Undergraduate education under review
Archived article from Sep 6, 2004
By Ashanti M. Alvarez
The task force studying the structure and functions of undergraduate education on the NewBrunswick/Piscataway campus will discuss its progress and some preliminary findings at an annual faculty conference on Oct. 6.
Part of the Initiative on Undergraduate Learning and Life launched by President Richard L. McCormick and Executive Vice President Philip Furmanski, the task force consists of 35 members, including faculty, staff, students and administrators. Nearly 40 more have been added to working groups within the task force, which considers every aspect of undergraduate education.
At the seventh annual Teaching Conference on Undergraduate Education, presented by the New Brunswick Faculty Council, chairs of five working groups will outline and discuss issues and challenges facing faculty, staff and students involved in educating undergraduates.
Those working groups are:
• Structure: Co-chairs Michael Beals (Faculty of Arts and Sciences [FAS] dean for undergraduate initiatives) and Linda Stamato (associate executive director of the Center for Negotiation and Conflict Resolution)
• Curriculum: Co-chairs Peter Klein (professor of philosophy) and Richard Miller (chair of English)
• Student Experience: Chair Angela O’Donnell (professor at Graduate School of Education)
• Admissions, Recruitment, and Outreach: Co-chairs Barry Qualls (FAS dean of humanities) and Martha Cotter (professor of chemistry and chair of the University Senate)
• Campus Planning and Facilities: Chair Carla Yanni (associate professor of art history)
Each working group will consider a variety of broad questions. Topics range from how each college functions within the structure of the university to what resources are allocated to student and cultural centers to how faculty are involved in co-curricular programs in residential settings. Working group members will solicit feedback from deans, students, faculty and staff.
Task force chair Qualls said the group’s mission is not to dictate one structure that all colleges and departments should follow. “We don’t want the one-size-fits-all model,” Qualls said.
Qualls said that each working group plans to present written findings to the task force at large in January. Those will in turn be submitted to Furmanski, who sees the task force’s work as an ongoing process, Qualls said, not one that concludes with a glossy report.
The task force wants to hear ideas from the Rutgers community. Faculty, staff and students are encouraged to attend the Oct. 6 conference. Contact Qualls at qualls@fas.rutgers.edu.
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