Academic Culture & Values

Supporting an Academic Culture of Excellence and Success in the Curriculum

The Department of Philosophy supports an academic environment of excellence and success in three primary ways.

First, our curriculum supports effective teaching on a variety of viewpoints, methodologies and traditions in philosophy. We aim to give students a broad understanding of philosophy as a global phenomenon. We offer courses in the history of philosophy and a variety of philosophical topics ranging from ethics to data science, to feminism.

Second, the department is committed to inviting a wide range of colloquium speakers. Invited speakers come from a variety of institutions (R1 universities, teaching colleges), speak on many different topics, and are diverse in terms of gender, ability, race and geographical residence.

Finally, the department has introduced two new concentrations to the major: Ethics and Law and Ethics for Data and Computing. These concentrations will serve to prepare philosophy students for a variety of professions by providing them with interdisciplinary perspectives, skills and experiences.

Supporting the Success of All Students

In addition to supporting students through the major with our course offerings, numerous department members advise honors theses each year. The department supports many students each year as they apply to PhD programs, law, and other professional schools. The department also supports an Ethics Bowl team that is competitive on the national Ethics Bowl scene. The department continues their support of the student run Philosophy Club, which meets weekly and hosts an annual undergraduate philosophy conference. The department funds the conference and the Ethics Bowl team. Additionally, it funds non-creditbearing philosophy “summer camps” some students apply for.

The department has increased the number events that provide more informal opportunities for current students and faculty to interact and enhance a sense of scholarly community. These include the biannual department picnic, post-colloquia receptions, and information sessions on the philosophy major, honors theses, graduate studies in philosophy and the state of the field.

The department hosts the Philosophy in Real Life program, a student group mentorship program that helps students be successful as philosophy majors both while here and afterwards. The event series will help students translate skills learned in philosophy into marketable skills for jobs and internships. It also helps build a welcoming and supportive community in the department, which supports a sense of belonging among students.

Supporting the Success of Faculty and Staff

The Department of Philosophy aims to support faculty and staff in a variety of ways. It offers continued annual financial support for faculty (tenured/tenure-eligible and teaching) travel to attend conferences and present papers, as well as for teaching needs and service-related roles. Department funds also support the office manager with technology and training that help them perform their job, and the department recognizes the contributions of the office manager, who is essential to the functioning of department operations.

Department meetings include an item on the agenda for notable faculty news and accomplishments. Relatedly, the department purchases and displays faculty books in the philosophy library, provides faculty mentors for all junior faculty, and conducts a pre-tenure review. Faculty also have a "work in progress" group that meets regularly to support writing projects and publishing goals. Several faculty have published books, and each does a presentation and discussion with students about their work.

The department organizes regular conferences (large and small) and workshops on current topics in philosophy and applied philosophy, which encourage faculty development and involve a significant organizational effort. The department also actively promotes and nominates faculty and staff for university awards and prizes through the Department FAC and Department Chair.