Friday, 2/25/22
AAUP Chapter Meeting (Zoom)
Present: Vickie Mayer, Amanda Langedoerfer, Anton Daughters, Stacy Davis, Andrew Kauffmann, Stephanie Russell, Taner Edis, Mark Hatala, Carlo Annelli, Jennifer Jesse, Marc Becker, Christine Harker, Meg Edwards, Jay Belanger, Yuna Ferguson, Laura Bigger, Marc Rice, Craig Hennigan, Elizabeth Wiles
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- Associate Dean Amanda Langendoerfer: AL described her new position as the Associate Dean of Interdisciplinary Studies and Creative inquiry. She has been thinking about interdisciplinary initiatives and championing them at Truman. She talked about interdisciplinary programs in the UK and at Lehigh University as examples. Has also been on a “listening tour” as a part of transitioning into this position. Emphasized meeting with others to get input. Another goal is to come up with a strategic plan for IDS.
- AL has been meeting with Bridget Thomas.
- AL was asked about assessment of IDS. AL agreed it is important and talked about potential ways to improve assessment of interdisciplinary learning. AL mentioned the possibility of students having some kind of a “product” or “portfolio” to take with them upon graduation.
- There are multiple interdisciplinary learning experiences (Self and Society, symposium, JINS, IDS minors).
- AL discussed breaking down what is happening across schools – this could lead to more collaboration.
- AL discussed an interaction with students in Museum Studies, first offered as a course, that has impacted curriculum at Truman. It became a Museum Studies minor. Student response to these courses was very positive. The Museum Studies minor is also extremely broad – as far as incorporating a variety of disciplines across schools.
- Question about sending interdisciplinary programs to a school or department for management – that this could reinforce the problem with silos.
- AL: In this scenario staffing needs for majors and minors would be managed in a more local way for oversight but the Interdisciplinary Studies committee would still promote interdisciplinary across campus in a variety of ways.
- Mention of FTE issues, hiring across discipline boundaries is another issue, resource issues
- What about a budget? Office of Interdisciplinary Studies has a budget. The position is a conduit to the Provost’s office and Deans.
- AL asked: how do we view interdisciplinarity at Truman and what would we like to see?
- We would love to see the interdisciplinary teaching – co-teaching multiple faculty – a la Evergreen or Colorado College models discussed
- Value of team-teaching reinforced (and not as overload) – could unleash a resource already here
- Interested in answering important questions – however they need to be answered (implicitly interdisciplinary), rather than ticking boxes and defining interdisciplinarity and working from the other direction. What if we just pursued questions?
- We would love to see the interdisciplinary teaching – co-teaching multiple faculty – a la Evergreen or Colorado College models discussed
- Associate Dean Amanda Langendoerfer: AL described her new position as the Associate Dean of Interdisciplinary Studies and Creative inquiry. She has been thinking about interdisciplinary initiatives and championing them at Truman. She talked about interdisciplinary programs in the UK and at Lehigh University as examples. Has also been on a “listening tour” as a part of transitioning into this position. Emphasized meeting with others to get input. Another goal is to come up with a strategic plan for IDS.
- The mask mandate was just lifted:
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- A number of faculty expressed concerns.
- CDC just redefined their guidelines. Because our hospitals are not full we are now qualified as the lowest risk in Adair county. But hospitals that don’t report it also come out as “low” in the data.
- Sweden, Denmark, etc. have similarly lowered testing, masking etc. but the US doesn’t have the same high vaccination or health care that these countries have.
- Long term risk of COVID is still problematic.
- It’s surprising that it is being dropped right now (right before Spring Break, for people who have kids under 5 that still cannot be vaccinated)
- The admin generally has followed CDC guidelines (or done less), so this is expected.
- This may mean we need to provide Zoom rooms for students who feel uncomfortable.
- This isn’t always possible (studios, labs, etc.)
- The masks may not be that effective anyway.
- Faculty are required to provide masks if we require masks in our office. This is costly. Some said these should be provided by the university.