Who's Involved?

Lots of people. And you can get involved, too!

The UW-Madison LEAP liaisons are:

• Professor Jolanda Vanderwal Taylor
  Department of German
  jvtaylor@wisc.edu
  

• Associate Dean Nancy Westphal-Johnson
  Undergraduate Education and Academic Administration
  College of Letters and Science
  westphal@ls.admin.wisc.edu

It is the nature of this project that "like-minded" people and groups will adopt and promote this type of learning. Thus we see discussions of "Essential Learning", and the promotion of "The Wisconsin Experience", in many places on campus - whereever learning takes place. As a result, many people and groups are involved in promoting Essential Learning at UW-Madison, including (but not limited to) the Chancellor and Provost, the Dean of Students, University-Wide General Education Committee, advising units and groups of advisors from across campus, student organizations, and faculty and staff from a range of disciplines. We are all part of, and can promote, Essential Learning and the distinctive UW-Madison learning experience.

The Convergence Group

Many activites promoting Essential Learning are coordinated by a group that is loosely known as "the Convergence Group". This group consists of a small set of "early adopters" of LEAP on the UW-Madison campus. These individuals are not the only people who have an interest in LEAP or in Essential Learning, but they meet periodically to discuss how to promote the project and have a campus-wide impact. A fundamental principle of this project is that no entity or group is vested with sole responsibility for promoting LEAP - rather, interested members of our university community are invited to develop and enact LEAP-related endeavors adapted to the interest, expertise, and mission of their sphere of influence. Members of the convergence group are happy to advise, to collaborate when possible, to advertise, and to promote those activities and events.

In addition to the two UW-Madison LEAP liaisons, the "convergers" include the following people. Where possible, we've included links to websites relevant to the University of Wisconsin-Madison Experience and Essential Learning, too.

• Lori Berquam (Dean of Students) - see http://www.wisc.edu/students/wiexperience.htm
• Aaron Brower (Vice Provost for Teaching and Learning) - http://www.provost.wisc.edu/teach.html
• Ann Groves Lloyd (Associate Dean for L&S Student Academic Affairs)
• Elaine M. Klein (Assistant Dean and Director, L&S Academic Planning, Program Review & Assessment)
• Jocelyn Milner (Director, Academic Planning & Analysis) - http://apa.wisc.edu/degrees.html
• Mo Noonan Bischof (Co-Chair, University Assessment Council) - http://www.provost.wisc.edu/assessment/
• Becky Ryan (Associate Director, Cross-College Advising Services) - http://www.ccas.wisc.edu/
• Wren Singer (Director, Center for the First-Year Experience) - http://www.newstudent.wisc.edu/

We describe this as a "convergence" because that term seems to capture best the way in which various groups have adopted (or embraced) the LEAP learning goals. We envision that many groups across campus will become sites of convergence around this topic.

Please let us know about your LEAP-related activities!

We know that many people at all levels across the UW-Madison campus engage in activities that promote the goals of liberal education. We're always interested in hearing what you do. Please send information to webmasterls@ls.admin.wisc.edu, or contact Professor Vanderwal-Taylor (jvtaylor@wisc.edu) or Associate Dean Nancy Westphal-Johnson (westphal@ls.admin.wisc.edu).

If you'd like to become an planning partner to help promote LEAP, please contact:

Nancy Westphal-Johnson
Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education
Chair, University General Education Committee
westphal@ls.admin.wisc.edu