GO BEYOND THE BOUNDARIES !

 University Studies
Faculty Comments
    THE UNIVERSITY STUDIES PROGRAM seeks to empower faculty to undertake innovative and creative interdisciplinary projects in the company of like-minded colleagues. University Studies also seeks to provide a partial antidote to the unnaturally restrictive parochialism that infects academic departments from time to time.

    THE UNIVERSITY STUDIES FACULTY consists of regular faculty, adjunct faculty, and staff who seek interdisciplinary collegiality in order to explore the boundaries of their disciplines and to find the common ground shared with other disciplines. This disposition and the discussions it inevitably leads to is a rich source of insight that advances creative and scholarly endeavors as well leading to new endeavors and contributing significantly to individual self-actualization. Following, are some comments received by participating faculty and other enthusiasts.



“Courses I taught for University Studies were among the most exciting courses of my academic career.  The interdisciplinary collaboration stimulated my learning as well as the students'.  The quality of the students was extremely high, and in both cases we were able to set up service learning opportunities, which were valuable both to the students and to regional nonprofit organizations.” -John Nolt, Philosophy

“I started attending the University Studies programs as soon as I started my job: they were invaluable both for helping me to become familiar with UT research, and for introducing me to faculty and administrators. The programs are timely, lively, sometimes humorous, and invaluable in building collegiality.” -Zoe Hoyle

“In my few years here at UT, I've found U.S. one of the few serious intellectual spaces for interdisciplinary work, between faculty and with students.” -David Reidy, Philosophy

"The courses and activities in University Studies encourage faculty and students alike to think 'outside the box' of the traditional scholarly approaches. They broaden the appreciation among faculty and students alike for other academic disciplines, indeed, they help us discover the interdependence of us all. -Bonnie Gould, Theatre

University Studies attracts the most creative, committed and passionate participants, among faculty and students alike. They engender resourcefulness, something being demanded of us all right now. All of these objectives seem particularly relevant in our local and global world.” -Bonnie Gould, Theatre

“provide a valuable intellectual outlet for both students and faculty.-Marian Moffett, Professor, School of Architecture

“My daughter’s subject wasn't particularly close to her major (art and anthropology), but her enthusiasm for the professors (from biology and anthropology) and the way they handled the course was inspiring.  It was precisely the sort of reaction one wishes every university course would produce.” -Marian Moffett, Professor, School of Architecture

“Through University Studies I met some of our best and brightest faculty and students--across campus. I finally felt a part of the university community as a whole. University Studies is one of the few entities on campus where faculty can cut through bureaucracy to create new and exciting connections with each other and students we might never meet otherwise.” -Katherine Greenberg, Educational Psychology

“The regular and experimental courses offered through University Studies provide very important, personalized educational experiences for many students, especially honors students. I have found the highest level of dedication in those who are involved with US. Some of my most memorable and important interactions with students have occurred in my collaboratively taught [University Studies] class . . . ” -Sandra Leach, Library

"This is what a University should be all about!" --John Peters, Provost, after hearing student reviews of an innovative University Studies curriculum at a faculty retreat.

If you have comments to add, please e-mail them to unistudy@utk.edu

[last updated 07/16/02]