Sept. 30, 2003

Contact: Nancy Lott, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, (785) 864-3516.

KU history department selected for Carnegie Initiative on the Doctorate

LAWRENCE -- The University of Kansas Department of History in September was named a partner department to the Carnegie Initiative on the Doctorate, a multi-year research and action project aimed at improving doctoral education at American universities.

The KU department, which is the largest in the central states region, was one of 19 selected in the history category because it is committed to being a steward of the discipline.

Chris Golde, Carnegie senior scholar in Stanford, Calif., said the purpose of the project is to support and study doctoral education in leading graduate programs to create models based on success.

"We don't just mean a preservation of the heart and essence of the field, although that's important," Golde said. "We chose those departments who have a critical eye toward the future, who are willing to take risks and move the discipline forward."

Carl Strikwerda, associate dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and professor of history at KU, said that the department's goal is to train students to reach the widest possible audience and to participate in professional associations, be public advocates for history and be good campus citizens as faculty members.

As a CID partner, the department immediately will begin to analyze all aspects of its degree doctoral programs. It will clarify goals for doctoral education and refashion graduate curriculum.

Further information about the study and all of the participants may be found on the Carnegie Web site, www.carnegiefoundation.org.

Funding for the project is provided by the Atlantic Philanthropies and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.