Faculty Group to Discuss Senior Capstone Projects at Faculty Forum

Seven Westminster College faculty will discuss "Integrating Undergraduate Research Across the Curriculum through the Senior Capstone" at Faires Faculty Forum Wednesday, Nov. 18, at 11:40 a.m. in the Sebastian Mueller Theater of the McKelvey Campus Center.

Most academic disciplines at Westminster have an experiential component to the senior capstone that involves undergraduate research. This forum will highlight the diversity of content, requirements, and products of undergraduate research from seven disciplines: Dr. Andrew Ade, associate professor of English; Dr. Nancy Zipay DeSalvo, associate professor of music; Dr. Jacque King, assistant professor of business; Kathy Koop, professor of art; Dr. Katherine Robertson, assistant professor of biology; and Dr. Sandra Webster, professor of psychology and faculty development officer.

Dr. Terri Lenox, associate professor of computer science and co-director of Westminster's Drinko Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, will join the group via Skype from London, where she is teaching in the Westminster in London program.

"Across all disciplines represented on the panel, we will demonstrate the Westminster values of faculty/student collaboration, experiential learning, and high-quality intellectual inquiry," Webster said.

At Westminster, the capstone is a course within the major designed to provide an opportunity for students to evaluate and assess the strengths and limitations of their major field. The capstone experience permits opportunity for structured reflection on the value of education in and beyond the major and provides another chance to strengthen communication and problem-solving skills.

Faculty Forum was established in 1990 by Dr. Barbara Faires, Westminster professor of mathematics emerita, during her term as Dean of the College and Vice President for Academic Affairs. Faculty members from all disciplines volunteer to present lectures on their current research, artistic productions, and/or scholarship of teaching and learning. Each forum presents new ideas with innovative lecture techniques.

Contact Webster at (724) 946-7359 or e-mail websters@westminster.edu for more information.

More Stories