Spring 1997

Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology has received yet another national honor for excellence in undergraduate engineering, mathematics and science education.

Rose-Hulman is one of the winners in the prestigious Theodore Hesburgh Award competition. The Hesburgh Award honors exceptional faculty development programs designed to enhance undergraduate teaching and learning.

The award was presented at the American Council on Education’s annual meeting in Washington, D.C. More than 1,100 national education officials attended the event.

President Bill Clinton spoke to the group immediately following the award ceremony.

Rose-Hulman received a Certificate of Excellence for its development of faculty interdisciplinary teams who created the integrated, first-year curriculum in science, engineering and mathematics.

The curriculum helps freshmen understand the links between engineering, math and the sciences, explained Rose-Hulman President Samuel Hulbert.

"This award is another indication that innovations developed by Rose-Hulman faculty are having a national impact on educational change," Hulbert noted.

The Rose-Hulman integrated curriculum is being used as a model for prototype curricula at many colleges and universities, according to Jeff Froyd, a member of the faculty team that created the curriculum.

"Its use is increasing nationally. Even some middle schools are investigating integrated curricula," he noted.

The curriculum combines 10 classes into a one-year, three-course sequence, emphasized Froyd, professor of electrical and computer engineering. A team of faculty have integrated the latest computer technology throughout the curriculum.

"The curriculum emphasizes cooperative learning in an environment where teams of students work closely with an interdisciplinary faculty team," Froyd stated.

In a letter to Dr. Hulbert, President Clinton praised Rose-Hulman for its leadership.

At a time when institutions of higher learning across our nation face difficult choices both academically and financially, your commitment to education and to America’s students has stood firm. With vision and creativity, you are revitalizing education in America and empowering our students with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed. I am confident that, with your continued commitment to quality and innovation in education, America can look forward to a new century with high hopes.

The Hesburgh Award competition is sponsored by the Teachers Insurance Annuity Association-College Retirement Equities Fund (TIAA-CREF), the nationwide retirement system for higher-education employees.

John Biggs, TIAA-CREF Chairman and CEO, saluted the winners,

These institutions’ faculty development programs were chosen from a wide range of innovative program submissions from colleges and universities nationwide.

A panel of education leaders served as judges for the award. The competition honors the Rev. Theodore Hesburgh, president emeritus of the University of Notre Dame, who served on the TIAA-CREF boards of overseers for 28 years.