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== Computational and Multidisciplinary Curriculum and Research Initiative ==

* Supported by the W. M. Keck Foundation 
* Mike Deibel and Charlie Peck (deibemi at earlham.edu, charliep at cs.earlham.edu)
* Earlham College, Richmond Indiana
* Summer research projects and course modules with computational aspects across a wide variety of science disciplines

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A. Our work was facilitated by
# Regular and established multidisciplinary meetings/communication (SciFri, SciDiv)
# Project of interest to the campus and off-campus communities and interest to students
# Project intentionally chosen to be as multidisciplinary as possible (approach and process)

B. Barriers which we experienced
# Lack of time in faculty and student schedules for new initiatives
# Staffing limitations at small schools, small departments have less inherit flexibility.
# Disciplines sometimes speak different "languages"
# Students often like to compartmentalize their education

C. Strategies and tactics for overcoming the barriers
# Regular face-to-face meetings and lots of electronic communication
# Creativity and adaptability of faculty
# Common presentation material or guest presentations of material for courses and research
# Shared field work, shared meals

D. Assessment
# External evaluation, on-site visits
# Internal surveys
# Personal analysis and reflections by faculty each year
# Exam questions (criterion referenced assessment)

E. Sustainability of multidisciplinary work
# Course module vs. separate course
# Service learning - outside of a course or built into course
# Involving pre-tenure faculty