Post-COVID Academic Innovation Task Force

Background

We are excited to understand and explore the numerous academic innovations that have emerged to us through the pandemic. The higher education landscape will look very different on the other side of COVID-19, and as we strive continuously to improve our academic programs and deliver on our value proposition to students, we must embrace innovations in technology, course instruction, and more, in order to realize our goal of preeminence as a comprehensive, global research university. With promising vaccines seemingly on the way, it is time to think about potential innovations that can strengthen our academic future.  

The faculty-led Post-COVID Academic Innovation Task Force is charged with the goal of considering, and recommending, new and innovative ways of fulfilling our academic mission. It will review previous academic innovation work from the GW community, particularly recommendations from the Strategic Plan’s High-Quality Undergraduate Education Committee and the Distinguished and Distinctive Graduate Education Committee. It also will study emerging literature on the post-pandemic higher education landscape, along with embracing any ideas or opportunities regarding course delivery, short-term academic experiences like certificate programs, our academic calendar, and the research enterprise. To better understand our community’s thoughts and ideas about academic innovation, the task force will seek ideas from faculty, staff, and students.

The task force's charge is to present to the Provost a finalized list of recommendations by late May.

Charge

The Post-COVID Academic Innovation Task Force is charged with the goal of considering and recommending new and innovative ways of fulfilling our academic mission. The task force is asked to investigate experiences and lessons learned both within GW and the broader higher education community during the COVID-19 pandemic. The task force will make data-driven recommendations outlining potential innovations that can fulfill our academic mission by May 15, 2021.

Contribute Ideas or Volunteer

The Post-COVID Academic Innovation Task Force will incorporate input from many voices within our GW community when it delivers its recommendations to the Provost in May. GW community members wishing to contribute to the work of the task force are encouraged to complete our volunteer form by clicking the button below. If you would like to tell us about a pandemic-era adaptation that you have found valuable, please complete the volunteer form or email the task force.  

Post-COVID Academic Innovation Task Force Volunteer Form

Updates

Throughout this process, we are committed to keeping the GW community informed. In addition to monthly updates to the Faculty Senate Educational Policy and Technology committee, the task force will share regular communications with the GW community and keep this page updated.

 

December 2020

  • Dec. 2: Announcement from Provost Blake about the forthcoming task force
  • Request to schools and colleges for nominations to serve on task force

January 2021

  • Finalization of task force membership
  • Jan. 21: Update from Provost Blake and co-chairs announcing task force membership
  • Jan. 22: Formal charge to task force

February 2021

  • Feb. 1: Task force reviews strategic planning recommendations and gathers data on surveys sent to the university community during the pandemic
  • Feb. 8: Task force meets with strategic planning committee chairs to learn more about their committees' recommendations 
  • Feb. 18: The task force has formed four initial working groups to solicit input from key constituencies:  1) undergraduate students; 2) graduate and professional students; 3) faculty; and 4) staff and academic support personnel. These initial working groups will meet over the next four weeks to learn more about the gaps, concerns, innovations, and opportunities these constituencies have experienced during the pandemic. During this month, the four groups will explore information consisting of existing reports, data, surveys, external resources; request potentially new sources of information to inform the exploration; review data identifying themed areas to further explore in order to formulate recommendations requested in the charge.

 

Task Force Membership

Pamela Jeffries, Dean, SON (co-chair)

Jason Zara, Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Associate Chair for Academic Affairs for the Department of Biomedical Engineering, SEAS (co-chair)

Donald Braman, Associate Professor of Law, GW Law

Cynthia Dowd, Professor of Chemistry, CCAS

Erica Gralla, Associate Professor of Engineering Management and Systems Engineering, SEAS

Mike Guy, Graduate Student, The Corcoran School, and Studio Technician, The Textile Museum

Tamara Henry, Teaching Associate Professor and Practicum Director of Prevention and Community Health, GWSPH

Lionel C. Howard, Associate Professor of Educational Research, GSEHD

Srinikhila Karri, Student, 7-Year BA/MD Program

Russell Korte, Associate Professor of Human and Organizational Learning, GSEHD

Miro Liwosz, Assistant Dean, Online Learning and Instructional Technology, SON

Michael Moore, Director of International Economic Policy Program and Professor of Economics, ESIA

Guy Lotrecchiano, Associate Professor of Clinical Research and Leadership and of Pediatrics, SMHS and Associate Dean, Innovative and Collaborative Pedagogy, LAI

Billy Mullins, Clinical Assistant Professor, SON

Liesl Riddle, Associate Dean for Graduate Programs and Associate Professor of International Business and International Affairs, GWSB

Victoria Shanmugam, Director of Division of Rheumatology and Professor of Medicine, SMHS

Sarah Wagner, Associate Professor of Anthropology, CCAS

Gayle Wald, Professor of American Studies, CCAS

John Warren, Director and Associate Professor, MPS in Publishing, CPS