4/21/98
ATHENS, Ohio -- Many of the recommendations made by a national foundation for improving the academic experiences of undergraduate students at America's major universities already are integral to the offerings of Ohio University, says Provost Sharon Brehm.
Brehm, responding to a report released Monday by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, said Ohio University undergraduates benefit from the university's research activities.
"Research universities don't have to neglect undergraduates," Brehm said. "Technology and research need not, and should not, be viewed as antagonistic. Afterall, the best kind of teaching reflects the fundamental process of research: encouraging active learning, seeking new knowledge and finding unanticipated outcomes."
Brehm pointed to several Ohio University programs that enhance the undergraduate experience. Among them is the Honors Tutorial College, which this year is celebrating its 25th year as the only degree-granting honors college in the country. The college promotes learning through tutorials and side-by-side research with faculty, giving students the opportunity to design, execute, analyze and co-present research.
In addition, new approaches to improving undergraduate education continue to be developed, Brehm said. A Global Learning Community offering undergraduate business and communication students innovative learning approaches is set to open at Ohio University in the fall. Bolstering the experience will be study abroad opportunities, a residential setting that allows students to focus on international issues and languages, new technologies, professionals in residence and collaboration with people around the world.
Michael Williford, director of Ohio University's Office of Institutional Research, said the university has been assessing the quality of its undergraduate experience for nearly 20 years. In the most recent survey of alumni, 95 percent of 1996 graduates reported being satisfied with the academic preparation they received at Ohio University for their first job or additional academic work.
Addressing another criticism cited in the report, Williford said only 12 percent of undergraduate courses at Ohio University are taught by teaching assistants, compared to 34 percent statewide. Williford also noted that the university received the highest "value added" rating of the 228 universities ranked in U.S. News & World Report's most recent edition of "America's Best Colleges." The "value-added" rating is a measure of the school's role in the academic success of its students.
Carol Blum, interim vice president for research and graduate studies, said Ohio University faculty members are expected to involve undergraduates in their research projects whenever possible. For example, almost all faculty who receive National Science Foundation grants also apply for supplemental funding to involve undergraduate students in the research.
"We offer a rich and diverse environment for learning because of our research capabilities," Blum said. "But it's not done at the expense of our undergraduates. I think Ohio University can serve as a model for how to do it right."
Ohio University was designated a Research II university in 1994 by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. Research II universities receive at least $15.5 million in annual federal support for research, while Research I universities receive at least $40 million. Both Research I and II universities award 50 or more doctoral degrees annually.