From the JAYwalk
Mellon Grant to Support Team-Teaching
Ohio Wesleyan University received a $150,000 grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation in January to support “enhancing interdisciplinarity” – an initiative by OWU professors to create classes that combine different academic areas with team-teaching to deepen the educational experience for students.
President Jones was invited by the Mellon Foundation to apply for a Presidential Leadership Grant last year, and he chose the interdisciplinary focus in response to faculty interest in developing this component of The OWU Connection.
The grant will support the creation of 15 team-taught courses and allow continued enhancement of The OWU Connection, Ohio Wesleyan’s signature student experience, a guided, personalized, four-year degree path that combines interdisciplinary learning with international, hands-on internship, research, and study-abroad opportunities.
Ashley Biser, associate dean for faculty development, will oversee the initiative. She is part of the five-professor interdisciplinary team teaching Introduction to Data Analytics this school year.