Models of Academic Excellence: Is a “Third Way” Emerging? Scholars in Action: 2011 UNI Symposium on Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity University of Northern Iowa (UNI) Cedar Falls, Iowa R. Eugene Rice Senior Scholar Association of American Colleges and Universities Washington, DC USA

The Dominant Modes of Academic Excellence 1.Liberal Arts—Faculty as Teacher Scholar 2.Research University—Specialist on the Cutting Edge of a Field (Expert) —TRANSITIONS (OR TRANSFORMATIONAL) PERIOD 3.Emergence of a “Third Way” - Integrated- Engaged - Collaborative- Networked - Inclusive

The Assumptive World of the Academic Professional RESEARCH is the central professional endeavor & the focus of academic life. Quality is preserved through PEER REVIEW and the maintenance of PROFESSIONAL AUTONOMY. The pursuit of knowledge is best organized according to DISCIPLINE. REPUTATIONS are established through NATIONAL and INTERNATIONAL PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS. Professional rewards and mobility accrue to those who persistently ACCENTUATE their SPECIALIZATION. The distinctive task of the academic profession is the pursuit of COGNITIVE TRUTH.

Changing Faculty Role From Focus On: To: Faculty Learning Student Development & Community Engagement (who faculty are, (faculty are (big question) and what we know) beginning to see this)

Changes in What We are Learning About Learning Pedagogical Revolution: (3 central thrusts) 1. Active, experienced-based learning - service learning - undergraduate research 2. Power of relational learning - peer learning - learning communities 3. Technologically enhanced learning - web-based social networks - distance learning

High Impact Educational Practices First year seminars Common intellectual experiences Learning Communities Writing intensive courses Collaborative assignments Undergraduate research Diversity—global learning Service learning, community-based learning Internships Capstone courses George D. Kuh, AAC&U Project

The Overflowing Plate RESEARCH PROFESSSIONAL AUTONOMY PEER REVIEW FOCUS ON DISCIPLINE PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS SPECIALIZATION COGNITIVE RATIONALITY TEACHING PROFESSIONAL ENGAGEMENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTABILITY STUDENT EVALUATION ASSESSMENT OF LEARNING CROSSING KNOWLEDGE DOMAINS LOCAL NEEDS Institution building Broader community INTEGRATION OF KNOWLEDGE Bridging theory and practice DIFFERENT APPROACHES TO KNOWING

Scholarship of Engagement Scholarship of Teaching & Learning Scholarship of Integration Scholarship of Discovery A Broader, More Integrated Understanding of Scholarly Work CONCRETE, CONNECTED KNOWING ACTIVE REFLECTIVE PRACTICE OBSERVATION ABSTRACT ANALYTIC KNOWING

Epistemological Shift - A different relationship with students - Focus on student learning and development - Attend to the making of meaning - A different kind of research -Community-based research -Two-way street -Honoring local as well as cosmopolitan knowledge - A different relationship with community - Not “application of knowledge” - Collaborative practices - Honoring wisdom of practice - “Stewardship of place” (AASCU)

W. B. Yeats - On the power of the relationship of intellectual development and active practice: “The human soul is always moving outward into the external world and inward into itself, and this movement is double because the human soul would not be conscious were it not suspended between contraries. The greater the contrast, the more intense the consciousness.”

Other Challenges (From Focus On) (To Focus On) 1. Complete scholar Unbundling of Networks for learning & (congruence) faculty role new forms of integration 2. Culture of unexamined Culture of evidence assumptions(evidence-based practice) 3. Career dependence Resilient, interconnected careers 4. Diminished public support & increased demand for access 5.“ My work”“Our work” 6.Collegial cultureManagerial culture

Collaborative Culture Learning Organization Bi-cultural Building on Both Cultures Alternative to the Two Economies Systemically-oriented Learning Centered Collegial Culture  Liberal Arts (Athens)  Research University (Berlin)  Faculty-oriented  Peer Review  Peer Leadership  Community of Scholars - Tenure - Academic Freedom  Shared Governance  Qualitative Judgments  Substantive Knowledge  Merit Managerial Culture  Corporate Sector  Bottom Line  Accountability  Efficiency  Productivity  Technical Leadership  Managerial Professionals  Quantitative  Instrumental Knowledge  Hierarchical  Customer-oriented  Worth

The Emergence of a “Third Way”? Is higher education facing a Copernican moment? Characteristics: 1.Integrative/ Beyond Differentiation 2.Collaborative/ Beyond Hierarchy & Competitiveness 3.Inclusive/ Beyond Diversity 4.Engaged/ Beyond Walls & Silos 5.Toward a Network Culture