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Now more than ever, it is urgent that colleges and universities mobilize themselves to produce graduates who are capable of being productive, creative, and responsible members of a global society. Employers tell us they want clear communicators who are strong critical thinkers and who can solve real-world problems in an ethical way (AAC&U 2009). To achieve these outcomes, we believe that colleges and universities must create an educational culture that promotes engaged student learning. Faculty, staff and administrators must work together to help students take responsibility for their own learning and their own lives and see themselves as constructors of knowledge rather than passive recipients of information.
In 2007, Miami University began a new initiative that was intended to institutionalize “engaged learning” across the curriculum. We built upon the university's long-standing tradition of academic rigor and close faculty-student relationships, combined with active co-curricular support for leadership and collaboration. We sought to extend Barr and Tagg's (1995) learning paradigm by envisioning our students as learners and discoverers and situating that learning and discovery within student development theory (Hodge, Baxter-Magolda, and Haynes, 2009).
David Hodge (hodgedc@muohio.edu), Miami University's president since 2006, is a professor of geography who also serves as chair of the Inter-University Council of Ohio and as a member of the board of directors of the Association of American Colleges and Universities.
Marjorie Keeshan Nadler (nadlermk@muohio.edu), professor of communication, is team leader for the COM 135 class in the first round of the Top 25 Program and a faculty associate in the Center for the Enhancement of Learning, Teaching and University Assessment; she also assists with the administration of the Top 25 Program.
Cecilia Shore (shorec@muohio.edu), professor of psychology, is director of the Center for the Enhancement of Learning, Teaching and University Assessment.
Beverley Taylor (taylorba@muohio.edu), professor of physics and faculty associate in the Center for Enhancement of Learning, Teaching and University Assessment, is director of the Top 25 Project.
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