academic strategic plan - vanderbilt university · 2019-01-19 · 3 office of the provost...

OFFICE OF THE PROVOST

ACADEMICSTRATEGICPLANANNUALREPORT–2016-2017ACADEMICYEAR

2 OFFICE OF THE PROVOST

TABLEOFCONTENTSIntroduction..............................................................................................................................3

Trans-InstitutionalProgramAwards...............................................................................4BytheNumbers..................................................................................................................................4ACTION..................................................................................................................................................4IMPACT.................................................................................................................................................5NEXTSTEPS.........................................................................................................................................9

ChancellorFacultyFellows...................................................................................................9BytheNumbers..................................................................................................................................9ACTION................................................................................................................................................10IMPACT...............................................................................................................................................10NEXTSTEPS.......................................................................................................................................10

UniversityCourses...............................................................................................................11BytheNumbers................................................................................................................................11ACTION................................................................................................................................................11IMPACT...............................................................................................................................................11NEXTSTEPS.......................................................................................................................................12

ImmersionVanderbilt........................................................................................................12BytheNumbers................................................................................................................................12ACTION................................................................................................................................................12NEXTSTEPS.......................................................................................................................................14

TheCollegeHalls...................................................................................................................14BytheNumbers................................................................................................................................14IMPACT...............................................................................................................................................15

EducationTechnologies.....................................................................................................15BytheNumbers................................................................................................................................15IMPACT...............................................................................................................................................16NEXTSTEPS.......................................................................................................................................17

GraduateEducation.............................................................................................................17ACTION................................................................................................................................................17NEXTSTEPS.......................................................................................................................................18

InternationalStrategy.........................................................................................................18ACTION................................................................................................................................................18NEXTSTEPS.......................................................................................................................................19

Conclusion...............................................................................................................................19


INTRODUCTION

ACTION&IMPACT

Whenitwaslaunchedin2014,theAcademicStrategicPlanaspiredtoshapethefutureofhighereducationandtofosterthecreationofknowledgethattogetherimprovethehumancondition.Nowinitsthirdyearofimplementation,manyoftheprogramsbornefromtheplanhavebeguntobecomeavibrantpartoftheuniversity’sfabricandarefacilitatinglastingandmeaningfulchange.Thetrans-institutionalapproachoftheplanitselfishelpingtoenhancetheundergraduateandgraduatestudentexperiencewitheffortsfocusedontopicsrangingfromEducationalTechnologiesandResidentialEducationtoUniversityCoursesandGraduateEducation.

TheTrans-InstitutionalPrograms(TIPs)awardsarestartingtoproducemeasurableoutcomesascollaborativeteamscomprisedoffacultyfromacrosscampuscontinuetoaddresssomeofsociety’smostpressingproblems.TheUniversityCoursesprogram,rootedinthecross-collegeteachinginitiative,launchedlastyearaswellwithmorethan80studentsenrolledacrosstheinauguralcohort’sfourclasses.TheImmersionVanderbiltinitiativeprogressedthispastyearaswell,withtheunveilingofitsnewwebsite,theintroductionofthefourimmersionpathwaysandtherolloutoftheiSeminar


series.Whilestillgatheringinput,thefacultyinthefourundergraduateschools/collegesareengagedindesigningandapprovingtheirplansfortheImmersionVanderbiltinitiative(plannedlaunchfortheenteringfirst-yearstudentsintheFall2018).WorkinggroupsfortheGraduateEducationandInternationalStrategyinitiativesareintheprocessofsolicitingfeedbackandpreparingrecommendationsfornextsteps,whileEducationalTechnologyinitiativessuchMOOCs,theLeadingLinespodcastseries,andtheBOLDFellowsprogramarepermeatingdiscoveryandlearninginallcornersofcampus.

AmorerobustandcomprehensivecommunicationsplatformwasrolledoutduringthispastyearwithanoverhauloftheAcademicStrategicPlanwebsiteandtheintroductionofablogsite(VUBreakThru)thatgivesfacultyandstudentsinvolvedwiththeTIPsandUniversityCoursesinitiativesaplatformfromwhichtheycancommunicatekeydiscoveries,researchbreakthroughsandmuchmore.Featuressuchasaninteractivetimelinethatdocumentskeymilestonesofeachinitiative,andadynamicsliderthatrotatesthroughhighlightsfromeachofthePlan’sfourpillarsarejusttwoofthenewwebsite’shighlights.Inaddition,thenew-lookwebsiteservesasacentralhubforreporting,trackingandpromotingeffortstiedtotheplan.Theplan’sinitiativesandprogramsalsoeitherhaveorwillhavetheirowndedicatedwebsitesorwebpageswithinprovostareasastheybecomesustainedandinstitutionalizedpartsofVanderbiltUniversity.

TRANS-INSTITUTIONALPROGRAMAWARDSBYTHENUMBERS

272Totalfacultyengagedbeginningwiththepre-proposalprocess13of31“full”proposalswereawardednewfundingin2016-17,and2existingprogramswereapprovedforadditionalfunding

140Facultyinvolvedinthe15-fundedproposalsacrossallschoolsandcollegesin2016-17

$7.7Millionintotalfundingforthe15proposals

$19.7Millionawardedintotaloverthelastthreeyears

ACTIONInSpring2017,13newprogramswerefunded.ProjectsincludeidentifyingbestpracticesinpublicpolicyfortheLGBTcommunity,leveragingthe“autismadvantage”tofuelworkplaceinnovationandunderstandingthecomplexityoflifeatthesingle-celllevel.


2017FundedProgramsFullProgramDescriptions

1. AdaptiveeBooksforBuildingChildren’sLanguageSkills–SchoolofEngineering,PeabodyCollege,SchoolofMedicine(Clinical)

2. AddressingtheEpidemicofHPV-AssociatedCancers –SchoolofMedicine(Clinical),PeabodyCollege,SchoolofNursing,SchoolofEngineering

3. BiomedicalMicroscopy–Immersion,Innovation,Discovery(BioMIID)atVBC –SchoolofMedicine(BasicSciences),CollegeofArtsandScience,SchoolofEngineering

4. CenterforAutismandInnovation –CollegeofArts&Science,SchoolofMedicine(Clinical),SchoolofEngineering,OwenGraduateSchoolofManagement

5. DataScienceVisions–CollegeofArts&Science,SchoolofMedicine(Clinical),SchoolofMedicine(BasicScience),SchoolofEngineering,PeabodyCollege

6. VanderbiltBrainInstitute-CollegeofArtsandScience,SchoolofMedicine(BasicSciences),SchoolofEngineering,PeabodyCollege

7. MaterialsDurabilityandEnvironmentalResearchHub–SchoolofEngineering,CollegeofArtsandScience,SchoolofMedicine(Clinical)

8. AReinvestmentinCryo-ElectronMicroscopyatVanderbilt–SchoolofMedicine(BasicSciences),SchoolofMedicine(Clinical),CollegeofArtsandScience

9. UnderstandingtheComplexityofLifeOneCellataTime –SchoolofMedicine(BasicSciences),SchoolofMedicine(Clinical),CollegeofArts&Science,SchoolofEngineering

10. VanderbiltLGBTPolicyLab–SchoolofMedicine(Clinical),CollegeofArtsandScience,DivinitySchool,LawSchool

11. TheVanderbiltMicrobiomeInitiative –CollegeofArts&Science,SchoolofMedicine(Clinical),SchoolofEngineering

12. VandyReach:PuttingObesitySciencetoWork –CollegeofArtsandScience,SchoolofMedicine(Clinical),PeabodyCollege,LawSchool,OwenGraduateSchoolofManagement

13. VUSATInitiative(BringstogethertheresourcesofEngineering,Anthropology,Earth&EnvironmentalSciencesandAstronomytodesignanddevelopaSpace-basedplatformtostudytheevolvingecologyonearth)–SchoolofEngineering,CollegeofArtsandScience

FullProgramDescriptions–2015FullProgramDescriptions–2016

IMPACTFacultyfromacrosscampusareworkingtogethertomaketransformativediscoveries,engagingstudentsalongtheway.Throughtheprogramsfaculty,studentsandstaffhostevents,publishpapers,garnernationalmediamentions,secureexternalfundingandindustrysupport,andsubmitpatentapplications.


Intermsofsheernumbers,morethan250facultymembersandhundredsofstudentsfromeachofVanderbilt’s10schoolsandcollegesareworkingtogethertoaddresstopicsrangingfromhealthcareandeducationaltechnologiestotheenvironmentandbigdatathroughtheTIPsprogram.Additionally,TIPsprojectshavesecuredmorethan$12millioninexternalfundingandproducednearly500undergraduatestudentimmersiveexperiences.Approximately300graduateandprofessionalstudentsalsohavebeeninvolvedwithTIPsprojectsduringthepasttwoyears.TheTIPsprogramhasbecomeasignificantavenueforlaunchingnewimmersionopportunities.UndergraduateimmersionexperiencesincludeindependentresearchprojectsinAfrica,fieldworkinBrazil,summerinternships,labandsocialscienceresearch,seniordesignprojects,ethnographicfieldworkatcommunitysitesandoutpatientclinicsinandaroundNashville.Nationalmedia,includingtheWallStreetJournal,NationalGeographic,NBCNewsandNationalPublicRadio,haveshowcasedTIPsprojects.InNovember2016,theViSE-affiliatedlabSTORMwasfeaturedinanNBCNewsarticletitled“Robotsvs.Cancer:HowTechisTacklingBiden’sMoonshot.”InJune2016,ViSEwasmentionedbytheWallStreetJournalinitsstory“SixNewMedicalTechnologiesWorthWatching.”TheProgramforMusic,MindandSociety,meanwhile,hasseenanincreaseinattentionrecently,withNationalPublicRadioandtheBBCvisitingcampusthisspringtolearnmoreaboutthegroundbreakingresearchassociatedwiththeproject.Belowaresomespecificprogramhighlights:

• TIPs2015–NetsBlox:DigitalLearningTechnologyforComputerScienceEducationLedbyVanderbiltProfessorofComputerEngineeringAkosLedeczi,theprojectteamhasdevelopedaprogramcalledNetsBlox,anintuitivevisualprogrammingplatformthatusesdistributedprogrammingandthecomputationalthinkingbehindit,asateachingtool.DuringtheSpring2017semester,LedecziintroducedNetsBloxinhiscollegeclassroomwithCS1103,arequiredcourseforallnon-computersciencemajorsintheSchoolofEngineering.WhilethemainfocusofthecourseistoteachprogrammingusingMATLAB,thecurriculumstartedwithtwoweeksofNetsBlox’svisualprogrammingtohelpwiththesteeplearningcurveofstudyingcomputerprogrammingfromscratch.TheprojecthascaughttheeyeoftheNationalScienceFoundation,winningtwoseparategrants.Firstcameatwo-year,$300,000STEM+ComputingEAGERgranttoacceleratetheprogram’sdevelopment.Then,inpartnershipwithStanfordUniversityandSRI,Vanderbiltreceivedathree-year$2.5millionSTEM+Computinggranttohelpadvancenewmultidisciplinaryapproachesto,andevidence-basedunderstandingof,theintegrationofcomputinginSTEMteachingandlearning.


• TIPs2016–AfricaataCrossroads:ChallengesandProspectsAninterdisciplinaryteamoffacultyfromtheCollegeofArts&Science,PeabodyCollege,BlairSchoolofMusicandSchoolofMedicine(Clinical)hascometogethertobuild–forthefirsttimeatVanderbilt–aninterdisciplinarycommunityofAfricaniststoexplorethewidespreadnotionthatcontemporarysocio-economic,culturalandpoliticalindicatorsdemonstratethatAfricanowstandsatapivotalpoint–markedbybothinfinitepossibilitiesandlingeringchallenges.ThispastApril,theprojectsponsoredVanderbilt’sfirst-everAfricaWeektohelpraiseawarenessofopportunitiestoengagewithArica.Theweeklongeventservedastheculminationofthefirstyearoftheproject.Itfeaturedguestlecturers,paneldiscussions,anAfricandrumclinic,Africandancelessonsandathree-dayTeachInwitheightVUprofessorsexploringtopicssuchastheglobalhealthcrisis,Africanpolitics,thelegaciesofNelsonandWinnieMandelaandmuchmore.Hundredsofpeopleattendedtheeventsacrosscampus,andorganizersarealreadystartingtothinkaboutplansforasecondAfricaWeeknextspring.

• TIPs2016–VanderbiltProgramforNextGenerationVaccines–IntegratingStructural

BiologywithBigDataTheprojectteamenrolledeightgraduateandpost-graduatetraineesintotheirtrainingprogram,witheachtraineeco-mentoredbyatleasttwofaculty.Severalmajorequipmentpurchasesweremade,includinganexpansionoftheACCREhigh-performancecomputingcenter.TeammembersorganizedtheVanderbiltSymposiumonModelingImmunity,whichattractedapproximately100attendeestocampusfortheApril27eventthatfeaturedexpertinternationalspeakersandprojecttraineespresentingtheirworkduringapostersession.AnewprogramwebsitewasalsolaunchedduringYear1.Industrysupportandcollaborationareexpectedmovingforward,andprojectorganizersplantosubmitapplicationsforexternalfundinginthecomingyears.

• TIPs2015–ViSE:BringingEngineersandSurgeonsTogetherHostedapproximately22seminarswith34speakersthroughouttheyear,withanaverageattendanceof64.Fifth-annualend-of-yearsymposiumattractedmorethan100attendeesandfeaturedkeynotespeakerandapostersession.SecuredthreeseparateNIHgrants,totaling$3,876,240tosupportfutureresearch.InternationalcollaborationshavebeenformedwithforeigninstitutionsinIreland,England,Italy,NetherlandsandtheUnitedKingdom.SixundergraduatestudentswillbeimmersedinViSE-affiliatedlabsthissummerforinternships.

ToshowcasetheimpactoftheTIPsprogramandencouragebroaderparticipation,eachprogramhasadedicatedwebpageontheStrategicPlansite.Additionally,anewblogsiteentitledVUBreakThruwaslaunchedtoallowforfacultyandstudentsinvolvedwiththeseprojectstheopportunitytosharetheirexperiences.


InMarch2017,theinauguralTIPsFairwashostedtogiveTIPsparticipantstheopportunitytointeractandlearnfromeachotheraswellasacquaintnewfacultywiththetrans-institutionalapproach.Theevent,whichattractedmorethan100facultymembers,featuredmorethanhalfofthecurrentlyawardedprojects.InadditiontogivingTIPsfacultyaplatformfromwhichtheywereabletocommunicatethehighlightsoftheirresearch,theeventhelpedtoseedfurthercollaborationandsparkedengagingconversationsamongsttheattendees.Toprovideadditionalsupportfortrans-institutionalresearchandresearchmorebroadlytheProvost’sInitiativestoEnhanceResearchandScholarship(PIERS)waslaunched.Theinitiative’smottois“shapeopportunity;seizeopportunity,”reflectingitsinterlinkedgoalsofshapingthenationalresearchdialogueandseizingopportunitiestosupportresearchandscholarshipinanincreasinglycompetitiveinternationalenvironment.Coreactivitiesunderthisinitiativefromthisacademicyearinclude:

• WebsiteReorganizationandDesign–TheResearch@Vanderbiltwebsitewasredesignedandrelaunchedtodirectfaculty,studentsandstafftoresourcesandtopromotetheground-breakingdiscoveriesandscholarshipbyVanderbiltfacultyandstudentswithinthecontextoftheAcademicStrategicPlan.

• VanderbiltUniversityResearchCouncil–ThecouncilwasestablishedtoevaluateprojectstoincreaserecognitionandestablishVanderbiltastheleaderinimportantandemergingthematicareasofresearchandscholarshipandintrans-institutionallearninganddiscovery

• SponsoredProgramsAdministration–Researchadministrativeprocesseswerecohered

andstreamlinedunderAssistantProvostforResearchAdministrationandOperationstoincludesponsoredprojects,researchintegrity,exportcontrol,andvisas.InFY17,2,354proposalsweresubmitted;891awardswerereceived;andfundedproposalsamountedto$225,836,459.

• EnhancedLimitedSubmissionsProcess–Newprocesseshavebeenimplementedto

selectVanderbiltproposalsforlimitedsubmissionopportunitiesatFederalR&Dagenciesandfoundations,andacoordinatedeffortwasmadewithVUMCtodevelopstandardoperatingproceduresforcoordinationbetweenVUandVUMC.

• LeveragedProposalOrganizationandDevelopment–Thisprogramprovidessupport

servicestoadvancefaculty-ledproposaldevelopmentforprestigiousorcomplexextramuralsponsorshipofresearch.


• IndustrySponsorshipofR&D–TheCenterforTechnologyTransferandCommercializationtookonpromotingindustrysponsorshipofR&Dasoneofitscoreobjectivesandwillbeworkingwithfacultyaspartofalargerefforttosupportanddiversifysponsorshipofresearch.VU319,apotentialnewdrugforAlzheimer’sdiseaseandschizophreniadevelopedbyVanderbiltUniversityscientists,wasadministeredJuly29,2017tothefirstvolunteerenrolledinafirst-in-humanphase1clinicaltrialattheVanderbiltInstituteforClinicalandTranslationalResearchwithtrialsongoing.

• ResearchInformationTechnologySpecialProject–AworkinggroupoffacultyandIT

staffdraftedasetofrecommendationsfornewandenhancedservicesandinfrastructuretoservetheneedsofVanderbiltresearchers.

• OakRidgeNationalLab(ORNL)Collaborations–Aseriesofvisitsbetweenleadership

andresearchersatORNLandVanderbilthavetakenplacetopromotecollaborationsbetweentheinstitutionsandincreaseVanderbiltresearchers’accesstoORNL’suniqueinstrumentsandfacilities.

NEXTSTEPSGiventhelevelofattendanceandparticipationattheTIPsFair,asecondfairwillbehostedinSpring2018.Theeventwillbeexpandedtowelcomeallawardedprograms.Forthefourthawardcycle,additionalworkshopswillbeheldtohelpfacultywriteproposalsthatfosterdeepercollaborationamongfacultyandsetthemupforsuccess.Inaddition,wewilltargetoutreachtofacultyinthehumanitiesandsocialsciencestofurtherdiversifytheportfolioofawards.

CHANCELLORFACULTYFELLOWS

BYTHENUMBERS40ChancellorFacultyFellows

14selectedinInauguralcohortof2014-15

14selectedin2ndcohortof2015-16

11selectedin3rdcohortof2016-17

$1.56millionawardedtothe40fellows

$40,000perfellow,annuallyfortwoyears


ACTIONTheChancellorFacultyFellowsannounceditsthirdcohortwith11newfellowsthisyear.

Programmingincluded:

• DinnerwithDeanoftheMarthaRiversIngramCommonsVanessaBeasleyandfirst-yearstudents

• DinnerwiththeVanderbiltUniversityBoardofTrust

• Paneldiscussiononbeingpromotedfromassociatetofullprofessor

IMPACTAsakeytoolforfacultydevelopmentandretention,fellowshaveenjoyedaddedfreedomtoinnovateandadvancetheirworkwiththeadditionalfunding.Feedbackfromfellowsrevealedthatthefundingadvancedtheirworkinimportantwaysfromallowingthemtopurchaseequipment,presentresearchatconferences,hirestaff,reduceteachingload,takeasabbatical,forexample.

SelecthighlightsofFellowstodate:

• DerekGriffith,associateprofessorofmedicine,healthandsocietyandmemberofthe2016cohort,launchedtheCenterforResearchonMen’sHealthandthe2017TNMen’sHealthReportCard.

• JuliánHillyer,associateprofessorofbiologicalsciencesandmemberofthe2016cohort,waselectedpresidentoftheAmericanSocietyofParasitologists.

• ChristopherLoss,associateprofessorofpublicpolicyandhighereducationandhistoryandmemberofthe2016cohort,co-editedandpublishedTheConvergenceofK-12andHigherEducation:PoliciesandProgramsinaChangingEraandsignedacontractwiththeUniversityofPennsylvaniaPressfortheforthcomingFrontandCenter:AcademicExpertiseanditsChallengesinthePost-1945UnitedStates.

• RachelTeukolsky,associateprofessorofEnglishandmemberofthe2015cohort,receivedaSummerStipendsawardfromtheNationalEndowmentfortheHumanities(NEH)forhercurrentbookproject.

NEXTSTEPSFeedbackfromthefellowsindicatedthattheywantedtolearnmoreabouttheeachother’sresearch,learnaboutinstitutionalprioritiesandparticipateincareerdevelopmentprogramming.Nextyear’sprogrammingwillfeaturestructuredopportunitiesforthefellowstopresenttheirresearchtoeachother,engagewithuniversityleadershipandhaveopportunitiestointeractwithChancellorFacultyFellowsfromprioryears.


UNIVERSITYCOURSES

BYTHENUMBERS(2016-17)6coursesselectedfrom13submitted2of6designatedasmulticulturalcourses15facultyinvolved,representing6schoolsandcolleges

ACTIONThesecondsetofUniversityCourseswasannouncedinFebruary2017.Thenewcourseswillbeofferedduringthe2017-18academicyearandpotentiallyinfutureyearsfollowingapprovalbytherelevantcurriculumcommittees.Theyare:

• DataScienceMethodsforSmartCityApplications• DesignThinking,DesignDoing• TheHistoryandScienceofBrewing• Race,PlaceandPower• RhythmofChange:AfricanMusicandAfricanPolitics• VirtualRealityforInterdisciplinaryApplications

FullCourseDescriptionsHereAwebpagewascreatedtoshowcasetheapproachtolearningandtooutlinetostudentshowthecourseswouldfulfilldegreerequirementsforthedifferentschools.Additionally,anewblogsiteentitledVUBreakThruwaslaunchedtoallowfacultyandstudentsinvolvedwiththesecoursestheopportunitytosharetheirexperiences.

IMPACTTheUniversityCoursesprogramenjoyedanincrediblysuccessfulfirstyearin2016-17withallfourofthecoursesofferedreachingfullenrollment.Launchedtofosterinterdisciplinaryteachingandlearning,thisprogramoffersstudentscoursesthatleverage“OneVanderbilt”andaddress“bigideas”or“grandchallenges.”Theinitiativebringstogetherfacultyfromdifferentdepartments,teachingasubjectfromtwodifferentpointsofview.Forexample,inJustice,MercyandMassIncarceration,professorsfromtheDivinitySchoolandtheLawSchoolexploredthemoralandlegalramificationsofourcountry’scurrentformofpunishment.InTheNation’sHealth:FromPolicytoPractice,aprofessorfromtheSchoolofMedicineteamedupwithaprofessorfromMedicine,HealthandSocietytoexaminewaysthathealthreformatthenationalandstatelevelstricklesdowntolocalcommunities,andviceversa.Theideaoftakingstudentsoffcampustoenrichthelearningexperiencewasalsoincorporatedbythreeofthecourses.Forexample,studentsfromHistoricBlackNashvillevisitedThe


Hermitage,FortNegley,FiskUniversityandtheNashvilleLibraryArchives.MeanwhilescholarsinJustice,MercyandMassIncarcerationclassexpandedtheirlearningthroughavisittothePublicDefender’sOfficeandalocalprison.CollaborativeproblemsolvingwasutilizedintheTacklingBigProblemswithMobileCloudComputingcourseasstudentsfromEngineeringandArts&Scienceformedteamstodevelopmobileapplicationsforreal-lifeclients.Oneteam,forexample,workedwithDr.HeidiSilvertodevelopamobileapplicationtoimprovemalnutritionscreeningatVanderbiltUniversityMedicalCenter.AnotherteamtookupaprojectthatoriginatedintheLawSchoolandcreatedamobileapplicationforLegalAid.ThetoolallowsTennesseanstomakesmarterdecisionsduringthelegalprocess.ThefeedbackfromthestudentsenrolledinthefirstyearofUniversityCourseswasoverwhelminglypositive.Onestudent,whowasenrolledintheTacklingBigProblemswithMobileCloudComputingcourselastfallsaid,“Theclasswasundoubtedlyadefiningmomentinmycollegeexperience.Thevolumeofcross-collegeinteractionbetweenvaryingdisciplinesandprofessionallevelswouldnothavetranspiredwithoutthestructurethiscourseprovided.”

NEXTSTEPSDuringtheSpring2017semester,theOfficeoftheProvosthostedaUniversityCoursesworkshoptoshowcasetheprogramandprovidebestpracticesasitrelatestopreparingaproposalanddraftingasyllabus.SeveralfacultymemberswhotaughtaUniversityCourseduringthe2016-17academicyearwereon-handtosharetheirexperiencesandspeakwitheventattendees.AsecondUniversityCoursesworkshopwillbeheldthisfalltohelpfacultyinterestedintheprogramdraftaproposalandsyllabus.

IMMERSIONVANDERBILT

BYTHENUMBERS3Undergraduateschoolsapprovedimmersionasagraduationrequirement10Roadshowpresentations10i-Seminarsoffered19Committeemembersin2016-201750PeopleattendedDesignasanImmersiveVanderbiltExperience(DIVE)bootcamps

ACTIONImmersionVanderbiltcallsforeachundergraduatestudenttoparticipateinanintensivelearningexperiencethattakesplaceinandbeyondtheclassroomandculminatesinthecreationofatangibleacademicproject.TheinitiativetookseveralstepsforwardduringtheAY16-17year.LedbyViceProvostGeer’soffice,theImmersionVanderbiltCommitteelaunchedanew


website,createdtheiSeminarseriesand–viaRoadshowpresentations–begancollectingfeedbackfromfacultyandstaffabouthowtheProvost’sOfficecanbestsupporttheschool/collegeeffortsfortheprogram.

• Roadshowpresentationsweredesignedtosupporttheprocessofgaininginputfromtheundergraduateschoolsandanswerquestionsraisedbythecurriculumcommitteesandcouncilsoftheundergraduateschools.Committeemembersmetwithfacultyfromeachundergraduateschooltorelaykeyprogramcomponentsandthinkaboutthebestwaystoimplementtheprogram.

• I-SeminarsthroughtheCommonswereintendedtopreparestudentstopursuetheirpassionsthroughrigorous,compellinganduniqueprojects.LedbyafacultycohortthatincludedfacultymembersfromeachofVanderbilt’sfourundergraduateschools,iSeminarswereofferedforthefirsttimeduringtheSpring2017semester.

• CommitteeOutreach–CommitteemembersheldmeetingswithpotentialcampuspartnerstodevelopideasforconnectingImmersionVanderbilttotheirexistingprograms.

Asaresultoftheseefforts,curriculumreviewcommitteesandfacultycouncilsinPeabodyCollege,BlairSchoolofMusicandSchoolofEngineeringapprovedImmersionVanderbiltasagraduationrequirementforfirst-yearstudentsstartinginFall2018.DIVE(DesignasanImmersiveVanderbiltExperience)

AsacomplementtoImmersionVanderbilt,theuniversity’sQualityEnhancementPlan(QEP),whichisarequiredpartoftheuniversity’saccreditation,focusedondevelopinganimmersionprogramforstudents.Afteracompetitiveandcampus-wideprocess,inMay2016,aproposalknownasDesignasanImmersiveVanderbiltExperience(DIVE)waschosenastheQEPandwasfurtherdevelopedbyacommitteeoffaculty,studentsandstaff.TheprogramplanwaspresentedtotheSouthernAssociationofCollegesandSchoolsCommissiononCollege’sOn-SiteCommitteeinSpring2017,and,pleasedwiththeconceptandplan,gavetheuniversitythegreen-lighttomoveforwardrecommendingnoofficialchanges.ProgramspecificsincludedfourwaystofacilitatetheDIVEexperience,whichwillbelaunchedinFall2017:

1) BootCamps:Inordertoprovidebroadcampusexposuretohuman-centereddesigns.Opentoundergraduates,graduateandprofessionalstudents,staffandfaculty.

2) DIVECo-curricularProjects:TheOfficeofActiveCitizenshipandService(OACS)willformcohortsinFall2017.

3) EnhancedExistingCourses:CourseDesignInstitutefeaturedadesignthinkingtrackforfacultytobetterimplementhuman-centereddesignintotheircoursesinMay2017.DIVE-approvedcourseswillbeofferedinavarietyofdepartments,suchasTheatre,HumanandOrganizationalDevelopment(HOD)andMechanicalEngineering.


4) UniversityCourses:“DesignThinking,DesignDoing”willbetaughtforthefirsttimeinFall2017byDavidOwensandRogersHall.Thecoursewillprovideanintroductiontotheoriesandpracticesofdesign.

NEXTSTEPSTosupportthelaunchofImmersionVanderbiltnextstepsinclude:

• LaunchingtheProvost-supportedOfficeofImmersionResourcesinFall2017.• WorkingwithOACS,DIVECohortswillbelaunchedinFall2017aroundthethemesof

affordablehousing,theexperienceofdisplacedpersonslivinginNashvilleandfoodwaste.Thiswillprovidestudentswithauniqueopportunitytoworktogetherwithlocalnon-profitorganizationstoaddresscommunity-identifiedchallengesininnovativeways.

• SupportingtheCollegeofArtsandScienceasitsfacultydeliberateaboutImmersionVanderbilt.

• Meetingwithpotentialcampuspartnersandcontinuingtobuildtheprograminfrastructure.

• PreparefortheprogramtoofficiallylaunchinFall2018.

THECOLLEGEHALLS

BYTHENUMBERS2,763students(nearlyone-halfofallundergraduateslivingoncampus)residedintheCollegeHallssystem:

1,647inTheMarthaRiversIngramCommons

706inWarren(344)andMoore(362)Colleges

100inMcGillHall

109inMcTyeireHall

201inTheMayfieldProject

TheAcademicStrategicPlancallsforanexpansionoftheCollegeHalls(alsoreferredtoasresidentialcolleges),vibrantliving-learningcommunitiesthatcreatetransformativeexperiencesthatareasimportanttostudents’collegeeducationastheirworkintheclassroom.IntheCollegeHalls,studentslivealongsidefacultyandgraduatestudentmentors,programmingisfrequentlystudent-ledandinitiated,andresidentialdiningisincorporatedasanexpressionofcommunity.

ConstructiononthenewE.BronsonIngramCollegecontinuesandremainsonscheduleforopeninginFall2018.Inaddition,WestEndneighborhoodplanningdiscussionswereheldwith


students,staffandalumnitogaininputonplanningforpotentialResidentialCollegesatTarpleysite,followedlongtermbytheResidentialCollegesatTowersproject.TheDeanofStudentscoordinatedeightforumswithstudentgroupstodiscusstheWestEndNeighborhoodBeautificationproposal,andhelpedselectafirmtoincorporatethepotentialfutureresidentialcollegesintotheWestEndNeighborhoodandafuturegreenway.

Residentialcollegeprogrammingcontinuestoexpandacrosstheuniversity.OntheMarthaRiversIngramCommons,newprogramsrangefromi-Seminars(seeImmersionsection)toenhancedVisionsmodulespromotingresiliencyandstudentwell-being.AtWarrenandMooreColleges,weeklybreakfastsinthefacultydirectorhome,called“CerealSundays,”encouragedcommunaldiningandfacultyvisitsofferedadditionalopportunitiesforstudent-facultyinteraction.ExcursionstoMammothCave,CumminsFalls,theNashvilleSymphonyandaNashvillePredatorsgamesoldoutinminutes.Andnewhugelypopularprogramslike“PinsandNeedles”(asucculentplantingproject)broughttogetheradiversesetofstudentsfromthesamehallwhomightnothavespenttimetogetherotherwise.

IMPACT• AccordingtotheQualityofLifeSurvey(QLS),a majority of students (81.1%) attended at

least one program per semester that a residence hall sponsored – an increase of 2% over last year.

• Additionally,first-year students (95%), students living in a living learning community (96%) and Warren and Moore residents (90%) attended more residence hall sponsored programs than the general student population.

• In general, the vast majority of students, regardless of type of residence hall in which they resided, participated in residence hall sponsored events.

• New housing options, such as Warren and Moore College Halls, provide students with even more opportunities to engage, and after three years of existence, students in Warren and Moore are attending more events than peers in non-living learning community housing.

The QLS is administered by the Office of the Dean of Students to all undergraduate students annually in December-January. This survey was last administered in December 2016-January 2017, and analysis above is from this most recent survey administration.

EDUCATIONTECHNOLOGIES

BYTHENUMBERS10separatecommitteesconvenedin2016-17,including:

• AcademicAffairsApplicationOversightCommittee• AssociateDeansAdvisoryPanelonClassroomTechnology• CourseManagementSystemAdvisoryCommittee


• DesktopSupportFacultyAdvisoryCommittee• EducationalTechnologyEffectivenessCommittee• EducationalTechnologyStrategyCommittee• FacultySenateOnlineEducationTaskForce• LibraryDigitalProjectsSupportCommittee• TechnologyReviewStandingCommittee• VIDLAdvisoryBoard

67faculty,38staff,and8studentsservedonthecommittees

18grantstotaling$45,647awardedthroughtheVanderbiltInstituteforDigitalLearning’s(VIDL)InnovationGrantProgram

4,800downloadsofLeadingLinespodcast

9digitalscholarshipworkshopshostedbytheJeanandAlexanderHeardLibrary

16MOOCSofferedinvolving23facultymembers,reaching256,574learners EducationalTechnologieseffortscontinuedtomakesignificantstridesduringthe2016-17academicyear,keepingVanderbiltonthecutting-edgeofdigitallearningadvancements.BetweentheintroductionoftheCenterforDigitalHumanities,thetransitiontoBrightspaceasitsnewcoursemanagementsystem,thelaunchofthesecondseasonoftheLeadingLinespodcast,theunveilingofadditionalMOOCsandthesuccessfulimplementationofanewcourseevaluationsystem,2017wasabanneryearforVanderbilt’seducationaltechnologies.

ACTION• Vanderbiltand2U,acloud-basedsoftwarethathostsonlinecoursework,executeda

contracttobeginworkproducingprofessionaldegreeprogramsatPeabodyCollege.Enrollmenthassofarexceededexpectations.

• Brightspacewasselectedasthenewcoursemanagementsystem,replacingBlackboardinsummer2017.Theselectionwasmadebyacommitteeoffaculty,staffandstudentsfollowinganeeds-assessmentandvendor-selectionprocessorganizedbytheCenterforTeaching.

• TheCenterforDigitalHumanitiesopenedonJanuary26,creatingadynamichubinButtrickHallforscholarlyprojectsusingdigitaltools.

• Justice,Mercy,andMassIncarceration,taughtbyGrahamReside,willlaunchasaMOOCinMay.ThiscourseisthefirstMOOCfromtheDivinitySchool.

IMPACT• Followingareviewofpractices,Vanderbiltsuccessfullyimplementedanewcourse

evaluationsysteminFall2017.ParticipatingschoolsincludedtheBlair,Arts&Science,


Divinity,TheGraduateSchool,PeabodyCollegeandtheSchoolofEngineering.Thenewsoftwaresystemwasutilizedinover45,000evaluationsinFall2017.

• TheLibraryexecutedsemester-longprogramminginconjunctionwithPlaces&Spaces:MappingScience,anexhibitof100datamapsandinteractivecomponentscuratedbytheCyberinfrastructureforNetworkScienceCenteratIndianaUniversity.

• VanderbiltInstituteforDigitalLearning(VIDL)andtheCenterforTeachingproducedthesecondseasonofLeadingLines,apodcastabouttheuseofeducationaltechnologyinhighereducation.

• VIDLlaunchedafourcourseCourseraspecializationinconjunctionwiththeOwenGraduateSchoolofManagemententitled“BusinessEssentialsforManagers.”Uponcompletionofthefour-courseseries,participantswillreceiveacertificateofcompletionfromVanderbilt.

NEXTSTEPS• AssociateProvostJohnSlooplaunchedauniversity-widecommitteeondigitalliteracy

chargedwith:o Providingadefinitionofdigitalliteracythatwillapplytoundergraduate,

graduateandprofessionalstudent.o Recommendingcurricularandco-curricularinitiativestofacilitatethe

developmentofthedigitallyliteratestudent.o Arecommendationfromthecommitteewillbeforthcomingthisfall.

GRADUATEEDUCATIONACTIONTheAcademicStrategicPlanrecognizesgraduateeducationasapriorityareaoffocusthatcutsacrossallfourpillars.WemustmakecriticalimprovementsingraduateeducationatVanderbiltinordertoremaincompetitivewithpeerinstitutionsandattractthebeststudents.Furthermore,Vanderbiltmustinvestinresourcestosupportthosestudentswhiletheyarehereinordertopreparethemforvariedcareersinadynamicallychangingmarket.Thispastyeartheuniversityfocusedonplanningforimprovinggraduateandprofessionalstudenthousingoncampus.Astudentsurveywasconductedtocollectfeedbackregardinghousingoptionsforgraduateandprofessionalstudents.InconjunctionwithFutureVU,thecampuslanduseplanningprocess,aworkinggroupwasformedtotackletheissueofgraduateandprofessionalstudenthousingoncampus.

Inthefallof2016,theChancellorannouncedthata$300millionendowmentwouldbebuiltoverthenextseveralyears.Theendowmentwillsupportbothgraduateeducationandresearch.BuildingontheworkoftheGraduateEducationStudyGroup,theProvostlaunchedacollaborative,rapidcycleprocess,andanadhocfacultycommitteewhodevelopedashort


reportidentifyingfourproposedthematicareasforfutureinvestmentingraduateeducationandresearch:

o CreatingnewgraduatePh.D.scholarshipso Supportinggraduatestudentcareerdevelopmento Launchingandsustainingglobalengagement,andinterdisciplinaryandtrans-

institutionalresearcho Launchingfundraisinginitiativestocreatenewendowedchairsandfaculty

fellows.

NEXTSTEPSFurtherrefinementoftheseareasoffocusbeganinthesummerof2017andwillcontinueintothefall.AdditionalfeedbackfromnewfacultyworkinggroupswillbegatheredinthefalltoreviewdesignsforthegraduatePh.D.scholarshipandeducationprograms,andtochargetheworkinggroupswithdesigningimplementationplans.

INTERNATIONALSTRATEGYACTION

DevelopinganinternationalstrategytostrengthenandadvanceVanderbilt’sinternationalresearch,scholarshipandcreativeexpressionwhileraisingtheglobalprofileoftheuniversityasaresearchinstitutionisthechargeoftheInternationalStrategyWorkingGroup(ISWG),whichcomprisesfacultyfromawiderangeofdisciplines.Likegraduateeducation,Vanderbilt’sinternationalstrategyimpactsallpillarsofthestrategicplan.Thisyear’sfocushasbeenworkingonwaystoelevatetheglobalprofileofVanderbiltasaresearchinstitution,commensuratewithitsnationalprominence.Additionally,theVanderbiltcommunityhascalledformoreinternationalengagementasawaytopromotediverseculturalandacademicperspectives.

Toensurethattheuniversitydevelopedarobuststrategythecommitteetookathree-prongedapproach.Theyevaluatedexistingpractices,researchedbestpracticesbeyondVanderbilt,andgatheredextensivefeedbackfromtheVanderbiltcommunity.OpportunitiesforVanderbiltfacultymembersacrossallschoolstointeractwiththeworkinggroupincluded:

• Afaculty-widesurveytobetterunderstandthefaculty’senergyandpassionforthetopic;responsewasextremelypositivewith571responsesreceived.

• TownhallmeetingsinPeabodyCollege,CollegeofArts&Science,SchoolofEngineeringandtheMedicalSchool.

• Brainstorminglunchesthatincludedinvitedrepresentativesfromallschools.


• MeetingswiththedeansandrelevantassociatedeansfromeachofVanderbilt’s10schoolsandcollege,alongwithmanyothershigh-rankingadministrators–includingViceChancellorsandViceProvosts.

Fromthiswork,thegroupproducedanexecutivesummarywithfourprimarygoalsthatbuildonVanderbilt’sstrengthsandsupportstheAcademicStrategicPlananditscommitmenttoequity,diversityandinclusion:

• Bringmoreinternationalvisitorsandgraduatestudentstocampus,andprovideon-campushousingforinternationalvisitors.

• Developandimplementacomprehensive,university-wideinternationalmediaandoutreachstrategy.

• Adaptadministrativestructurestobettersupportandfosterinternationalresearchacrosstheuniversity.

• Createaninstitutespecificallytaskedwithspearheadingtheseefforts.

NEXTSTEPSOverthecourseofthe2017summer,theworkinggroupiscompilingafullreporttobereleasedinthefall2017andusedasatooltogarnerfeedbackontherecommendationsandnextsteps.

CONCLUSIONThepositiveeffectsoftheAcademicStrategicPlanextendwellbeyondwhatwasinitiallyenvisionedordirectlyarticulatedintheplan.TheTIPsandtheChancellorFacultyFellowsinitiativesnotonlydirectresourcestoVanderbilt’smostpromisingcollaborationsandleadingfaculty,theyserveasimportanttoolsforfacultydevelopmentandretention,helpingthemtaketheircareerstothenextlevel.NewdigitaltechnologieslikeMOOCsareexpandingVanderbilt’sinternationalreachandreputation.Andperhapsmostimportantly,allofourinitiativesoffersignificantopportunitiestofurtherVanderbilt’scommitmenttoequity,diversityandinclusion.Frommulti-culturalUniversityCoursesonRace,PlaceandPowerandTIPsonHealthcareintheU.S.South,toexpandedmentalhealthandwell-beingprogramminginthecollegehalls.

ThecollaborativeprocessthatbeganintheVisionphaseandcontinuestodaythroughtheActionandImpactphaseshascreatedavenuesthroughwhichallinthecommunitycansharetheirvisionforthefutureofVanderbilt.TheprocesshasfurtheredourOneVanderbiltspiritandcollaborativeapproachtotakingonthemostexcitingopportunitiesandchallenges.

academic strategic plan - vanderbilt university · 2019-01-19 · 3 office of the provost...

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