News

Press Release

New York, NY (April 7, 2008) - Today, the Teagle Foundation announced nine new grants totaling over $1 million to fund collaborative projects involving more than 90 colleges, universities and other institutions in higher education. Recognizing the importance of new developments in cognitive psychology, assessment and other fields concerned with student learning, the Foundation will fund four grants as a part of its new Collegia. These grants fall under Teagle's Fresh Thinking initiative and are intended to explore this knowledge and test its applicability by putting it to use to improve student learning at the undergraduate level.

"At the Teagle Foundation we believe this is an exceptional moment in American higher education, an opportunity to increase student engagement and learning," said W. Robert Connor, president of the Teagle Foundation. "Since much more is now known about how students learn (and how that learning can be assessed), it is important that college faculty become better acquainted with that knowledge and the ways of using it in their classrooms. This cycle of grants carry on the Foundation's efforts to put this knowledge to work."

Outcomes and Assessment Grants

The Foundation's Outcomes and Assessment initiative is based on the belief that nothing has more potential to affect students' educational experiences as much as sustained and appropriate assessment of what they learn. The initiative is designed to help teachers in the classroom develop better models of how students learn and how specific academic disciplines can measure student learning outcomes.

The College of Wooster, Allegheny College, Augustana College, and Washington College -- $15,000
"Capstone Research Experiences in the Liberal Arts: An Assessment of Student Learning Outcomes" (Planning Grant)

The Council of Independent Colleges -- $120,000
"Supplemental Funds to Extend the Work of the CIC-Collegiate Learning Assessment Consortium"

Wabash College (The Center of Inquiry in the Liberal Arts) -- $394,500
"Using the Wabash National Study to Promote Assessment and Improvements in Student Learning"

Fresh Thinking Grants

Teagle's Fresh Thinking initiative encourages in-depth analysis of new ideas and issues that can help strengthen and define the goals of liberal education. To date, the Foundation has awarded 40 Fresh Thinking grants totaling over $3.5 million.

Associated Colleges of the Midwest -- $150,000
"Collegium on Student Learning"

Associated Colleges of the South -- $10,000
"Planning Grant for Collegium on Student Learning"

Great Lakes College Association -- $150,000
"Pathways to Learning"

Southeastern Pennsylvania Consortium for Higher Education -- $148,950
"Creating Active Pathways to Student Learning"

College-Community Connections Grants

In addition, two grants will extend The Teagle Foundation's College-Community Connections initiative, which awards grants to New York City community service organizations in order to build closer ties with area colleges and universities, thus helping young people become better prepared for - and successful - in higher education.

Drew University, to partner with Union Settlement -- $25,000

Pace University, to partner with Boys' Club of New York -- $12,000

The Teagle Foundation has funded 45 grants as part of its Outcomes and Assessment initiative—totaling almost $7 million—and has involved over 100 institutions around the country.

Please visit www.teaglefoundation.org to read detailed descriptions for these projects as well as for more information on the Foundation and all its programs.

About the Teagle Foundation
The Teagle Foundation is committed to providing intellectual and financial leadership in the effort to promote and strengthen liberal education.

Contact information:

Teagle Contact:
Donna Heiland
212-373-1972