Project-based learning (PBL) could, and arguably should, be a more prominent element of our curriculum.  The Working Group on Project-Based Learning should gather information on successful PBL programs at other universities to determine if there are practices that we ought to adopt.  The committee should consider:

• Learning on a need to know basis
• Corporate mentorship
• Outcomes and their assessment                              
• Teamwork
• Project proposals
• Leadership
• Project presentations
• Ethics
• Project types:  design, research
• Credit
• Project focus:  corporate, societal, civic
• Preparation
• Real world projects 
• Completion
• Corporate sponsorship
• Internship compatibility
• Global projects

Substantial consideration should be given to our “learn-by-doing” philosophy and our existing project requirement.  While recommendations should be compatible with our resources and expertise, you should investigate the potential of engaging expertise of off-campus sponsors for project advising and the potential of foundation and donor support that could be gained for innovative new directions.

It is important that the Working Group conduct its deliberations in light of cross-cutting issues important to our university.  They are diversity, sustainability, interdisciplinary collaboration, faculty workload, student success/retention/graduation, quality of life, and community citizenship.

The individuals appointed to this Working Group are:

• Sema Alptekin (Chair), Honors Program
• Lou Rosenberg, Mechanical Engineering/Education
• David Gillette, English
• Tom Jones, Deans Council
• Tali Freed, Senate Budget and Long Range Planning committee
• Saeed Niku, Mechanical Engineering
• David Marshall, Aerospace Engineering
• David Arrivée, Music
• Charles Chadwell, Civil and Environmental Engineering
• Chip Appel, Earth and Soil Sciences
• Rich Savage, Materials Engineering
• Alex Dekhtyar, Computer Science
• Jaymie Noland, Animal Science
• Nikki Adams, Biological Sciences
• Brad Campbell, English