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Undergraduate research offices: what makes one work well?
Many universities – of all conformations and sizes – have a special center or office dedicated to undergraduate research. It’s a nice idea. On some campuses, they are tremendously helpful. On others,...
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Biology departments need an accreditation body
My department would be so much better off if it was possible for us to be accredited. But no accreditation is possible for Biology Departments in the US. Every credible university (as well as some...
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Could twitter have saved the lives of seven astronauts?
When the space shuttle Challenger launched on the morning of 28 January 1986, Roger Boisjoly couldn’t muster the fortitude to watch the launch of the shuttle, as its engines ignited on the launch pad....
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Keeping seven people out of your head
I recently declined to seek an opportunity to become a 50% time administrator. Why did I turn it down? I want to keep seven people out my brain. My dean is wonderful, and the interim provost is a nice...
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The Church of High Impact Practices
Educational fads come, and educational fads go. A dominant fad at the moment is “High Impact Practices.” Several years ago, George Kuh wrote a book about High Impact Practices that has come to dominate...
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Does your campus allow Federal Work Study awards for undergraduate research?
I used to have Work-Study students doing research in my lab, when I was visiting faculty at Gettysburg College. Then I got a job somewhere else, and I couldn’t do that anymore. The university where I...
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A little story about how minds change
A funny little thing happened in our last departmental meeting of the semester. We meet for 2-3 hours at a time, about once per month. Conversation usually meanders. (Hey, I just work there.) So this...
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