Faculty proposals for the 2020 cycle of University Courses are due Friday, Nov. 22. The Vanderbilt Center for Teaching, the new home of the University Courses program, invites applications from faculty members for innovative, interdisciplinary, team-taught courses that engage students in deep learning.
The University Courses program was launched by the Office of the Provost in 2016 to encourage and support “cross-college” teaching, one of the cornerstones of the Academic Strategic Plan. Faculty from all of Vanderbilt’s colleges and schools have participated in the program, introducing 16 new interdisciplinary courses on topics such as historic black Nashville, health care disparities, design thinking and artificial intelligence.
“I have been impressed with the vibrant interdisciplinary partnerships the program has fostered, as well as the creative and experiential teaching strategies used across the program,” Center for Teaching Director Derek Bruff said. Moving the University Courses program to the Center for Teaching presents an opportunity to strengthen the program through greater pedagogical support for University Courses faculty and through connections with other Center for Teaching activities, including the annual Celebration of Learning and course design institutes, he said.
Ten previously approved University Courses are being offered at Vanderbilt this year, two in the fall and eight during the spring semester. Up to three new University Courses will be approved by a faculty committee for 2020, each of which will be funded for three offerings over a five-year span.
Vanderbilt faculty interested in interdisciplinary team teaching are encouraged to read the call for proposals on InfoReady or reach out to the Center for Teaching to discuss ideas for new University Courses.