Learning Initiatives to Improve Undergraduate Education at a Research-Oriented Institution

Robin R. Rastani* and Michel A. WattiauxDepartment of Dairy Science

University of Wisconsin-Madison

The Research-Oriented University• What is a research-oriented university?

– “offer a full range of baccalaureate programs, are committed to graduate education through the doctorate, and give a high priority to research.”

(Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, 1994)

– 84 Research I universities and 37 Research II universities– Only 3% of higher education institutions

• “The Research Universities have too often failed, and continue to fail, their undergraduate programs.”

(Boyer Commission, 1998)

• Can Universities be both student-centered and research-centered?

Initiatives to Improve Undergraduate Education at U.W.- Madison

• 28,217 Undergraduates

• 2064 faculty and 1420 instructional staff

• > 20 Centers and support organizations

• 2 key initiatives to improve undergraduate education at U. W. Madison

– Delta Program

– Teaching Academy

What is Delta?

• Background: Background: A multi-million $, multi-state NSF initiative (2002-A multi-million $, multi-state NSF initiative (2002-2007)2007)

• Mission: Mission: to develop a national STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) faculty committed to implementing and advancing effective teaching practices for diverse student audiences as part of their professional careers

• The Three Pillars (principles) are: • Learning through diversity

• Teaching-centered vs. Learning centered classroom• Learning communities

• Peer-support system• Teaching as research

• Scholarship of teaching and learning.

80% of faculty with Ph.D.’s80% of faculty with Ph.D.’sAre trained at Research Univ.Are trained at Research Univ.

100 Research Universities 100 Research Universities Nation-wideNation-wide

Undergraduate EducationUndergraduate Education

2-yr College

Liberal Arts

Masters University

Comprehensive University Research

University

What does this mean for the nation?

Expanding the Principles of Delta• Example of Delta Activities• (working with both graduate students and faculty):

– “regular” courses on “nuts and bolts” of course development– Classroom exploration– Round Table dinner (seminar)– Teaching Internships

• The directors of Delta are creating a network of research universities who will work together to prepare graduate students and post-docs with the same principles as Delta.

• Currently in the network: – University of Wisconsin– Colorado State University– Howard University– Michigan State University– Pennsylvania State University

• Discussions with:– Vanderbilt University– Georgia Tech University– Stanford University

Delta Numbers, 2005

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

Par

tici

pan

ts

Faculty Inst. Staff Post-docs

GraduateStudents

Total College of Ag. and Life Science

Delta Participants*:• 17.3% Faculty• 13.7% Instructional Staff• 13.8% Post-docs • 55.1% Graduate Students

CALS Participation in Delta (23.4%)• 17.4% Faculty• 17.4% Instructional Staff• 20.4% Post-docs • 44.9% Graduate Students

• 11.2% of CALS take part in Delta• 13.2% of STEM take part in Delta

* A participant is someone who has participated in at least one Delta activity.

What is the Teaching Academy?

Background: Created by UW-Madison faculty senate in 1993

(limited funds)

Mission: To provide University-wide leadership to strengthen

undergraduate, graduate, and outreach teaching and learning at

UW Madison.

Basic Functions: Provide a forum for dialogue on effective teaching and

learning. Disseminate good practices of teaching and learning. Link individuals interested in improving the teaching and

learning process. Sponsor professional development events. Analyze issues and make recommendations on University

policies affecting teaching and learning.

Teaching Academy Numbers, 2005

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

Par

tici

pan

ts

Faculty Inst. Staff Post-docs

GraduateStudents

Total College of Ag. and Life Science

Teaching Academy Members*:• 65.1% Faculty• 12.7% Instructional Staff• 1.6% Post-docs• 20.6% Graduate Students

CALS Participation in TA (11.6%)• 72.7% Faculty• 13.6% Instructional Staff• 4.5% Post-docs • 9.1% Graduate Students

• 1.5% of CALS take part in TA• 1.4% of UW take part in TA

* A member is someone who has been nominated and inducted.

One Pathway through Delta/ Teaching Academy

Summer 2003:Heard about

Delta Program - in 3rd year of Ph.D. program

Fall 2003:1. Took a Delta course, “Teaching in

Science and Engineering”2. Participated in Roundtable Dinners3. Participated in graduate student

discussionSpring 2004:

Continued to participate in Roundtable Dinners and discussions

Selected as a Future Faculty Partner of the Teaching Academy

Fall and Spring 2005:1. Continued to participate in

previous activities2. Participated in “Creating a

collaborative learning environment”

Impact Numbers

• Impact numbers are measured as number of students affected by changes in courses as a result of the programs.

• Delta Program • From IMDC (Instructional Materials Development Class) and

Internships

• Faculty team up with graduate students to focus on improving one aspect of teaching and learning

• 2004-2005

• Teaching Academy• From the Summer Institute, a week long program to assist faculty in

course development, curriculum assessment, and other topics relative to teaching and learning.

• 2000-2004

Impact of IMDC and Internship(Delta Program, 04 & 05)

SchoolTotal Undergraduate

Students Impacted% of Total

Students (over 2 years)

Agric. & Life Sciences 90 5.0%

Engineering 50 2.8%

Letters & Sciences 1660 92.2%

TOTAL 1800

95 % of Delta projects affect undergraduate education.

Summer Institute Participants(Teaching Academy, 00-04)

Classification of Participants

Participants Participants from CALS

Participants from Teaching Academy

Number Percentage Number Percentage Number Percentage

Faculty 62 72.1 11 91.7 16 80

Instructional Staff 21 24.4 1 8.3 3 15

Graduate Student 3 3.5 0 0 1 5

Total 86 100.0 12 100.0 20 100

Impact of Summer Institute Projects by School for Undergraduate Education

SchoolTotal Undergraduate

Students Impacted% of Students(over 4 years)

Agric. & Life Sciences 1576 6.0%

Education 39 0.1%

Engineering 152 0.6%

Human Ecology 4572 17.5%

Letters & Sciences 18585 71.2%

Medical 5 0.0%

Nursing 1776 6.8%

Pharmacy 293 1.1%

TOTAL 26998

88 % of Summer Institute projects affect undergraduate education.

* Average yearly participation in the Summer Institute = 22

Conclusions

• The initiatives at UW-Madison are distinctly different, but affect undergraduate education directly and indirectly.

– Participation from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences is on par with that of other schools and colleges at the University.

• Teaching initiatives at research-oriented institutions contribute in placing emphasis on undergraduate education, although their impact remains limited.