Based on working with the Boyer 2030 Commission and strategizing around its focus on the equity/excellence imperative, the author argues that the main impediments for change in U.S. research universities are phenomenological in nature; that is, having to do with the way systems of meaning are structured and experienced. The author argues that U.S.…

Creating a more coherent and integrated curriculum in higher education is a perennial concern. Critics and philosophers such as Immanuel Kant--one of the fathers of our modern academic system--candidly describes the political, social, and economic influences that underwrite academic fragmentation and dysfunction. Despite its complex definitions…

During the last 25 years, there have been many calls for new engineering competencies and a corresponding gradual change in both curriculum and pedagogy in engineering education. This has been a global trend, in the US, Europe, Australia and now emerging in the rest of the world. Basically, there have been two main types of societal challenges…

The last couple of years have witnessed a growing debate about online learning in higher education, notably in response to the global massive open online course (MOOC) phenomenon. This paper explores these developments from an institutional policy perspective, drawing on an analysis of the initial stages of different approaches to MOOCs and…

Now more than ever, it is urgent that colleges and universities mobilize themselves to produce graduates who are capable of being productive, creative, and responsible members of a global society. Employers want clear communicators who are strong critical thinkers and who can solve real-world problems in an ethical way. To achieve these outcomes,…

As the reported institution increased admission requirements, added master's and doctoral programs, and revised its strategic thrust, greater emphasis was placed on assessing student learning outcomes and whether the "treatment" of education has had a measurable impact. Consistent with Smith and Clark (2010), we implemented an action…

We examined two curricular change efforts at a small, midwestern engineering and science college in order to explore how organizational culture influences curricular change processes. We found that the failure of one effort (measured by inability to sustain the curriculum over time) and the success of the other (the curriculum continues to be…

Bringing about significant change in a mature and successful work-integrated learning (WIL) scheme is quite a difficult thing to accomplish. The University of Surrey, which has a long established WIL scheme based on year-long professional training work placements, has embarked on a programme of research and development aimed at adapting and…

The purpose of this study was to create knowledge about peace economics content of Midwest undergraduate peace studies programs, barriers that constrain economic content expansion, and strategies to overcome these barriers. A 40 question survey of directors and 4 director interviews were used to gather data to test hypotheses on the curriculum…

When the University of North Dakota began working to improve general education, two concerns were recognized. The first issue, which faculty and administrators across campus found immediately engaging, was how to change general education so that it would be a better program, more likely to yield clear student learning benefits. A second concern,…

Inquiry-based learning is one approach to improving the quality of undergraduate education by moving toward more student-directed, interactive methods of learning while focusing on learning how to learn. This paper deals with a missing component in the inquiry-related literature--the extra-pedagogical challenges of introducing and maintaining…

The use of Nominal Group Technique in structuring a curriculum development team's preliminary course planning is described. The technique supported the process by modifying group dynamics, rapidly identifying central curriculum design issues, and facilitating experience exchange. Its strengths and limitations in the context of a bachelor's program…

Describes the University of Arkansas at Monticello's development and implementation of a new general education curriculum. Explains the rationale for change, process of moving the faculty toward reform, and future directions of the curriculum. (DMM)

Examines three aspects of curriculum change: (1) comprehensive plan and goals formation, requiring climate assessment; (2) institutional commitment, gained through leverage approaches (accreditation, competition, or external evaluators) and incentive (e.g., Title III funds, public relations, institutional vitality) approaches; and (3)…

The process by which an interdisciplinary faculty team from California State University-Northridge developed an interdisciplinary program of upperdivision linked courses is described. Short- and long-term changes in the curriculum and practical considerations in making those changes are highlighted. (MSE)