July 2, 2020

This message is distributed to All-Instructors, Academic-Assistant-Deans, and Academic-Department-Managers.  (Click here to view description of distribution groups.)  

The following is being sent on behalf of Associate Dean Linda Adler-Kassner
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Dear Faculty Colleagues,

There’s still time to propose a Discovery Seminar for Fall quarter! This year, especially, these seminars will be great ways for students to get to know UCSB faculty. Faculty teaching approved seminars will be able to choose to offer them remotely or in person.

Discovery@UCSB seminars are intended for first year students or transfer students. There are three types of seminars. 

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:

  • 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 (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
Faculty Director, Center for Innovative Teaching, Research, and Learning (CITRAL)
citral.ucsb.edu
Associate Dean, Undergraduate Education
Professor of Writing Studies
805-893-6135
To schedule a meeting, click here (URL: https://calendly.com/lindaadlerkassner)