Undergraduate Studies

The Core Academy focuses on innovative, engaged teaching in University Core Curriculum classes. The Core Academy works to achieve this goal by promoting a community of practice composed of instructors and graduate students who develop course models designed to improve retention rates and increase student success by strengthening student engagement as well as to engage students in the learning environment. The mission of the Core Academy is to do this in such a way that it increases student success and engagement. These courses draw on the best practices of blended instruction and utilize a combination of lectures, online course content, and interactive and small group experiential learning activities to help students connect the dots between course content and its application.

Students benefit from the University’s commitment to supporting full time, experienced faculty who are pursuing the innovative development and re-visioning of lower division courses. Students also benefit from the interdisciplinary nature of the Academy as faculty from across disciplines work closely to share ideas, work through design issues, and where appropriate develop interdisciplinary courses and team teach. Over time, the Core Academy plans to offer students innovative options for meeting the requirements in all University Core areas.