December 11, 2002

TO THE CAMPUS COMMUNITY

Dear Colleagues:

I am writing to announce the formation of the UCSB Task Force for Undergraduate Education in a Research Context. Professor Stuart Feinstein, from the Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, has generously agreed to chair this very important advisory committee. The complete task force membership is presented on the back of this announcement. I wish to thank the members in advance for their valued insight, advice and participation in the highly beneficial work of the committee.

The formation of a Task Force for Undergraduate Education in a Research Context was requested by President Atkinson in response to the recent State Auditor’s Report on the University which raised some concerns about UC faculty participation in Undergraduate Education. The following is an excerpt from the President’s memo to the Chancellors of all campuses, which outlines the charge of the Task Force.

“I would like each of you to appoint, in consultation with the Academic Senate, a campuswide Task Force on Undergraduate Education in a Research Context, if you have not already done so recently, to define how your campus will improve undergraduate education and increase faculty involvement in undergraduate instruction. Please submit to Provost King, by July 1, 2003, a plan showing the steps the campus will take to:

  • develop in undergraduates an enthusiasm for and ability to do research;
  • increase undergraduate research experiences; and
  • increase faculty interaction with students outside the classroom.”

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all our colleagues who have provided valuable input during the consultation process leading to the formation of the UCSB Task Force for Undergraduate Education in a Research Context.


Sincerely,


Henry T. Yang



UCSB Task Force for Undergraduate Education in a Research Context

Stuart Feinstein, Chair (Professor, Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology)
Mark Aldenderfer (Professor, Anthropology; Director, Office of Information Technology)
Tanya Atwater  (Professor, Geological Sciences)
Richard Duran (Professor, Education)
Anne Epperson (Professor, Music
Mathew Fisher (Professor, Physics and Permanent Member, the Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics)
Yolanda Garcia (Executive Director, Student Academic Support Services, EOP)
Richard Hecht  (Professor, Religious Studies)
Hua Lee  (Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering)
Claudine Michel (Professor, Black Studies; Vice-Chair Academic Senate Undergraduate Council)
Ken Millet (Professor, Mathematics; Chair, Chancellor’s Outreach Advisory Board; Regional Director, California Alliance for Minority Participation)
Mary Nisbet (SLSOE, Economics; Associate Dean of Undergraduate Studies, College of Letters and Sciences)
Erika Rappaport  (Associate Professor, History)
Denise Segura (Professor, Sociology; Chair, Academic Senate Undergraduate Council; Co-Director, ENLACE Y Avance Project)
Carla Whitacre (Director, Research Development, Office of Research)
AS representative, tba
GSA representative, tba