In the context of national collaborative efforts to increase the prevalence of active learning strategies in undergraduate precalculus and calculus classrooms, we discuss the context, strategy, and processes used at one university to create change within a mathematics department. We highlight the use of a unified active learning approach and the…

This study examines how involvement in four undergraduate faculty communities of practice is associated with faculty perceiving they improved in individual practices related to STEM reform. It is informed by the communities of practice and faculty change literature and utilizes data gathered through a survey of community members (n = 2503). The…

Addressed toward course coordinators and departmental leaders interested in redesigning an undergraduate mathematics course, we highlight the steps our team at the University of Maryland, College Park has taken in bringing active learning to our Precalculus course. We provide examples of ways in which we have coordinated active learning across…

Given the heavy accountability mandates that have permeated K-16 education in recent years, many higher education faculty and administrators have experienced pressure to establish measurable student learning outcomes and then produce data that demonstrate student mastery of the stated learning objectives. For some faculty, assessment data analysis…

Life sciences faculty agree that developing scientific literacy is an integral part of undergraduate education and report that they teach these skills. However, few measures of scientific literacy are available to assess students' proficiency in using scientific literacy skills to solve scenarios in and beyond the undergraduate biology classroom.…

This study examined the addition and expansion of graduate programs at primarily undergraduate colleges. The primary approach of the study was quantitative, consisting of descriptive and multivariate analysis of master's degree programs at colleges that were classified in 1994 as Baccalaureate Colleges. Data came from the 1994 and 2000 Carnegie…

The new Rhetoric and Writing major at Mount St. Mary's College (an independent Catholic, liberal arts institution in northern Maryland) developed in response to local conditions and local problems. In 1988, owing to a mutual recognition of the different missions of the writing and literature programs, the writing faculty were officially separated…

Colleges and universities across the U.S. are making efforts in teacher education reform in order to better the training of instructors and therefore the education of children. In this article, the authors describe two aspects of interrelated changes in teacher education. They share various aspects of their journey--to redesign their teacher…

Describes a Total Quality Management-based system of instruction that is used in a variety of undergraduate mathematics courses. The courses that incorporate this approach include mathematics appreciation, introductory calculus, and advanced applied linear algebra. (DDR)

A plan to reinvigorate the University of Minnesota focuses on undergraduate education, encouraging recruitment of top high school graduates, improved retention, closer faculty-student relationships, and improved campus social climate. Critics find the plan vague, student leaders decry lack of student involvement in planning, minority groups call…

Presents a model for a course on information literacy that was developed by librarians at California State University at San Marcos. Topics include the role of the library in higher education reform; active learning activities; convincing faculty and administrators of the need for information literacy courses; and future implementation. (LRW)

Historical and philosophical perspectives on college academic programs, current curriculum practices and agendas, and academic program development and implementation are considered in 20 articles in a reader designed for graduate classes in higher education administration. Titles and authors are as follows: "Frames of Reference" (Frederick…

England's preregistration undergraduate degree in nursing and midwifery programs were subjected to a comprehensive evaluation that included the following data collection activities: in-depth field studies of 26 of 32 three- and four-year undergraduate nursing and midwifery programs; individual interviews with 129 lecturers, 54 students, 52…