Faculty Retreat focuses on undergraduate research

The 2013 Annual Faculty Retreat on Teaching and Learning will take place Feb. 22 in Illini Union Rooms A and B. This year’s theme, “When Teaching and Learning Meet Undergraduate Research,” explores the concept that teaching and learning can be significantly enhanced when students are engaged in collaborative research and scholarship. The retreat, now in its 19th year, brings together faculty members from across campus to share and explore best practices and innovations.

The plenary speaker will be Allison Snow, the founding director of the Ohio State University Undergraduate Research Office and a professor of evolution, ecology and organismal biology. She is a member of the National Council on Undergraduate Research and a fellow of the Committee on Institutional Cooperation’s Academic Leadership Program. In 2002, Snow received the Distinguished Scholar Award from OSU and was recognized by Scientific American as one of the nation’s “Top 50 Researchers in Science and Technology.”

In addition, Paul Diehl, the director of the U. of I. Office of Undergraduate Research, will talk about undergraduate research practices on the U. of I. campus. The office, which opened last fall, is designed as a clearinghouse for campus undergraduate research activities, providing students a common access point and professors a blueprint from which to foster new collaborations.

The retreat will offer many opportunities for participants to engage in discussion and to expand upon the plenary talk, in addition to learning what is happening on this campus to engage students in quality research and scholarship. The retreat also will offer interactive concurrent sessions, each of which will focus on a topic introduced by members of the Teaching Advancement Board, with faculty members who have successfully incorporated undergraduate research experiences in innovative ways into their courses.

A pre-lunch poster session that highlights research on teaching and learning and a working lunch for sharing ideas will fill out the afternoon with the retreat concluding at 2 p.m.

This event, organized by the Center for Teaching Excellence, is co-sponsored by the Office of the Provost, and Online and Continuing Education.

The Faculty Retreat is free; advance registration is required and seating is limited. To register online, go to http://conferences.illinois.edu/facultyretreat2013.