Tufts will launch an external review of its interdisciplinary studies programs beginning in March 2012, according to Dean of Arts and Sciences Joanne Berger−Sweeney.
This marks the first time the university has conducted an external review of its interdisciplinary studies programs, Greg Carleton, director of the Center of Interdisciplinary Studies and associate professor of Russian literature, said.
The Center of Interdisciplinary Studies administrates four of the university's academic programs and is affiliated with 20 other interdisciplinary studies programs, including the Community Health, Biochemistry, Africa in the New World and International Relations Programs, among others.
The review committee will examine the overall structure of interdisciplinary studies at Tufts rather than each program individually, Berger−Sweeney explained.
"The idea isn't to review specific programs, but to review our structure and how we support it," she said.
An external committee consisting of administrators and faculty members from Brown University, New York University and the University of Virginia will conduct the review, according to Berger−Sweeney. Dean of Academic Affairs James Glaser will lead the committee and select its membership, she said.
"Dean Glaser is looking at particular individuals who had peak knowledge of interdisciplinary programs at those universities," Berger−Sweeney said.
As part of the evaluation, each interdisciplinary studies program will create a fact sheet containing quantitative and qualitative data about its inner workings that will help guide discussions with the committee, Carleton explained.
"We want to give [the reviewers] a landscape idea of interdisciplinary studies at Tufts, to examine the history of interdisciplinary studies, our future and our obstacles," Carleton said.
Berger−Sweeney said that the review stems in part from feedback she has received from students and faculty regarding a need for stronger institutional support of the interdisciplinary studies program.
"Many people had concerns about interdisciplinary studies and programs, and how they were supported," Berger−Sweeney said. "I thought it was important to have a review to sense what we do, and how we may move forward."
Community Health Program Director Edith Balbach, who is also a faculty member in the American Studies Program, is one such professor who sees a lack of institutional support for the interdisciplinary studies programs at Tufts.
"Most of the programs need more support than they have," Balbach said. "You have to volunteer to spend your time teaching interdisciplinary courses and negotiate your load."
Balbach expressed a desire to see tangible improvements made to the interdisciplinary studies programs as a result of the review process.
"I hope that the reviews will bring conscious attention to building a stronger infrastructure to support our existing programs and encourage more faculty to be more engaged in interdisciplinary studies," she said.
Balbach noted, however, that the external review process can only do so much to improve the programs.
"The external reviews can help, but at the end, interdisciplinary programs are still constrained by budget," Balbach said.
Bruce Hitchner, director of the Archaeology and Peace and Justice Studies programs, is concerned that the external review might negatively impact the programs if it results in their downsizing.
"Too often, people reorganize to economize, to be more business−oriented, and in doing so miss the purpose of research," Hitchner said. "We have a responsibility to hold on to more fields, so we shouldn't be thinking of economizing."
The review comes at a good time to re−evaluate the interdisciplinary studies programs, Carleton said.
"There are so many engines of change churning at Tufts right now; it's the ideal moment to rethink interdisciplinary studies," Carleton said.
Balbach and Carleton both hope that student will be involved in the review process.
"It all affects the students, so they should be included," Balbach said. "Students need to be involved because they are bright and can articulate what they want."
