Designing a High Enrollment Asynchronous Core Curriculum Science Course, General Animal Science for Declared Non-animal Science Majors

General Animal Science is a core curriculum science class providing students with an overview of the livestock industry. This case study describes delivery of a high enrollment (n = 634) asynchronous core curriculum science class, General Animal Science, for non-animal science majors. The class progresses from basic agriculture nomenclature, to reproduction, nutrition, genetics, food safety, and concludes with growth and development of beef, sheep, horses, swine, dairy, poultry, and provides a brief description of the companion animal industry. Asynchronous design requires clear and repetitive communication, organized course content, and effective faculty and student engagement. Use of multiple platforms including a learning management system (Canvas), email, and video announcements is helpful for communication and a detailed schedule creates expectations for course progression, vital in an asynchronous course. While content was delivered primarily via lecture and supplementary materials, optional zoom sessions and virtual office hours generate additional engagement opportunities. Learning outcomes were assessed via weekly topic-focused formative student activities and quizzes vs conventional summative exams. Automated grading of assessments provided students with frequent, real-time feedback. In a post-course survey conducted among students enrolled in the Fall 2020 course (n = 634), 97.9% of respondents agreed that course participation was a valuable learning experience and the majority (50.5%) attributed it to lectures, 22% to assignments, 12.2% to group projects, 11.04% to supplementary materials, and 3.9% to optional office hours. Respondents indicated a mean score of 2.02 (SD 2.84) on a Likert scale (0–10) on likely to change their major to Animal Science. This was expected as Biomedical sciences, Agribusiness, Economics, Psychology, and Business were the most frequently declared majors. We concluded that structured schedule utilizing multiple methods of communication and formative assessments are valuable components of a large asynchronous core curriculum general animal science course, and that this course has potential to educate and engage non-animal science majors.

An academic digital library advancing an equitable and inclusive educational environment

Purpose At an academic digital library of a graduate business school in Berlin, Germany, the librarian reflects on the “new normal” following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, with its increased faculty and student engagement with digital resources and heightened awareness of and activity in diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Design/methodology/approach This paper details the concepts and practices of an academic library that is a center for information resources and services, as well as a contact point for DEI advocacy and student conflict mediation. The librarian is the only information professional at the school, and this is a reflective essay written from her perspective. Findings This case study suggests that a librarian cross-trained as a conflict mediator or coach can offer both information literacy and support services to further the development of an inclusive campus environment. Educators in both roles build students’ competence and confidence, focus on their achievements and progress and contribute to their sense of belonging. Combining these activities in a central institution builds on the strengths of both disciplines and is consistent with inclusion as a core principle of librarianship. Originality/value The findings will be useful for librarians wishing to expand their existing mandate to provide inclusive information access and services to include DEI initiatives.

Remediation Model Used in a Pharmacy Calculations Course

Remediation is a required component of pharmacy programs. In a pharmacy calculations course, two student-centered models of remediation have been utilized. These models were a shift from an intensive, hands-on infrastructure of faculty and student engagement to a more student self-directed process. The models utilized development of an individualized plan for each student, clearly outlined expectations, faculty availability for consultation, as well as flexibility in remote completion of the assigned activities. Both models resulted in student success. Article Type: Note

Community Engagement Pilot Rubric

Increasingly, universities are called upon to mobilize their intellectual and human capacity to address needs in their communities and beyond. In addition to the creation of a campus-wide coordinating infrastructure and strategic approach, it is important to account for the significant variation in, and quality of, community engagement that exists across academic units at a university. The unit of a college/school within a university should be developed as the locus of faculty and student engagement, and the proximity of engagement efforts to an academic unit emphasizes the importance of community engagement through teaching and learning and in faculty scholarship. Colleges/schools within a university often have their own well-developed missions and goals embracing community engagement; can be seen as hubs for innovation, pathways, or strategies for engagement; and have their own natural disciplinary base within the community for engagement.

Online Faculty and Adjuncts

Online education has grown exponentially over the past decade. Data collected by the Sloan Consortium reveals that between 2002 and 2009 students enrolled in at least one online course increased from 1.6 million to 5.6 million. It is projected that by 2020 up to 60% of college students will take their courses entirely online. A critical question for higher education administrators is “Who will teach these online courses?” Institutions need to be proactive and develop strategies for hiring and training faculty and adjuncts to meet this shift in educational delivery. Moreover, with online student attrition reported as being higher than traditional student attrition, faculty must also know how to engage and retain students in the online classroom environment. This article examines online faculty recruitment, online faculty training, and ten strategies for integrating Online Human Touch training and support into current and future online programs to increase faculty and student engagement and retention. Institutions that are not evaluating online education delivery options may face crisis or financial exigency. For many colleges and university, online faculty and adjuncts will be a central part of the future of the institution.