1. Samuel A. Attoh, PhD Dean, Graduate School Loyola University Chicago
Fostering Interdisciplinary and Cross Campus Collaboration at Loyola-Chicago
Samuel A. Attoh, PhD
Dean, Graduate School
Loyola University Chicago

2. Fostering Interdisciplinary and Cross Campus Collaboration at Loyola-Chicago
Clarifying definitions: Interdisciplinarity vs. Multidisciplinarity
What are Academic Organizations telling us about Interdisciplinarity?
Barriers to Interdisciplinarity
Developing an Organizational Framework that Fosters Interdisciplinarity

3. Definition of Multidisciplinary
Multidisciplinary programs provide students exposure to tools, methods, theories to solve complex problems, i.e. a juxtaposition of separate disciplinary perspectives B A
Multidisciplinary C D

4. Definition of Interdisciplinary
Interdisciplinary programs integrate and synthesize tools, methods, theories, concepts to solve complex problems A B
Interdisciplinary C D

5. What are Academic Organizations Telling Us?
National Academy of Sciences Facilitating Interdisciplinary Research
Association of American Universities Interdisciplinarity Task Force Report
Consortium of 10 Research Universities: Institutionalizing commitments to interdisciplinary academic initiatives.
Harvard University. Project Zero Interdisciplinary Studies Project.
Others: ACE, CGS, NSF (IGERT, AGEP), NIH, NRC.

6. Barriers to Interdisciplinarity
Organizational/administrative structure
The discipline-department-academic job market nexus
EP&T review procedures and mechanisms
Reservations about the intellectual force and staying power of IPs
Conflicts over revenue/credit/cost sharing
Space/facilities
Agreeing on standards for recruiting and evaluating faculty with joint appointments
Geographical difficulties

7. Developing an Organizational Framework that Fosters Interdisciplinarity
4 categories of institutions based on strategic planning commitments to institutionalizing Interdisciplinary initiatives:
Institutions with well-established policies and organizational arrangements—CM, MI, MIT
Institutions transitioning towards IR by increasing investments in strategic areas—Duke, USC
Institutions making modest investments
Status Quo

8. Having optimal organizational/administrative structures in place.
Developing an Organizational Framework that Fosters Interdisciplinarity
Having optimal organizational/administrative structures in place.
VP for interdisciplinary studies
Interdisciplinary research advisory committee
Establish an interdisciplinary research enhancement initiative (IREI) to seed IR programs, interdisciplinary interest groups, and interdisciplinary seminars.

9. Developing an Organizational Framework that Fosters Interdisciplinarity
Develop appropriate policies and procedures for EP&T (CM, MI, Arizona, Duke, USC)
Utilize Academic Program Review process to encourage expansion of interdisciplinary efforts.
Create mechanisms for credit/cost/revenue sharing: Loyola Social Work and Carthage
Clarify joint appointments
Keep communication channels open
Support for Graduate students.

10. “I understand they are going to connect them, the Provost ordered it”