Faculty Collaborate to Improve Student Success in Calculus Classes

Lynn Meade

From bottom left, Latisha Puckett, Richard Cassady, Carlos Nicolas and Shannon Dingman.

Faculty from the Department of Mathematical Sciences in the U of A’s Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences and the university’s College of Engineering recently met for a daylong workshop on integrating engineering concepts into calculus classes.  

The collaborative session, funded by the College of Engineering and led by the Fulbright College Student Success Team, included Deb Korth, assistant dean; Toby Phebus, associate director of student retention; and Lynn Meade, teaching assistant professor. These efforts are part of a larger goal to redesign the calculus curriculum at the U of A.   

Kevin Hall, associate dean for academics in the College of Engineering, expressed enthusiasm for the collaboration. 

“This was a terrific experience and truly embodied the One University spirit of our 150 Forward strategic plan,” Hall said. “It is always rewarding to interact with like-minded colleagues, with a shared goal of helping our students be more successful. It is my hope that this workshop will serve as a catalyst for future collaborative efforts.” 

Korth initiated the session by outlining two goals: fostering new collaborations and developing calculus problems with engineering applications.  

“We aimed to create engaging assignments that resonate with students,” Korth said. “When students encounter relevant applications, the information becomes more meaningful and accessible, leading to greater achievement.” 

Meade moderated the session, posing challenging questions such as: “How should course design evolve in the AI era?” and “What qualities should our students possess in a decade, and how should this influence our course designs?” 

“It is important that faculty share ideas and work to align curriculum in thoughtfully,” Meade said. “This session was a safe place for faculty to come together and discuss how to modify the courses in a way that benefits students.” 

Richard Cassady, university professor in the College of Engineering, agreed and provided additional insight. 

“Teaching large service courses is one of the most challenging and significant teaching responsibilities within our university,” Cassady said. “I appreciate the opportunity to share examples of how I use calculus in the courses I teach, especially if it helps the faculty who teach those courses make decisions relative to course content and assessment.” 

Victoria Parkman and Carlos Nicolas, both teaching assistant professors in the Department of Mathematical Sciences, will lead the upcoming course redesign.  

“The workshop provided me with an opportunity to learn directly from our university's engineering faculty how calculus concepts are utilized in engineering courses,” Nicolas said.  

The full list of faculty attendees at the Engineering Applications in Calculus Workshop included Fulbright College faculty Zachary Bradshaw, Matt Clay, Shannon Dingman, Matt Gerner, Phil Harrington, Carlos Nicolas, Virginia Parkman and Melinda Schroeder. 

College of Engineering faculty included Richard Cassady, Ed Clausen, Brandon Crisel, Eric Fernstrom, Aysa Galbraith, Kevin Hall, Leslie Massey, Latisha Puckett, Robert Saunders, Heath Schluterman and Gretchen Scroggin. 

For more information, contact Lynn Meade at lmeade@uark.edu.