Institution-wide reform of undergraduate education in science, mathematics, engineering and technology

Rensselaer has been engaged in the development of innovative approaches to undergraduate education over the past five years with faculty leadership, often from very senior faculty members. These innovations have led to the introduction of the Studio courses to replace the large introductory lecture-based courses in science and engineering with a format that is far more integrated, incorporates technology, and is a better learning environment for students and a better teaching environment for faculty. Lecture, recitation, and laboratory are combined into one facility, the studio, where hands-on interactive learning sessions are conducted by the faculty. We have undertaken a systematic restructuring of our curriculum that has involved collaborations with many other campuses and educational and industrial leaders. The campus-wide process team on the introductory curriculum, “The Crossing the Threshold Team”, recommended that all introductory courses move into these interactive formats over the next few years. We are now implementing the Comprehensive Curriculum Reform program that will lead to the reanalysis of each undergraduate major. This is often referred to as the 4×4 program since the goal is a flexible program of four courses of four contact hours each as the standard student load. This program was proposed by the campus-wide process team on “The Design and Delivery of Curriculum”, and was approved unanimously by the Faculty Senate Curriculum Committee and ratified by the entire Senate