March 3, 2022

This message is distributed to Senate-Faculty. (Click here to view description of distribution groups.)

The following is being sent on behalf of Linda Adler-Kassner
**************************************************************

Dear Faculty Colleagues,

We’re writing with the call for Fall 2022 Discovery@UCSB seminar proposals. The preferred application deadline is Friday April 15th; we will review proposals after that date and schedule as we are able.

Discovery @ UCSB seminars introduce students to subjects that UCSB faculty care about, and the ways that the faculty teaching the seminars think about these issues. In this way, they serve as introductions to academic disciplines -- that is, they enable students to understand what issues or problems are of interest within particular disciplines, how faculty members in those disciplines think about those subjects, and how they go about exploring those interests

We encourage proposals that:

  • provide opportunities for students to become oriented to/study the physical surroundings of the campus
  • learn about and practice with strategies for navigating UCSB courses and disciplines
  • include intentional strategies for students to get to know other students to build support networks.

As with all Discovery@UCSB seminars, we also encourage you to talk with students how you and others in your discipline bring particular perspectives to bear as you examine issues and create strategies: What kinds of questions you ask, evidence or data you collect, how you analyze what you do, and how you and others share what you have learned. Building this layer of meta-analysis and meta-learning peels back the curtain on knowledge-making in disciplines and enables students to develop their own strategies for recognizing and navigating among these practices.

In your proposal, you’ll propose one of three Discovery@UCSB seminar types.

Exploration Seminars (1 unit) are taught by one faculty member, focused on a topic of interest to the faculty member. Exploration Seminars can be for first year students (Exploration Seminars) or transfer students (Transfer Exploration Seminars). Enrollment is limited to 20 students, or 11 students if a field trip is involved. Faculty receive $1500 in professional development funding for teaching first year or transfer Exploration Seminars.

Discovery Seminars (2 units) are taught by two faculty members from two different disciplines around a common theme or topic. In addition to learning about the subject or theme, faculty will discuss how their disciplines lead them to approach the subject differently. Students will develop both knowledge of the subject, and a framework for understanding disciplines and their expectations.

Linked Seminars (2 units) are taught by two faculty members from the same discipline or perspective. They focus in greater depth on one subject and provide greater insight into one disciplinary perspective.

Faculty teaching Discovery or Linked Seminars may set their class sizes for 30, 35, or 40 students. Each faculty will receive research/professional development funding; the amount increases based on the enrollment cap set by faculty.

For seminars capped at:

  • 15 students, (second year, and senior transfer only) each faculty member will receive $1500 in research/professional development funding.
  • 20 students, (first year exploration, transfer exploration) each faculty member will receive $1500 in research/professional development funding.
  • 30 students, each faculty member will receive $2000 in research/professional development funding.
  • 35 students, each faculty member will receive $2500 in research/professional development funding.
  • 40 students, each faculty member will receive $3000 in research/professional development funding.

On the form that you’ll use to propose Discovery@UCSB seminars, you’ll indicate:

  • What kind of seminar you want to propose (Exploration, Discovery, or Linked)
  • How many students you’ll want to include (15/11, 20/11; 30, 35, or 40).

To propose a Discovery@UCSB seminar, go to: https://forms.gle/tyQ3CahG52b3Mtqh6

You can find more information about the seminars here:

https://duels.ucsb.edu/academics/seminars/about

If you have questions or would like to brainstorm possibilities for courses, I’d be happy to talk with you!

Best,
Linda

--
Linda Adler-Kassner
She/her/hers

Associate Vice Chancellor of Teaching and Learning
Faculty Director, Center for Innovative Teaching, Research, and Learning
Professor of Writing Studies
805-893-6135
To schedule a meeting, click here

I acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land upon which the University of California, Santa Barbara is located and pay my respect to the Chumash Elders past, present and future.