New award recognizes collaboration

The Department of Chemistry and the Integrated Liberal Studies program have been chosen to inaugurate the new Chancellor’s Award for Departmental Teaching Excellence for the year 2000.

These awards are the first pairs of prizes, given annually to one large academic unit and one smaller program that have formed partnerships to further teaching and learning.

Chancellor David Ward says academic collaboration will be critical to the future of higher education.

“The boundaries of knowledge are expanding so rapidly and radically that all academic disciples must explore ways they can work cooperatively to meet coming challenges successfully,” Ward says.

The Department of Chemistry has spent the last few years transforming its educational environment from passive to active, involving chemistry students as equal academic partners. Some examples:

• The Institute for Chemical Education provides a center for science educators to share their expertise and ideas.
• The New Traditions Projects brings together departmental faculty, staff and students to change curriculum to increase student involvement.
• Project Seraphim focuses on the development of instructional technology.
• The Learning Center enhances mentoring of minority students.
• Interdisciplinary programs have been created with materials science and biology.

As the direct descendant of UW’s Experimental College, founded in 1927, Integrated Liberal Studies more recently has distinguished itself by integrating the humanities, sciences and social sciences, pursuing multidisciplinary education not only within the program but with other units on campus and off.

ILS chairman Booth Fowler says the program successfully fosters a community ethic between teachers and learners through student programming, joint learning opportunities, small courses when possible and more.

“This award shows how seriously the university takes teaching in general and collaborative teaching in particular,” says Robert Skloot, the UW–Madison associate vice chancellor who worked with Ward to develop the award. “Interdisciplinary scholarship really points up how teaching, research and public service all reinforce each other, and we are delighted to be able to add this new initiative to reward successful teaching and learning across disciplines.”

The Chancellor’s Award for Departmental Excellence in Teaching carries a $50,000 check for each winner. The funds were raised privately. Units can use the money as they see fit.

“I am very proud to have had a hand in developing this award,” Ward says. “It’s precisely the sort of legacy I would like to leave the university, and the people of Wisconsin and the world,” after he steps down as chancellor Jan. 1.

For more information, contact Skloot at (608) 262-5246; skloot@bascom.wisc.edu, or Katherine Sanders, Creating a Collaborative Academic Environment, (608) 263-4257; kjsander@facstaff.wisc.edu.