Learning through Instruction A Committee of the Commission on the Liberal Arts
Maeve Howett, Associate Clinical Professor, School of NursingKim Loudermilk, Senior Lecturer, ILA, CollegeCo-Chairs
Committee ParticipantsBoyles, John – Graduate student, GDR
Cadray, Lynell – Associate Dean/Chief Diversity Officer, School of Nursing
Crowley, Cheryl – Associate Professor, REALC, Emory College
Ehteshami, Sheba - Alumna
Gouzoules, Sarah – Associate Dean for International and Summer Programs, Emory College
Klehr, Harvey – Professor, Political Science, Emory College (resigned due to department demands)
Kohlhorst, Drew – Asst. Director, Center for Science Eduation, College
Layne, Jonathan – Board of Trustees
Levy, Steven - Professor, Psychiatry, School of Medicine
Lim, Daniel – Undergraduate Student, College
MacBeth, Cora – Assistant Dean, Student Affairs, Laney Graduate School
Newsom, Carol - CH Candler Professor, Old Testament, Theology
Sales, Jessica – Assistant Research Professor, School of Public Health
Stutz, Aaron - Associate Professor, Oxford College
Sweatman, Maureen - Director of Operations, Center for Community Partnerships
Mandate to the Committee: Focus on Pedagogy
• Curricular structures and processeso Courses and credits
• New technologies• Mentoring
Early Request to Move Structural Concerns to Provost’s Office•Allow faculty to teach across units
•Allow students to enroll in courses across units
•Coordinate academic calendars
•Offer flexible types of courseso Variable creditso Variable time: semesters, mini-semesters, workshops, etc.
•Create system for allocating teaching credits across units based on contact hours, student enrollment, etc.
•Establish faculty evaluation/reward structure for teaching and mentoring
The Process
Life of the mind
Life of the mindGreat books program
Cross unit teaching and learning
Capstone experienceCapstone experience
Four themes became two subcommittees:
Inventory of capstone experiences by student researchers on COLA website
Intellectual tailgating
Synthesis seminar
Most Important Things We Learned1. A liberal arts education experience can seem disconnected and
fragmented, so integrating that experience is crucial.
2. The richness of the liberal arts requires learning opportunities both inside and outside the classroom.
3. People across the university are passionate about creating a vibrant liberal arts community, but feel structural and financial resources are not available.
Specific, short-term goals – 1-2 years•Intellectual tailgating event during a visit by a high-profile Emory-affiliated figure
Pre-event Post-event
•Implementation of a Common Book or Performance
•Virtual connected space on Instagram or Twitter
Pilot Project•Pilot at least two synthesis seminars, working in concert with an established organization, such as the CFDE.
•Spend next academic year planning.
•Offer the pilot courses during the 2015-16 academic year.
•Assessment/evaluation will be a crucial component.
Needed for implementation and success
•Creation of a central office with a budget and staff to facilitate
•Creation of “CoLA” timeIs this a
fundraising opportunity?
Long-term goals
•Create an Emory liberal arts experience that is shared across units
•Tell our story in such a way that we become known as a liberal arts research university
•Provide opportunities for cross-school teaching and learning
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