The i2a initiative will take shape and gradually unfold across campus units and programs over a ten-year period beginning in 2007, with an interim report due to SACS on March 15, 2013.

i2a plans and programs are evolving during each semester. This webpage will be a repository for plans and reports on i2a progress.

i2a Milestones

July 2009

• i2a participants present at the 29th Annual Critical Thinking Conference in Berkeley, CA.
  

June 2009

• i2a Task Group approves Unit Scorecard Goals.
  

• i2a Task Group approves i2a Evaluation Protocol.
  

May 2009

• The UofL 20/20 Scorecard revised to reflect integration of i2a into existing university programs.
• Inaugural i2a Institute held. (see Annual Report)
• Faculty Learning Community (FLC) Reunion Dinner held; premiere of Faculty Speak!, a video documenting the experience of Faculty as they incorporate i2a concepts and vocabulary into their teaching activities.
  

April 2009

• Participants selected for two concurrent Faculty Learning Communities (FLCs) on Critical Thinking for Fall 2009.
• i2a Day features Lights, Camera... Ideas to Action. (see Annual Report)
  

March 2009

• The Culminating Experience Subcommittee drafts Culminating Experience defining features.
• i2a featured in The Christian Science Monitor.
  

February 2009

• i2a Unit Presentation for Faculty of the Department of Teaching and Learning at the College of Education and Human Development.
• Faculty Exemplars webpage under development.
  

January 2009

• i2a Staff Retreat held for strategic planning and team building.
  

December 2008

• Culminating Experience Research & Development Project and the Faculty Learning Community on Experiential Learning begin.
• Lights, Camera...Ideas to Action is launched, a multimedia project on critical thinking and community engagement.
  

November 2008

• The first annual Supporting Undergraduate iNnovation (SUN) Grants awards are announced.
  

September 2008

• The Collaborative Learning Community (CLC) is established for Student Affairs and Academic Affairs staff.
• The Fall 2008 Faculty Learning Community (FLC) is launched.
  

July 2008

• The first critical thinking networking session is held at the 28th Annual Critical Thinking Conference in Berkeley, CA.
  

June 2008

• The i2a Leadership Team met for a formal retreat formulating the 2008-2009 Strategic Plan.
  

May 2008

• The i2a Task Group approves university-wide student learning outcomes to guide i2a.
  

April 2008

• The Executive Director presents on the QEP One-Year Later, a year end review.
  

February 2008

• The i2a Team kicked off a series of customized workshops and sessions for curricular & co-curricular units continuing throughout 2008.
  

January 2008

• i2a Task Group members create i2a Subcommittees to move forward on key components of the initiative in spring semester.
• i2a Website is launched.
  

December 2007

• Spring 2008 Pilot Program is launched; small group of faculty are “test driving” Paul-Elder model in their spring courses and assignments.
• i2a Program Assistant hired.
  

November 2007

• First “i2a and U” session is held to inform campus faculty about i2a and Paul-Elder model; additional sessions scheduled throughout academic year.
  

October 2007

• Celebration of Teaching and Learning focuses on teaching critical thinking.
• Critical Thinking Needs Assessment is conducted to ascertain the programs and support faculty need and want.
  

September 2007

• i2a Task Group adopts the Richard Paul-Linda Elder critical thinking model to guide i2a planning and implementation.
  

Summer 2007

• i2a Task Group hires i2a executive director, Delphi Specialist for Critical Thinking and Delphi Specialist for Assessment to lead i2a.
  

April 2007

• SACS Team visits campus for re-accreditation and approves U of L’s i2a plan.
  

January-March 2007

• i2a Task Group, made up of i2a Facilitators and other campus representatives, create QEP Report that lays out rationale, implementation and assessment of i2a.
  

May 2006

• Each unit of the university appoints an i2a Facilitator to develop and lead the implementation plan in academic units.
  

Spring 2006

• Provost Willihnganz holds university-wide forums to discuss the proposed topic; QEP is named Ideas to Action: Using Critical Thinking to Foster Student Learning and Community Engagement, or i2a.
• Provost and the SACS Leadership Team approve i2a proposal, and it is presented to the Board of Trustees.
  

September 2005

• QEP Team recommends to the provost and the SACS Leadership Team that QEP focus on critical thinking and creating solutions to real-world problems.
• Provost invites response to proposed topic from the vice presidents, deans, Faculty Senate, Staff Senate, and Student Government Association.
  

Summer 2005

• Input is analyzed by members of Quality Enhance Plan (QEP) Team and report and recommendations for QEP foci are made.
  

Spring 2005

• President Ramsey invites all members of the university community to submit QEP topics. QEP Team gathers student opinions from across the university through focus groups.
  

January 2005

• Provost Willihnganz appoints campus QEP Team to make recommendations for the U of L QEP.