WISCONSINREPORT.COM (10/27/2010) - A team of scholars from the University of Wisconsin Colleges has been chosen to participate in a national study. The study is expected to determine how to update the two-year Associate of Arts and Sciences degree to keep it valuable to students in a rapidly changing world. The Henry Luce Foundation funded study will culminate in 2011.

The UW-Colleges, the freshman/sophomore campuses of the UW System, is one of 32 institutions chosen out of 140 applicants to serve on the national group sponsored by the Association of American Colleges and Universities. UW Colleges is the only Wisconsin institution chosen.

“The study will look at how teaching and learning are changing because of technology and demographic shifts, and what students will need to know tomorrow to be effective citizens and participants in the future global economy,” said Greg Lampe, the provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs of the UW Colleges.

The UW Colleges team includes Jane Crisler, associate professor (history) and interim campus executive officer and dean of UW-Waukesha; Joseph Foy, associate professor (political science) at UW-Waukesha; Cary Komoto, professor (geography) at UW-Barron County; Kim Kostka, professor (chemistry) and associate dean at UW-Rock County; and Nancy Soma, associate professor (Spanish) at UW-Baraboo/Sauk County.

“The selected institutions will all be working together to create clear and creative pathways through which students can connect their learning and achieve essential global learning outcomes,” said Kevin Hovland, AAC&U director of global learning and curricular change. “They will test new curricular models, assess global learning outcomes, and share insights with each other and with the larger higher education community.”

“It was gratifying to see how many campuses applied to be part of this initiative,” said AAC&U President Carol Geary Schneider. “It is testament to how seriously today’s academy takes the challenge of preparing college students to participate effectively and responsibly in an interdependent global community. Both their future employers and our society need students with much higher levels of global knowledge and skill."

"This initiative will help the higher education community graduate students with these critical capacities. The Shared Futures initiative and this work on general education are important foci for AAC&U’s ongoing work to connect liberal education with the needs of a fast-changing world,” Schneider said.

The University of Wisconsin Colleges is comprised of 13 campuses and UW Colleges Online that offer an Associate of Arts and Sciences degree and prepare students of all ages and backgrounds for baccalaureate and professional programs.

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 the advantages of a liberal education to all students, regardless of academic specialization or intended career. Founded in 1915, AAC&U now comprises 1,200 member institutions—including accredited public and private colleges and universities of every type and size.

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