Regis University

In order to engage students in integrative learning that will prepare them to deal with a world characterized by complex and often ill-defined issues, Regis University will mount a multi faceted faculty development effort.  The primary method to build the integrative capacity of half the faculty is through an innovative, two-week institute offered over three consecutive summers.  This Integrative Teaching Institute (ITI) will serve 49 total faculty, in four integrative thematic areas, who will design or significantly revise a total of 48 integrative courses.  These faculty and courses will impact over 1,000 juniors and seniors at least twice during the grant period and virtually all traditional undergraduates in the years to come.  To this end, four unique strategies are employed.  First, the ITI design is itself integrative.  Second, the two-week duration of the program far exceeds the more typical two- or three-day development seminar.  Such as intensive approach often transforms how faculty members approach all their courses.  Now magnify this impact to half of the faculty.  Involving a critical mass of faculty instead of a smaller group is the third strategy.  Finally, this is a systemic approach that will build critical mass through the ITI, support it during the academic year with on-going discussions and conferences, increase faculty incentives and eventually integrate the ITI into a university-wide center.