Transdisciplinary Educational approaches to advance Kentucky (TEK), is now accepting applications for the second cohort of its Faculty Fellows program. The program is designed to support faculty at the University of Kentucky in developing new transdisciplinary courses and teaching existing courses with a more explicit focus on essential employability skills. The overall goal of TEK is to expand our students’ access to transdisciplinary educational approaches for the development of transferable skills.

A transdisciplinary approach involves diverse teams using a shared conceptual framework to identify questions and address 21st century problems. Together, people from various backgrounds and with different experiences answer big questions, each bringing their informed and unique perspective. This approach is collaborative, leverages a wide range of campus expertise and includes alumni and other community-based and workforce experts throughout every phase of the process.

Faculty Learning Communities (FLCs) have been established for TEK Faculty Fellows to support faculty professional development. The program aims to build cohorts of faculty, representing a wide range of disciplines, who are interested in creating transdisciplinary experiences for students.

Click here to download the full call for applications or for more information on the TEK Faculty Fellows program.

Click here to apply for the second cohort of TEK Faculty Fellows for the 2024-2025 academic year.

Networking and Q&A session

TEK is also hosting a networking and question-and-answer session with its community partners. The session will take place from 4-5:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 6 in the TEK Office at the William T. Young Library. The session will discuss the meaningful integration of essential employability skills into new and existing courses, leveraging the expertise of community partners to take a transdisciplinary approach in solving 21st century problems.

“This event is a great way for the campus community to recognize how they can be a part of TEK,” said Susan Cantrell, Ph.D., director of TEK. “Being able to make connections with community partners is key in coming together to generate solutions to Kentucky’s most challenging problems.”

Panelists include:

• Tucker Ballinger, president and CEO, Forcht Bank
• Jessica Berry, vice president of mission advancement, YMCA of Central Kentucky
• Jon Caldwell, senior vice president and chief people officer, Valvoline Inc.
• Betsy Dexter, executive director, Business & Education Network, Commerce Lexington
• Kathryn Nash, president, Kentucky American Water

Additional panelists may be added prior to the event. Registration for this event is encouraged.