Vol. 20, No. 16

May 17, 2001

Eight grants awarded to support General Education projects

Eight faculty projects addressing different aspects of the General Education initiatives have been funded by the Office of the Provost. The General Education initiatives, endorsed by the Faculty Senate, include Freshman Year Experience (LIFE and Pathways), Basic Skills, Discovery Learning and Capstone.

Proposals receiving funding are

  • Deborah Allen and Steven Fifield, both biological sciences, "Biology in a Community Context, " $13,640. They will develop Pathways sections for introductory biology;

  • Deborah Andrews, English, "Design and Assessment of an Audience Module in Capstone Courses," $8,000. Andrews, in conjunction with faculty from history, accounting, chemistry and biochemistry and mechanical engineering, will develop writing materials for discipline-specific capstones;

  • Marisa De los Santos and David Teague, University Parallel Program/English, "Working Women," $10,650. Teague and de los Santos will develop a new Pathways course about women's welfare-to-work programs in Wilmington;

  • Farley Grubb, economics; Roger Horowitz, University Parallel Program/history; Vivian Klaff, sociology; Mark Miller, political science and international relations; and Yda Schreuder, geography, "Perspectives on Migration," $15,000. This group will develop a new team-taught interdisciplinary Pathways course on international migration and its effects on society.

  • William Idsardi, linguistics, "Linguistics 101 Team Proposal," $15,000. Idsardi and other linguistics faculty will restructure introductory linguistics courses into small-group, problem-based courses with advanced technology support;

  • Calvin Keeler, Martin Lo and William Saylor, all animal and food science, "Transforming 'Mastering the Freshman Year' Course," $5,000. They will remake this freshman-year course into one with a dynamic, problem-based format.

  • Clyde Moneyhun, English, "Creative Synergy with E110 and LIFE Clusters," $14,000. Moneyhun will develop four E110 courses tied to themes in LIFE clusters.

  • Shuaib Meacham, education, "Hip Hop Journeys," $15,000. Meacham will develop a new Pathways course on self, society, technology and multimedia representation.

Proposals were reviewed by a faculty committee, which worked with and received advice from the Faculty Senate's Committee on General Education, and made funding recommendations to the Office of the Provost.

The review committee included co-chairpersons William Frawley, linguistics and cognitive science/academic programs and planning; and Harry Shipman, Annie Jump Cannon Professor of Physics and Astronomy; as well as George Watson, physics and astronomy, Nancy Brickhouse, education, Sherry Kitto, animal and food science, and Andrew Zydney, chemical engineering.

According to Frawley, "The grant program was very successful, attracting participation from across the University. The funds awarded support the development of courses that address all aspects of the General Education Initiative."

Another competition is expected to take place in fall 2001. Interested faculty are encouraged to contact Frawley at 831-1173, or e-mail him at [billf@udel.edu] to discuss ideas for proposals for next year. To help faculty develop proposals, a model proposal from this year's competition is posted at [http://www.udel.edu/cte/ geproject.html]. More information about General Education initiatives is available at [http://www.udel.edu/ facsen/reports/].