USM Team Attends Association of American Colleges and Universities Institute on General Education
July 28, 2010
USM Professors return from AAC&U institute
Earlier this month, a team from the University of Southern Maine attended an Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) Engaging Departments Institute designed to address the challenge of ensuring students achieve a high-quality liberal education. USM’s team was among 14 teams chosen from throughout the U.S. and Canada and was led by Assistant Provost for Undergraduate Education Susan McWilliams of Brunswick. McWilliams wrote the successful application, which allowed USM to send a team to this institute held in Philadelphia.
Other team members included Associate Professor of Psychology Deborah Johnson of Durham, N.H.; Associate Professor of Biological Sciences Christine Maher of Portland; Lecturer in Mathematics and Statistics Margaret Moore of Portland; Associate Professor of Communication Daniel Panici of Yarmouth; Associate Professor of Music Tom Parchman of Portland; Professor of Arts & Humanities Eve Raimon of South Portland; and Associate Professor of Classics Jeannine Uzzi of Scarborough.
The team is building on work already accomplished by the university in building new general education requirements for graduation, including the successful Entry Year Experience (EYE) courses. USM received positive input from the AAC&U for its innovative development of the new general education curriculum and the EYE courses that are team-taught by professors across the curriculum. In addition, team members focused on issues related to USM’s reorganization, including cross-unit collaborations and interdisciplinary teaching and scholarship.
AAC&U is the leading national association concerned with the quality, vitality, and public standing of undergraduate liberal education. Its members are committed to extending liberal education to all students, regardless of academic specialization or intended career.
USM’s participation in the Engaging Departments Institute is supported by a grant from the Davis Educational Foundation. The Davis Educational Foundation was established by Stanton and Elisabeth Davis after Mr. Davis’ retirement as chairman of Shaw’s Supermarkets, Inc.
