INCONVENIENT TRUTHS
The Buffalo State Academic Theme for Fall 2008-Spring 2010
There are many truths that people regard as self-evident. Other truths are less obvious, and they reveal things that we often find difficult to accept. Buffalo State is building upon some of the lessons of the famous documentary and applying them to other facets of life. Research across all academic disciplines often reveals truths that challenge long held popular assumptions. An individual artist’s expression of her or his truth can ignite firestorms of controversy. Exploring, sharing, discussing, and researching the “truths” of social issues, creative works, and natural phenomena that have significant implications for our lives and futures, but are still sources of significant scholarly and popular debate, will provide the context for much of the intellectual discourse at Buffalo State.
The process of choosing the 2008-2010 academic theme involved numerous committees, student focus groups and several rounds of voting. The Academic Theme CD will be replaced with web-based resources and well-publicized series of events (see below).
Make the Academic Theme Yours
Please list one or two inconvenient truths, and related controversies, emanating from your discipline. Time permitting, please also generate a list of scholars, artists, etc. associated with each inconvenient truth, and lists of relevant work accessible to undergraduates at different levels. This will provide material for inclusion in the next edition of the Foundations of Inquiry book, an ANGEL site and events throughout the year. Send your ideas to Doug Koritz at koritzdg@buffalostate.edu.
Intellectual Foundations Speaker Series
Approximately 6-8 academically significant, public lectures featuring scholars of national and/or international note. (Funding will be from various sources).
Foundations of Inquiry, Faculty-Organized Events
Intellectual Foundations mini-grants of $500-$750 will be given to 3 - 5 groups of two or three BSC 101 faculty working together to organize an academically significant event (e.g., a speaker) aimed at their combined BSC 101 students, but open to others at least in part. These events should relate to the academic theme.
Intellectual Foundations, Faculty-Organized Events
Intellectual Foundations mini-grants of $500-$750 will be given to 3 - 5 groups of two or three faculty who are teaching in the Intellectual Foundations program to organize an academically significant event (e.g., a speaker) aimed at their combined I.F. students, but open to others at least in part. These events should relate to the academic theme.
Other Events
Academically significant events open to the campus community and related to the academic theme. This will provide additional publicity for events like theatrical performances and science speaker series and provide instructors of Intellectual Foundations and other courses with co-curricular teaching resources.
Website
A public website with public domain and Buffalo State material relevant to the academic theme, including the schedule and links to other material and the Angel site and an intranet for Buffalo State students faculty and staff.
ANGEL Site
Specific teaching materials relevant to the academic theme especially articles, assignments, etc. that support the featured and other events.
