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OII Home : NII : NII Assemblies
Network of Interdisciplinary Initiatives
Inaugural Assembly (4/30/2007)
Member Comments
pdf version of Member Comments
In the space below, please identify the institutional issue(s), policies, and/or practices related to interdisciplinary research, teaching, and creative activities that should be the focus of NII discussion and deliberation during the upcoming academic year (2007-2008).
Respondents’ comments fall into seven major themes. Each theme comprises a number of sub-themes (some of which have been put into question format).
Faculty Issues
- Research
- What should constitute the major focus of Interdisciplinary research?
- How to promote collaborative research and communication of research among faculty, students, and departments?
- How to translate interdisciplinary research into relevant and concrete initiatives?
- Promotion/Tenure/Reward/Compensation
- The Impact of interdisciplinary work on faculty appointment, promotion, tenure, and salary
- In what ways will interdisciplinary work be used to reward faculty?
- How will it affect tenure?
- What happens when interdisciplinary research falls outside departmental “standards”: Reward or punishment?
- Relationship with students
- How does interdisciplinary work strengthen the bond between faculty and students?
Administrative/Organizational Issues
- Funding, budget, and revenue
- What will be the sources of funding, and how will funds be equitably distributed?
- How does the current budgeting model match with interdisciplinary initiatives? How could it be adapted to fit the new approach?
- How will interdisciplinary initiatives be used to generate revenue?
- Space:
- How will interdisciplinary centers be created? Where will they be located? How and by whom will they be administered?
- Institutional support
- How will administrative obstacles to interdisciplinary activities be removed?
- What types of support will be provided to departments, faculty, and graduate students?
- What communication system will be put into place? Or how will the existing system be improved?
- What is the role of different administrative units, namely the Office of Interdisciplinary Inquiry?
Nature and Scope of Interdisciplinary Work/Research
- What constitutes interdisciplinary work/research/teaching? How is it initiated, sustained, and quantified?
- What are the benefits of an interdisciplinary approach in the global world
- How do we balance interdisciplinary initiatives with disciplinary work?
Instruction and Learning
- Interdisciplinary teaching methodologies and integrated learning
- Team teaching within an interdisciplinary approach
Interdisciplinary curricula/programs
- Establishment of inter-collegiate graduate degree programs
- Expansion of graduate minors and creation of interdisciplinary undergraduate majors
Connection between University, industry, and community
- Involvement of non-academic experts in interdisciplinary activities on campus
- Community outreach through interdisciplinary initiatives
- Interdisciplinary programs for working professionals
Evaluation and Assessment of interdisciplinary initiatives
- Evaluation and strengthening of existing interdisciplinary programs and resources
- Means of evaluating interdisciplinary activities by both departments and university administration
Please tell us what you value about your interdisciplinary experience as a scholar, researcher and/or teacher.
Respondents’ comment fall under five broad themes subdivided into different sub-themes.
Interaction, Collaboration, information exchange, and sense of community
- Interacting and conversation with scholars within and outside one’s field
- Collaboration across departments and the building of partnerships
- Involvement in workgroups and networks
- Opportunity for joint/collaborative activities and projects with other scholars
- Synergy and creative potential
Knowledge, expertise and research
- Gaining new and broader perspectives, and better understanding of issues
- Discovering new paths, raising new questions, and applying new approaches
- Informing and improving research and teaching through interdisciplinary approaches
- Navigating and bridging across disciplines (both in research and teaching)
- Exploring and addressing real-world issues
- Gaining more efficient approaches to analyzing problems within complex and interconnected areas
Graduate student engagement
- Creating space and enhancing students’ ability to explore topics and solve problems from multiple/interdisciplinary perspectives
- Inspiring students and raising interest in cross-disciplinary work
- Creating productive network among students
Interdisciplinary activities and public engagement
- Addressing authentic problems within communities
- Creating university-community partnerships
Communication
- Developing better ways of communicating with others
How has your interdisciplinary experience enriched your scholarship, research, creative activities, and/or teaching?
Respondents’ comments fall into six major themes also subdivided into sub-themes.
Better quality of work
- Producing work that draws on a broad spectrum of knowledge and skills
- Locating work at the intersection of different disciplines
- Integrating more holistic and diverse methodological approaches
- Integrating creative approaches to problem solving
- Expanding research and reframing the research process
- Bringing innovations in the curriculum
Developing new interests, insights, and ideas
- Opportunity to develop and help others develop a new research agenda
- Gaining knowledge and skills from other disciplines
- Integrating new and critical perspectives; broadening horizon
Increased productivity, Awards/Recognition, and greater access to resources
- Greater number of publications
- Awards and recognition by other disciplines
- Greater access to resources and funding, including federal grants
Teaching
- Enhanced ability to integrate interdisciplinary research into teaching
- Expansion of classroom discussions to include broader perspectives
- Reaching out to students with various interests
- Integrating students’ prior knowledge and experiences within courses
Collaboration
- Working with faculty from different disciplinary areas and different places
- Connection with a broader community of scholars and expansion of networks
Public policy and community engagement
- Translation of research from theory to practice, and involvement in public policy
- Initiating networks with communities and organizations
- Addressing real-world issues and aligning scholarship with leadership and advocacy
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