One-Day Retreats

The Office of Academic Affairs invites Departments to apply for what it calls "One-Day Retreats." These are single-day retreats in which members of Wesleyan departments or programs meet to discuss issues of curricular renewal and pedagogy. The Committee envisions three different kinds of retreats:

Those attended by Wesleyan faculty alone;

Those attended by Wesleyan faculty together with faculty from local institutions;

Those attended by Wesleyan (and perhaps other) faculty under the guidance of an outside expert who can inform and inspire pedagogical renewal.

Issues of curricular renewal that might be discussed during a One-Day Retreat include: re-imagining how best to teach introductory courses in a particular discipline; re-thinking the mechanics of teaching specific courses or subject-matter; re-conceiving particular courses for the major, or re-working the structure of a major; developing new models for specific courses; re-considering how a department or program can best provide general education courses to the rest of the University; and others.

The Committee will appropriate funds for meals, for travel for participants who are not from Wesleyan, for honoraria for speakers, and for materials. In the appropriate circumstances it will fund meetings held in venues not on campus. (Note that, when required, the Office of Academic Affairs can help with logistical support.) If you anticipate needing more than $2000, please consult informally with your academic dean before applying.

Please submit a brief report highlighting the accomplishments of the retreat to the Office of Academic Affairs no later than one month following the date of the retreat.

Send applications to: The Office of Academic Affairs, Attention Lisa Sacks.  Applications will be reviewed by the Academic Dean in your division and should include, a brief description of the topic(s) to be discussed, a short discussion of how addressing the topic(s) will further the educational goals of the proposing unit, an indication of who will be invited to attend, and an estimate of anticipated costs.


 

Last updated 5/3/07