explosion of literature on teaching, learning, and assessment in higher education. Notwithstanding scores of promising new ideas, individual faculty in higher education need a dynamic and inclusive model to help them engage in a systematic and continuous process of exploring and testing various teaching and assessment practices to ensure the learning of their students. This paper introduces a model—Teaching-for-Learning (TFL)—developed to meet this need. Clifton F. Conrad received his bachelor’s degree in History and his master’s degree in Political Science from the University of Kansas and his Ph.D. in Higher Education from the University of Michigan. He is Professor of Higher Education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison; and his research focus is on college and university curricula with particular emphases on program quality, liberal education, and teaching and learning. Jason Johnson received his bachelor’s degree in Comparative History of Ideas and his master’s degree in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies at the University of Washington. He is nearing completion of his Ph.D. and working as a Teaching Assistant in Higher Education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and his research focuses on rhetoric in higher education. Divya Malik Gupta received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Human Development and Family Studies from Maharaja Sayajirao University in Gujarat, India. She is currently a Ph.D. student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.     

Systems thinking: An experimental course for college freshmen

An experimental interdisciplinary freshman course called The Systems Approach to the Universe was taught at North Carolina State University in the Spring of 1986. The goals of the course were to introduce principles of general systems theory; to provide examples through lectures and readings of applications of these principles in a wide variety of fields and disciplines; and to introduce and provide practice in critical questioning and evaluation. This paper outlines what was done, how it worked, and how the instructors and the students assessed the experience afterwards.He received his B.Ch.E. from the City College of New York, and his Ph.D. in chemical engineering from Princeton University. Barbara A. Soloman is Coordinator of Advising for the Academic Skills Program and Lecturer in the University Studies Program at North Carolina State University. She received her B.S. in mathematics from the City College of New York and her M.S. in mathematics from North Carolina State University.     

信息化和全球化潮流中大学的创新与发展——访国际高等教育战略思想家詹姆斯·杜德斯达特博士

詹姆斯·杜德斯达特(James Duderstadt)博士,密西根大学荣休校长兼科学与工程校级教授,国际知名的核工程专家和高等教育战略思想家,美国国家工程院院士,曾任美国国家科学委员会主席,1964年毕业于耶鲁大学电子工程专业,以优等生获学士学位,1967年毕业于加州理工学院,获工程科学与物理学博士学位,1968年起在密西根大学执教,先后担任过密西根大学工程学院院长和教务长,1988至1996年间任密西根大学校长。面对信息化和全球化合流的时代大背景,杜德斯达特在执掌密西根大学期间,就公立研究型大学的创新发展进行了卓越的实践探索和深刻的理论总结,在全球高等教育界产生了广泛影响,其知名的高等教育著作包括《21世纪的大学》、《超越十字路口:美国公立大学的未来》、《数字时代的高等教育:美国高等院校的技术议题与战略》、《舵手的视界:在变革时代领导美国大学》等。本刊记者有幸先后两次拜访杜德斯达特博士,得以一睹这位国际知名高等教育战略思想家的风采,在此把访谈内容整理出来以飨读者。全文根据录音整理,有删减。     

A practical guide to zero-based curriculum review

This paper presents a systematic framework and practical guidelines for the implementation of a zero-based curriculum review (ZBCR). ZBCR begins with atabula rasa and the commitment that program faculty and an external advisory board will create a framework of competencies, knowledge bases, professional practices and skills which graduates should have. ZBCR is intended to help us move from an accidental curriculum to an intentional curriculum. Specific examples illustrate the structuring, conducting, and application of the results of the review. ZBCR maximizes the benefits of a fresh perspective and minimizes time and effort, with a situationally-flexible and reusable structure and process. ZBCR is based on procedures recently developed and used with success in reviewing the curricula of a department's programs at a major state university.He received his Ph.D. in higher education and economics from the University of Iowa. His research and teaching fields are postsecondary curriculum and instruction and economics of higher education.He received his Ph.D. from the University of Kentucky. His research and teaching has focused on educational administration and planning.     

Beyond Lip-service: An Operational Definition of “Learning-centered College”

Faculty, staff, and student perceptions of high-quality learning experiences were explored using focus groups attempting to define a “learning-centered” college. Common themes emerged suggesting that a successful learning community requires faculty-student collaboration, effective communication, critical thinking skills, reciprocal respect, faculty passion for learning, high expectations of both students and faculty, a variety of teaching and assessment strategies, and student engagement in and responsibility for learning. All groups stressed the need for learning opportunities outside the classroom in both intellectual and social situations. These themes provide a conceptual framework for future campus initiatives, which has broad relevance for other institutions. William C. Bosch is Retired Director of the Center for Learning and Teaching. He received his M.S. in Computer Science from Syracuse University, and his interests include teaching and learning in higher education and educational technology. Jessica L. Hester is an Assistant Professor in Theatre and received her Ph.D. from The University of Texas at Austin. Her research interests are American theatre history and dramaturgy. Virginia M. MacEntee is Assistant Professor in Curriculum & Instruction. She received her Ed.D. in Early Childhood Education from Nova Southeastern Florida University; and her interests include special education, authentic learning, and classroom technology. James A. MacKenzie is Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences. He received his Ph.D. in Molecular Medicine from Wake Forest University School of Medicine; and his interests include molecular and cellular biology, physiology, and human health and disease. T. Mark Morey is Professor of Psychology and received his Ph.D. at Depaul University. Research interests include stress, trauma, and coping. James T. Nichols is Instruction/Reference Librarian and Distance Learning Librarian. He received his M.A. in Library and Information Management from the University of Denver; his interests include information literacy. Patricia A. Pacitti is Coordinator of Math and Science Services for the Office of Learning Services. She received M.A.s in Mathematics and Statistics from Pennsylvania State University; and her interests include developmental education, curriculum design, and classroom technology. Barbara A. Shaffer is Coordinator of Reference Services and an Instruction Librarian at Penfield Library. She received her M.L.S. from Syracuse University, and her interests include information literacy and online learning. Paul B. Tomascak is an Assistant Professor of Geology and Geochemistry. He received his Ph.D. in geology from the University of Maryland; his research interests include applications of elemental and isotopic systematics to understanding solid Earth and Earth surface processes. Suzanne P. Weber is Associate Dean of the School of Education and Professor of Science Education. She received her Ph.D. in Population Ecology from Syracuse University; her current interests include assessment of student performance and program effectiveness in higher education. Rosalie R. Young is Associate Professor in Public Justice. She received her Ph.D.in political science from Syracuse University, and her interests include family mediation and the ability of the poor to access the legal system. All authors are currently members of the Committee on Learning and Teaching at State University of New York at Oswego.     

The student-centered research university

After definition and explanation of the concept of the student-centered research university, the idea of the student-centered course is explained. Finally, faculty concerns about this model are discussed.These remarks were first presented at the Academic Affairs Faculty Symposium at the University of Georgia in 1994.Gershon Vincow is the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at Syracuse University. He received the Ph.D. from Columbia University in Chemistry, also the field of his M.A. and A.B. degrees. He has taught and conducted research in physical chemistry, and his current particular interest is issues of renewal in higher education with emphasis on student-centered and learning-centered approaches.     

Faculty seminar on publishing in the academy

A seminar, Publishing in the Academy, offered to all full-time faculty of the City University of New York (CUNY), through a program jointly sponsored by the Professional Staff Congress and CUNY, is described by two participants of the course. The authors share their experience, describe the process involved in publishing an article in a scholarly journal, and provide recommendations for setting up a writing group.Judith Entes received her Ph.D. in 1989 from Fordham University, specialization in Reading. She is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Academic Skills at Baruch College, CUNY. Her present research is examining co-authored published research. Rafat Ispahany received her M.A. in 1987 from City College, CUNY. She is an Associate Professor and Head of the Cataloging Division at the Borough of Manhattan Community College, CUNY. She is interested in book conservation for community college libraries.     

A Study of Faculty Perceptions of Summer Compressed Course Teaching

Students take summer and compressed courses for a variety of reasons and research indicates that learning outcomes in these courses are similar to those gained in traditional semester or quarter courses. This quantitative study was an attempt to clarify faculty perceptions about summer compressed courses. One hundred and fifty-one faculty members teaching at a large, multicampus institution completed a survey addressing teaching methodology, approaches to student assessment, and other pedagogical issues relating to such courses. It was determined that many faculty did make adjustments in teaching methods and approaches to student assessment. In addition, perceptions were different between experienced/tenured faculty and inexperienced/nontenured faculty.Mark Kretovics is an Assistant Professor of Higher Education Administration and Student Personnel at Kent State University. He received his Ph.D. from Colorado State University and his research interests include the assessment of student learning, business practices in higher education, distance education, and pedagogical issues in compressed courses. Mark had over 20 years of administrative experience within higher education before transitioning into his current faculty role. Alicia R. Crowe, Ph.D. is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Teaching, Leadership, and Curriculum Studies at Kent State University. Her areas of interest and research include teacher education, social studies education, teacher learning, and technology integration. Eunsook Hyun, Ph.D. is Associate Professor in the Department of Teaching, Leadership, and Curriculum Studies at Kent State University. Her area of research interests include teacher education, critical pedagogy, curriculum theorizing, and higher education curriculum     

Broadening the scope of scholarship: A suggested framework

Recent work by Ernest Boyer and others has prompted some colleges and universities to reexamine the nature of scholarship among faculty members. Using Boyer's categories of scholarly activity, the authors have developed a framework for scholarly contribution that is currently being implemented by faculty at DePaul University's School for New Learning. The proposed framework includes assumptions regarding scholarship, expectations for faculty relative to scholarly activity, and definitions and criteria for the four forms of scholarship. The authors offer the framework in the hope that it will stimulate a reexamination of the nature of scholarship at other institutions as well.The authors are a group of academic professionals comprised of faculty and academic advisors from the School for New Learning, DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois. Morris Fiddler is an Associate Professor and received his Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota. His primary research interests include adult learning and medical genetics. Susan McGury obtained her Ph.D. at the University of Reading and is an Assistant Professor with special research interests in art history and literature. Catherine Marienau is an Associate Professor and received her Ph.D. at the University of Minnesota. Her primary research interests are adult learning and women's development. Russell Rogers received his Ph.D. from Michigan State University and is an Associate Professor as well as serving as the Director of the M.A. Program in Integrated Professional Studies. His research specialties include higher education and organizational behavior. Warren Scheideman has an M.A. from DePaul University, and he serves as a Senior Academic Advisor. His research interests include pedagogy and adult learning.     

Newton and the age of reason

During the spring semester of 1987 a mathematician and a physicist from Oberlin College went with twenty-one undergraduates to London to use the resources of England as the basis for a course with the above title. This unusual interdisciplinary course is described, with emphasis on its experimental, experiential nature and the challenges and satisfactions which it provided.Joseph L. Snider is Professor of Physics at Oberlin College. He received his undergraduate degree in physics from Amherst College in 1956 and his Ph.D. in experimental physics from Princeton University in 1961. He has taught and done research at Harvard University and at Oberlin College. His areas of interest are solar physics, astrophysics, relativity, and the history and philosophy of science. Recently he has become interested in working to improve the teaching of physics and astronomy to pre-college students.Bruce Pollack-Johnson is Assistant Professor of Mathematics at Oberlin College, where he is responsible for the operations research program. He received a B.A. in sociology with a minor in education from Brandeis University in 1975, an M.A. in mathematics from Temple University in 1979, and an M.S. and Ph.D. in operations research from the University of Pennsylvania in 1980 and 1983, respectively. He has published in the areas of human resource modeling, forecasting, educational planning, simulation, and project management, and his current research includes project scheduling and conflict resolution. He has helped develop new courses for liberal arts students on introductory computer science and educational philosophy, as well as the course described in this article, and is also Co-Director of the Lorain County Peace Education Project.     

Teaching and learning One-Course-At-A-Time

In 1978 Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa, adopted the One-Course-At-A-Time calendar, under which professors teach and students take one course only for three-and-a-half week terms. This paper examines the impact of the calendar on overall faculty workload and student performance and development. It also considers faculty attitudes concerning the effects of the intensive format on teaching effectiveness and student learning, along with the types of courses and teaching methods best suited to the calendar. Faculty and student satisfaction with the calendar is high.Charlotte Vaughan received a B.A. from Northwestern University, a Masters of Science in Teaching from Illinois Institute of Technology, and a Ph.D. in sociology from the University of Chicago. She is a professor emerita in sociology at Cornell College and is currently the college's Director of Institutional Research. She is interested in research in higher education. Christopher Carlson received a B.A. from the University of California at Davis, an M.A. in sociology from the University of Illinois at Chicago, and a Ph.D. in sociology from the University of Oregon. He is an associate professor of sociology at Cornell College and currently serves as the college's Affirmative Action Officer. He is interested in the family, gender roles, and social change.     

Innovative techniques for advanced writing classes: Modification of point of view

Changing narrators in a literary passage is a pedagogical technique that can enliven composition, yet which still presents a challenge to students. Assuming the original narrator to be omniscient, any new narrator's perception of a situation can only be fragmentary. The challenge lies in giving that new narrator total awareness of events, and in doing so logically. This means rearranging events, modifying the text, and essentially recreating it. The degree of difficulty can be increased by selecting as narrator a character with limited perception of a situation, or one totally absent from the story. For an added dimension of novelty and challenge, the passage can be narrated from the perspective of an inanimate object.His training was in medieval French literature, and he published articles on the chansons de geste in a number of journals over the years. Beginning quite recently, he has become more interested in pedagogy, i.e., the teaching of French, civilization, creative writing, etc. He has written articles that have appeared and are scheduled to appear in such journals as French Review, Contemporary French Civilization, ADFL Bulletin, on such varied topics as Business French, Creative Writing, and the French Liberation. He received his Ph.D. from Stanford University.     

Evaluating Academic Challenge Beyond the NSSE

The authors investigated student and faculty perceptions of academic challenge at their institution, based on early administrations of the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE). This analysis revealed that the NSSE did not fully capture many meanings of academic challenge held by these faculty and students. This study led to a proposal for the development of an internal assessment approach using a modification of the NSSE and other scale items on academic challenge and student engagement. The authors discuss several implications of this study for academic scholarship and for institutional policy concerning the assessment of academic challenge.All authors except Jim Purcell are at Georgia College and State University. Stephen L. Payne received his Ph.D. in Management from Arizona State University. He is an Associate Professor of Management and has broad research interests in areas related to ethics and education. Karynne L. M. Kleine is an Associate Professor of Middle Grades Education and has an Ed.D. from the University of Maine in science studies. Her interests are intellectual development for teacher preparation and the history and philosophy of science education. Jim Purcell received his Ed.D. from the University of Alabama, is currently the Executive Director of State System Research for the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, and concentrates on issues of student retention and graduation. Ginger Rudesal Carter is an Associate Professor of Mass Communication with a Ph.D. from the University of Southern Mississippi. Her interests include research on oral history, the media, and issues relating to the student press.     

Research in interactive technologies at the Children's Television Workshop

This article presents a model for integrating research into the software design process, based on the experience of the Interactive Technologies Division of the Children's Television Workshop. The model has three components: (a) using existing research literature to inform initial design decisions and suggest possible issues to be tested during the development of prototype products, (b) conducting in-house basic research studies to provide information unavailable in the published literature, and (c) conducting formative research studies on products in development to assess their usability and to ensure their effectiveness as learning tools. Issues in interpreting published studies are considered, and insights from the results of basic and formative studies conducted by the Interactive Technologies Division are also reviewed.He attended Cornell and received his Ph.D. from Rutgers University in developmental psychology and research design in 1988.She holds a Ph.D. in developmental psychology from the University of Michigan and has been researching and producing software at CTW for seven years.     

Transforming U.S. higher education: An organizational perspective

Scholarly work on organizational change within colleges and universities is relatively unknown among campus administrators and policy makers. To counter that low visibility, this essay reviews existing theories and research evidence on the topic. The goal is to provide some general guidelines for those who seek to refine purposes, develop programs, and improve effectiveness and efficiency on their campuses.James C. Hearn is Professor of Higher Education at the Institute of Higher Education at the University of Georgia. He has his A.B. from Duke University and M.A. in Sociology and Ph.D. in the Sociology of Education from Stanford University. A former policy analyst and college administrator, his teaching and research focus on postsecondary organization and policy. Currently he is examining connections between institutional governance and the changing demography of university faculty.An earlier version of this article was first presented at the conference on Justice, Participation, and Sustainability in Higher Education, University of LaVerne, LaVerne, CA, September 17, 1994.     

The cost of academic leadership: Department Chair Stress

Department chairs find themselves trapped between the stresses of performing not only as an administrator but faculty member as well. Over eight hundred chairs from 101 doctorate-granting and research universities were surveyed using the Department Chair Stress Index to assess (1) their most stressful situations, (2) emergent themes from these Stressors, and (3) the differences between chair and faculty Stressors. Chairs experienced most stress from their heavy workload and the general stresses of time pressures, confrontation with colleagues, organizational constraints and their faculty duties. Chairs were found to be in a paradoxical situation; feeling double pressure to be an effective leader and productive faculty member. Suggested actions for the institution and individual are provided.Walter H. Gmelch is professor and chair of the Educational Administration Department at Washington State University where he also serves as Director of the National Center for the Study of Department Chair. He earned his MBA from the University of California (Berkeley) and a Ph.D. in the Educational Executive program from the University of California (Santa Barbara). Dr. Gmelch conducts research on the topics of leadership, team development, conflict, stress and time management. His extensive writings include a co-authored book entitled,Strategic Leadership Skills for Department Chairs. John S. Burns is associate director of the Center for the Study of the Department Chair at Washington State University. He obtained a Master's in Counseling Psychology and a Ph.D. in Educational Administration from Washington State University. The Center's research agenda focuses on collecting data about the position of department chair with the goal of developing research-based recommendations for the restructuring of the administration of higher education.     

Fostering Faculty Collaboration in Learning Communities: A Developmental Approach

Colleges and universities are adopting learning communities to increase student learning and build cohesion. As learning communities grow in popularity, institutions need to invest in faculty development (Oates, 2001) and understand faculty experiences (Mullen, 2001). The University of Hartford created a program that prepared faculty for collaborative teaching in first-year learning communities. Faculty learned to engage in collaborative behaviors, to think outside disciplinary borders, and to employ a specific template as a heuristic for course development. Results of focus group research about the faculty experience and the impact of the experience on their pedagogy are summarized.Catherine B. Stevenson, whose M.A. and Ph.D. are from New York University, is currently an Associate Professor of English and Drama and Academic Dean of International and Honors Programs. She and her coauthors are affiliated with the University of Hartford, West Hartford, CT. Her special interests include nineteenth and twentieth century literature, curriculum reform, pedagogy, and international education. Robert L. Duran, Professor in the School of Communication, who earned his M.A. at West Virginia University and Ph.D. at Bowling Green State University, is a specialist in program evaluation, evaluation research, and research methods. Karen A. Barrett, Associate Dean of Undergraduate Studies, has an M.S. from the State University of New York at Buffalo. Her special interests include interdisciplinary general education curriculum, higher education administration, and diagnostic hematology and microbiology. Guy C. Colarulli, earned an M.A. at the University of Connecticut and a Ph.D. at The American University. He is the Associate Provost and Dean of Undergraduate Studies, whose special interests include Higher Education Administration, First-Year Experience, as well as American Government, and Politics     

A Network Approach to Preparing Underrepresented Students: The LEAD Model

Results are reported from an empirical study of an interorganizational collaboration to prepare underrepresented students for elite postsecondary education and beyond. The LEAD (Leadership Education and Development) Program in Business is an initiative involving twelve U.S. universities, nearly forty multinational corporations, a federal government agency, and a nonprofit organization working together to introduce students to business education and careers in business. This article analyzes the conditions that give rise to the collaboration, its essential structural characteristics, and the consequences that flow from it.

Being there: Social service and teacher education at the University of Houston

As the school-age population grows in its ethnic and economic diversity, those who become teachers remain overwhelmingly white, female, and middle class. To assist teacher education students understand a world that is largely unfamiliar to them, the University of Houston teacher preparation program offers a volunteer experience in an urban social service agency for its students as part of a cultural awareness requirement. The results of this program suggest that it may help preservice teachers to understand better the lives of the children they will face and hence better prepare them to teach, perhaps diminishing the revolving door of teachers in urban classrooms.Kip Téllez received his Ph.D. from The Claremont Graduate School in 1991. He is currently Assistant Professor in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Houston. His present academic interests include the reexamination of pragmatism, teacher education, and Latino youth gangs. Peter S. Hlebowitsh received his Ed.D. from the Rutgers Graduate School of Education. He is currently Assistant Professor in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Houston. His present scholarly interests are in curriculum theory, curriculum history, and teacher education.