Case Study of a World-Class Research University: The University of Michigan

Case Study of a World-Class Research University: The University of Michigan Constance E. Cook Associate Vice Provost Professor of Higher Education Executive Director, Center for Research on Learning and Teaching (CRLT)

My Plan • Introduction to the University of Michigan and where it fits in the landscape of U.S. universities • Discussion of what makes Michigan a world-class university • Focus especially on teaching improvement Constance E. Cook – 4/13

The State of Michigan Constance E. Cook – 4/13

Information About the University of Michigan • Public university • 3 campuses • Ann Arbor, Flint, and Dearborn • Ann Arbor campus is the big one • 19 schools and colleges • In 2017, our campus will be 200 years old! Constance E. Cook – 4/13

University of Michigan Students • 60,000 students on 3 campuses • Annual degrees • 6,500 undergraduates • 5,300 graduate students • 42,000 students on the Ann Arbor campus Constance E. Cook – 4/13

Rankings • The University of Michigan was ranked 12th globally in the 2013 Times Higher Education world reputation rankings. • Michigan is always ranked among the top 3 public universities in the U.S. Constance E. Cook – 4/13

Institutions and Enrollments:Public and Private Number of Institutions, by Control Total = 4,064 Enrollment in All Institutions, by Control Estimated Total = 16.46 million Adapted from Digest of Education Statistics, 2000. Constance E. Cook – 4/13

Institutions and Enrollments:Carnegie Types Institutions Enrollments Source: 2005 Carnegie Classification: National Center for Education Statistics, IPEDS Fall Enrollment Survey Constance E. Cook – 4/13

What Makes Michigan a Top- Ranked U.S. Research University • Large endowment • High research expenditures, with much federal funding • Large number of Ph.D.s • Large number of fields • Fields highly ranked • Prestigious faculty • Global perspective • Organizational culture supporting research and teaching Constance E. Cook – 4/13

UM-Ann Arbor Endowment 2009-2010 • Endowment including UM Health System:$7.7 billion • Endowment excluding UM Health System:$5.0billion Constance E. Cook – 4/13

UM Research ExpendituresFY1980-2009 $1.24 B Constance E. Cook – 4/13

U.S. Ph.D. Degrees 2008-09 Total number of U.S. Ph.D. degrees awarded: 67,716 • About 60% awarded by 100 Research Universities • 25 of the top Ph.D.-producing Research Universities award 25% of the degrees • Top 10 Institutions Conferring Ph.D. Degrees in 2008-09 Source: NCES, Digest of Education Statistics, 2010 Tables Constance E. Cook – 4/13

Schools and Colleges at UM Constance E. Cook – 4/13

U.S. News and World Report • In 2012, 95 Michigan programs ranked in the Top 10. - That was more than any other U.S. university except Harvard, Berkeley, and Stanford! Constance E. Cook – 4/13

What Makes Michigan a Top- Ranked U.S. Research University • Large endowment • High research expenditures, with much federalfunding • Large number of Ph.D.s • Large number of fields • Fields highly ranked • Prestigious faculty • Global perspective • Organizational culture supporting research and teaching Constance E. Cook – 4/13

UM Faculty Honors • National Academy of Science members - 24 • Institute of Medicine members - 43 • National Academy of Engineering members -26 • Nobel Laureates (faculty and alumni) - 9 • National Medal of Science - 6 • National Medal of Technology - 1 • Guggenheim Fellows - 63 • MacArthur Fellows - 19 Constance E. Cook – 4/13

Global Perspective UM is one of the U.S. universities honored with the Simon Award for Comprehensive Internationalization • Strategic integration of international, intercultural and global dimensions into the ethos and outcomes of higher education • Full engagement of the academic community in global networks and partnerships Constance E. Cook – 4/13

Global Perspective • Faculty research collaborations with colleagues all over the world • Institutional collaborations with universities all over the world • Large number of international students • Currently, 8% of student body (5,600 out of 42,000) • UM students studying, interning, and doing researchall over the world Constance E. Cook – 4/13

Saudi Students at the University of Michigan • This year, we are proud to have 171 Saudi students on our campuses • Ann Arbor: 9 undergraduates, 23 graduate students(32 total) • Flint: 108 undergraduates, 8 graduate students (116 total) • Dearborn: 6 undergraduates, 17 graduate students (23 total) • We have 250 Saudi alumni! Constance E. Cook – 4/13

Research Support • Substantial funding for faculty research • Strong staff infrastructure to support faculty research endeavors • Encouragement of interdisciplinary collaboration • Support for technology transfer Constance E. Cook – 4/13

Teaching Support • Top leaders’ commitment to teaching • Availability of professional development • Frequent faculty interaction and collaboration around teaching • Teaching is an important part of the faculty evaluation system • Teaching is an important part of the faculty reward system Constance E. Cook – 4/13

Top Leaders’ Commitment to Teaching • Frequent mention of the importance of teaching and learning in speeches • Design of effective classrooms and learning spaces • Resources for faculty to improve teaching • Effective system for evaluating teaching • Hiring process that includes review of teaching • Prioritization of teaching for raises, promotions, and prizes Constance E. Cook – 4/13

Support for Faculty Professional Development • Center for Research on Learning and Teaching (CRLT) • First teaching center in the world (1962) • Has always been the model U.S. teaching center • Excellent resources: 13 Ph.D.s, 30 part-time grad students, one Faculty Associate, 4 post-docs, 12 support staff for computing, budget, events • Part of the central administration but working with all 19 schools and colleges Constance E. Cook – 4/13

Center for Research on Learning and Teaching (CRLT) • Individual consultations for faculty and graduate student instructors • University-wide workshops and programs • 9 grants competitions • Discipline-specific programs and services for individual depart-ments and colleges • Evaluation of curriculum and curriculum design • Assessment of student learning • Theatre program • Publications and website: http://www.crlt.umich.edu Constance E. Cook – 4/13

Frequent Faculty Interaction and Collaboration Around Teaching • CRLT programs • CRLT theatre • Teaching circles • Lots of interdisciplinary programs and courses • Frequent program reviews and curricular reforms • Curriculum committees in each school and college Constance E. Cook – 4/13

Teaching is an Important Part of the Faculty Evaluation System • Annual merit raises for faculty based in part on teaching • Use of student ratings and other measures • Faculty coming up for tenure and promotion must be good teachers (above average) • 1996 Faculty Survey showed that 43% of faculty agreed that one must be a good teacher to secure tenure at UM. • 2010 Faculty Survey showed that 80% if faculty agree that teaching is valued in the tenure process. Constance E. Cook – 4/13

Teaching Is an Important Part of the Faculty Reward System • Teaching prizes come with money • Named professorships • Prestige • Administrative positions • Speakers at events • University publicity Constance E. Cook – 4/13

Conclusion • The University of Michigan is not only an important research university; it also provides a high-quality education for its students. • We have excellent students who deserve to be taught excellently. Constance E. Cook – 4/13

Case Study of a World-Class Research University: The University of Michigan