Learning Initiatives to Improve
Undergraduate Education at a
Research-Oriented Institution
Robin R. Rastani* and Michel A. Wattiaux
Department 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: A multi-million $, multi-state NSF initiative
(2002-2007)
• 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.
What does this mean for the nation?
Undergraduate Education
Comprehensive
University
2-yr College
Masters
Liberal University
Research
Arts
University
80% of faculty with Ph.D.’s
Are trained at Research Univ.
100 Research Universities
Nation-wide
Expanding the Principles of Delta
•
•
Example of Delta Activities
(working with both graduate students and faculty):
–
–
–
–
•
•
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:
–
–
–
–
–
•
“regular” courses on “nuts and bolts” of course development
Classroom exploration
Round Table dinner (seminar)
Teaching Internships
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
Participants
400
350
Delta Participants*:
• 17.3% Faculty
• 13.7% Instructional Staff
• 13.8% Post-docs
• 55.1% Graduate Students
300
250
200
CALS Participation in Delta (23.4%)
• 17.4% Faculty
• 17.4% Instructional Staff
• 20.4% Post-docs
• 44.9% Graduate Students
150
100
50
0
Total
Faculty Inst. Staff
Postdocs
Graduate
Students
• 11.2% of CALS take part in Delta
• 13.2% of STEM take part in Delta
College of Ag. and Life Science
* 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 UWMadison.
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
140
Teaching Academy Members*:
• 65.1% Faculty
• 12.7% Instructional Staff
• 1.6% Post-docs
• 20.6% Graduate Students
Participants
120
100
80
CALS Participation in TA (11.6%)
• 72.7% Faculty
• 13.6% Instructional Staff
• 4.5% Post-docs
• 9.1% Graduate Students
60
40
20
0
Total
Faculty Inst. Staff
Postdocs
Graduate
Students
• 1.5% of CALS take part in TA
• 1.4% of UW take part in TA
College of Ag. and Life Science
* 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
Fall 2003:
1. Took a Delta course, “Teaching in
Science and Engineering”
2. Participated in Roundtable Dinners
3. Participated in graduate student
discussion
Ph.D. program
Fall and Spring 2005:
1. Continued to participate in
previous activities
2. Participated in “Creating a
collaborative learning
environment”
Spring 2004:
Continued to participate
in Roundtable Dinners
and discussions
Selected as a
Future Faculty
Partner of the
Teaching Academy
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)
95 % of Delta projects affect undergraduate education.
School
Total 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
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
86
100.0
12
100.0
20
100
Total
Impact of Summer Institute Projects
by School for Undergraduate Education
88 % of Summer Institute projects affect undergraduate education.
School
Agric. & Life Sciences
Total Undergraduate
Students Impacted
% of Students
(over 4 years)
1576
6.0%
39
0.1%
152
0.6%
4572
17.5%
18585
71.2%
Medical
5
0.0%
Nursing
1776
6.8%
293
1.1%
Education
Engineering
Human Ecology
Letters & Sciences
Pharmacy
TOTAL
26998
* 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.