Does research bring us together?
The discussion, which will be moderated by Provost Michael R. Halleran, is titled "Does Research Bring Us Together? The Blend of Teaching and Research in W&M in the 21st Century." The event, which features three faculty panelists from different disciplines, is free and open to the public. It will be held on Dec. 2 from 4 p.m. until 5:30 p.m. in Tidewater Room A of the Sadler Center on campus."One thread that connects the many elements of W&M as a liberal arts college is research (a word meant to convey the full range of creative production across all our programs, departments and schools)," Halleran said in a campus message. "The next public event of our conversation on W&M as a liberal arts university in the 21st century focuses on the role of research."
The event is the second in a series of campus conversations planned this academic year on what it means for William & Mary to be a liberal arts university in the 21st Century. The topic ties into the overarching grand challenge identified last year as part of the strategic planning process: for William & Mary "To be a leader among liberal arts universities. Last month, the first campus conversation examined the question "Is a Liberal Arts University Possible?"
Among the questions to be discussed Wednesday are:
- What is the blend between and intersection of research and teaching in our liberal arts university?
- Does research have different functions in different areas of our university?
- How does research build connections between faculty and students?
- How is a research-active faculty a competitive advantage for W&M?
- Do we have the necessary infrastructure for our research efforts?
- What can we do to ensure that we establish/maintain the right blend of teaching and research to our best advantage as we advance the institution?
- And, what are the implications of the answers to these questions for forming priorities in the upcoming years?
