Teaching Operations Research in a Liberal Arts Setting Christopher J. Zappe Interim Dean, College of Arts & Sciences Bucknell University Lewisburg, PA

Executive Summary In this session we will consider the opportunities and challenges of teaching operations research to predominantly undergraduate students at liberal arts institutions. In this session we will consider the opportunities and challenges of teaching operations research to predominantly undergraduate students at liberal arts institutions. Specifically, we consider how learning OR can enhance undergraduate liberal arts students' educational experience. Specifically, we consider how learning OR can enhance undergraduate liberal arts students' educational experience. Upon providing some background material, I will facilitate a discussion of some critical issues facing those who teach OR in a liberal arts setting. Upon providing some background material, I will facilitate a discussion of some critical issues facing those who teach OR in a liberal arts setting.

Value of OR Courses to Liberal Arts Students OR courses promote quantitative literacy, the ability to understand and use numbers and data analyses in everyday life. For instance, OR courses promote quantitative literacy, the ability to understand and use numbers and data analyses in everyday life. For instance, –health concerns increasingly are immersed in risk analysis and probabilities; –government decisions, political arguments, and discussions of environmental issues are steeped in uses and misuses of quantitative data; –and consumer issues, sports, and investments are frequently reported in quantitative terms.

Value of OR Courses to Liberal Arts Students – cont’d OR courses promote the development of problem-solving and critical thinking skills. OR courses promote the development of problem-solving and critical thinking skills. OR courses serve to integrate such disciplines as mathematics, statistics, economics, computer science, management, and even engineering. OR courses serve to integrate such disciplines as mathematics, statistics, economics, computer science, management, and even engineering. OR courses can help students improve their oral and written communication skills. OR courses can help students improve their oral and written communication skills. OR is anchored in real contexts, which often leads to enhanced student motivation and deep learning. OR is anchored in real contexts, which often leads to enhanced student motivation and deep learning.

Value of OR Courses to Liberal Arts Students – cont’d OR courses can provide opportunities for students to work more effectively in teams. OR courses can provide opportunities for students to work more effectively in teams. To the extent that students are assigned challenging projects in OR courses, these learning experiences can serve to extend students’ project management and time management skills. To the extent that students are assigned challenging projects in OR courses, these learning experiences can serve to extend students’ project management and time management skills. Meaningful service-learning experiences may arise for students in OR courses. Meaningful service-learning experiences may arise for students in OR courses. OR courses can afford students opportunities to learn to address real-world problems which are usually ill-defined and open-ended. OR courses can afford students opportunities to learn to address real-world problems which are usually ill-defined and open-ended. OR serve to help prepare students for engaged citizenship, graduate education, and professional work. OR serve to help prepare students for engaged citizenship, graduate education, and professional work.

Opportunities for Instructors of OR Courses at Liberal Arts Institutions Availability of excellent OR teaching materials, including texts, cases, games, simulations, and other active-learning activities (many of which are provided by INFORMS publications and programs – such as INFORM-ED and ITE ). Availability of excellent OR teaching materials, including texts, cases, games, simulations, and other active-learning activities (many of which are provided by INFORMS publications and programs – such as INFORM-ED and ITE ). Opportunities for significant faculty growth in terms of curricular and instructional development. Opportunities for significant faculty growth in terms of curricular and instructional development. High potential for deeply satisfying teaching experiences for faculty. High potential for deeply satisfying teaching experiences for faculty.

Challenges Facing Instructors of OR Courses at Liberal Arts Institutions Undergraduate liberal arts students are increasingly pragmatic and career-minded – which, depending on their perceptions of the relevance of operations research, may affect their interest in registering for OR courses. Undergraduate liberal arts students are increasingly pragmatic and career-minded – which, depending on their perceptions of the relevance of operations research, may affect their interest in registering for OR courses. Students’ limited mathematical backgrounds and other deficiencies may adversely impact the quality of teaching and learning experiences in OR courses. Students’ limited mathematical backgrounds and other deficiencies may adversely impact the quality of teaching and learning experiences in OR courses.

Challenges Facing Instructors of OR Courses at Liberal Arts Institutions It may be difficult to offer OR courses at some liberal arts institutions due to higher curricular priorities, limited faculty positions, and/or lack of institutional support for offering courses in this area. It may be difficult to offer OR courses at some liberal arts institutions due to higher curricular priorities, limited faculty positions, and/or lack of institutional support for offering courses in this area. Even in the absence of these constraints, some instructors of OR courses have no one else on their campuses to talk with about their experiences in the classroom. Even in the absence of these constraints, some instructors of OR courses have no one else on their campuses to talk with about their experiences in the classroom. Insufficient support for faculty travel to conferences where OR instructors can share their teaching experiences and learn best practices. Insufficient support for faculty travel to conferences where OR instructors can share their teaching experiences and learn best practices.

How do we overcome these and other challenges? Discussion Discussion

Future Sessions for Instructors of OR Courses at Liberal Arts Institutions Discussion Discussion