In February, the newly formed Undergraduate Education Advisory Committee met for the first time. The committee was convened by Erin McGlothlin, Vice Dean of Undergraduate Affairs, to provide a forum for engagement on issues relevant to the College of Arts & Sciences’ teaching mission. Last fall, a call for nominations was sent to faculty, and the committee was selected from a combination of nominations and self-nominations.
The committee represents the breadth of undergraduate education opportunities available in the College of Arts & Sciences. It comprises tenure-track and teaching-track faculty who represent a mix of disciplinary areas and instructional types, from large lecture courses to small discussion-based courses, as well as specialized language and lab courses. There is also ex-officio representation from the College and the Center for Teaching and Learning.
“The goal of the committee is truly advisory, and we welcome input and advice from faculty,” said McGlothlin. “We want this to become a channel for sharing what’s happening in our departments and programs and in the classroom, so that we can better guide policy and pedological practices.”
The committee’s immediate goals include reflecting on the last two years of disruptions caused by the pandemic; thinking more intentionally, innovatively, equitably, and sustainably about what next steps should be taken in Arts & Sciences’ pedagogical practice; and developing a set of recommendations that pertain to the future of remote teaching and learning practices in the College of Arts & Sciences.
