Miami University
Federated Learning Community (or, Courses in Common)
Address: Oxford
City: Ohio
State: 45056
Zip or Postal Code: USA
Country: 45056
Program Director (or best person to contact): William Gracie
Email: graciewj@muohio.edu
Phone: 513-529-7135
Fax: 513-529-5033
Web Address: http://www.muohio.edu/
Brief Program Summary
"Federated" is another word for "united," and in this program, students from the same residence hall are united by taking two or three courses together. The courses are part of the common liberal arts curriculum that all Miami students complete. Students also participate in a proseminar designed to bring the courses together.
Sources of funding
Program Reports To:
Are students charged an additional fee: No
The number of persons in each of the following categories are teaching academic credit bearing courses
Fulltime Tenured Faculty: 0
Fulltime Probationary Faculty: 0
Fulltime Instructors: 0
Fulltime Retired Faculty: 0
Fulltime Adjunct Faculty: 0
Fulltime Graduate Students: 0
Fulltime Residence Hall Staff: 0
Parttime Tenured Faculty: 1
Parttime Probationary Faculty: 1
Parttime Instructors: 0
Parttime Retired Faculty: 0
Parttime Adjunct Faculty: 0
Parttime Graduate Students: 0
Parttime Residence Hall Staff: 0
Academic staff involved in the program that weren't included as faculty above
(Academic staff are personnel who are involved in providing academic services to students such as advising.)
Fulltime Academic Staff: 0
Parttime Academic Staff: 0
Non-academic staff involved in the program
(Non-academic staff are personnel who are involved in providing services that do not directly involve academics such as residence hall staff or staff who organize social activities that are not tied to academics.)
Fulltime Non-Academic Staff: 0
Parttime Non-Academic Staff: 0
Number of faculty offices in the residence hall: 0
The approximate percentage of students in each grade level
First Year: 100
Second Year: 0
Third Year: 0
Fourth Year and above: 0
Graduate Students: 0
Total Number of Students: 25
Year the Program Began:1999
Academic Courses Offered In The Community
SOC 151 Social Relations (4)
PHL 103 The Individual and Society (3)
both courses are part of the liberal education core, but neither is, strictly speaking, "required"
Other Academic Offerings
We are in our infancy. We will sponsor one community in the fall but plan to offer as many as three or four by AY 2000-2001.
Classrooms in hall
Summary of Facilities and Facilities Budget
Computer Resources in the Residence Hall
IBMs and Macs in addition to printers
The Role of Community Partnerships
The Role of Leadership Development
The Role of Research
Summary of Assessment Activities
Each course is assessed for its ability to achieve liberal education goals.
Summary of Extracurricular Activities Formally Associated with the Program
The Role of Interdisciplinary Studies
How Diversity Issues are Addressed in the Program and in Courses
How Diversity Issues are Addressed Among Faculty and Students
Student Demographics
Faculty Rewards for Participation in the Program
Release Time:
Salary Supplement: yes
Travel Funds: yes
Other:
Description of Other Rewards
Disciplines Represented by the Faculty
sociology and philosophy
Willing to Serve as a Consultant:
yes
Greatest Challenges for this Learning Community:
Actually, I see none. There seems to be genuine interest among faculty in the community, and, once we get through the first year's maiden voyage for the community (this fall), I anticipate more communities and greater interest next year.
Suggested Bibliography
Gaff, Ratcliff, Handbook of the Undergraduate Curriculum