Carnegie Foundation Names Rockhurst Leadership Site for Teaching

Ever had one of those courses you tolerated only because it was required? Chances are you didn't understand the material or learn a substantial amount, simply because you weren't engaged in the class. Advocates of a growing movement in higher education known as the scholarship of teaching and learning are working to stop that from happening to today's students.

For the past 10 years, Rockhurst has been moving toward a model of teaching that is more student-centered. In 1998, Rockhurst connected its local efforts to improve teaching and learning to the national movement by joining the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching initiative, and Anita Salem, interim dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and professor of mathematics, was selected as one of 114 national Carnegie scholars. Her work at the Carnegie Foundation was used to form a local Carnegie Seminar group on campus.

In April 2002, Rockhurst hosted a regional conference attended by 100 faculty in the region and 10 national Carnegie Scholars. Plans include expanding the conference to an annual scholarship of teaching and learning summer institute.

In addition, Rockhurst recently was designated a Carnegie scholarship of teaching and learning leadership site.

“Becoming a leadership site commits the university to a sustained effort of scholarly inquiry into teaching and learning,” says Salem. “Rockhurst is exactly the kind of institution that should play a leadership role in promoting scholarly inquiry into student learning since teaching and learning are at the heart of all our endeavors.”