Quality Enhancement Plan “Making Critical Connections” Bobbi Owen, Senior Associate Dean Undergraduate Education, College of Arts & Sciences Board of Trustees, July 25, 2007

QEP: Making Critical Connections Innovative educational programs Undergraduate research International activities

Implementation Committee Danielle M. Allen ’09, Public Policy & Economics Peter A. Coclanis, Associate Provost for International Affairs Margaret Jablonski, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs James Murphy, Dean of the Summer School Bobbi Owen, Senior Associate Dean, Undergraduate Education Patricia Pukkila, Director, Office of Undergraduate Research J. Steven Reznick, Professor of Psychology Gwendolyn Sancar, Professor of Biochemistry and Biophysics Jay Smith, Associate Dean, Undergraduate Curricula Michael T. Tarrant ‘08 Political Science & Comm Studies Lynn Williford, Assistant Provost, Institutional Research and Assessment

Goals Connect learning in the classroom with what happens outside – and enhance the connections between and among courses Make research a critical connection between the curriculum and the faculty and the students Internationalize the undergraduate experience

Accomplishments Curricular Innovations Maymester 3-week, intensive class and field experiences Launched with 276 students in19 courses, May 15-31, 2007 Interdisciplinary Cluster Program 3 thematically-linked courses from different disciplines for upper level students Academic Advising Added 5 full-time advisors and 1 support position

Accomplishments Undergraduate Research Research is becoming a distinctive feature of the undergraduate experience for more students Office of Undergraduate Research added Fulltime Associate Director College approved 4 new Professorships for those who mentor undergraduate research College tripled the number of classes with original research opportunities: 41 classes for 1,210 students 73 Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships awarded (up 18%) Undergraduates gave 81 presentations at professional meetings 355 undergraduates co-authored publications

Accomplishments: Internationalization Funded ESL coordinator in Writing Center Co-funded ESL position in English Department Supplemented Study Abroad staff to enhance offerings in specific geographical areas The new FedEx Global Education Center is an enormous benefit to this initiative

Assessment Participation Goals: Compile data on course proposals, registrations in Maymester and other courses; Chart growth in existing activities that can be attributed to the QEP's increased emphasis and new programming efforts Analyze first-year student course selections in the new General Education curriculum as a basis for later study of student gains in Making Critical Connections.

Assessment Student Learning Outcomes Compile baseline data from surveys of students in prior cohorts concerning experiences, attitudes and perceptions of learning gains in specific areas Administer surveys to first-year students in the Longitudinal Cohort Study Administer end-of-course evaluations to students and faculty who participated in Maymester, undergraduate research and internationalization in Year 1

Questions? See you next year for update #2