Students will have the opportunity next spring to learn about sex in the Bible or sit down with a cup of coffee to read The New York Times — all for class credit.
Four Ohio University professors were honored Thursday at the University Professor Award Ceremony, and as a result were given the ability to teach a class of their creation.
The event was held in Alden Library’s Faculty Commons, where approximately 50 faculty members, staff and students met to honor some OU professors for their dedication and passion.
“It is important for professors that enrich the undergraduate learning experience to be honored by their students,” OU President Roderick McDavis said in his opening remarks.
The award, which is based on student nominations of their professors, has been presented to more than 200 individuals since being founded in 1970.
Students were given the opportunity in the fall to nominate a professor of their choosing via an online application process.
A committee of 10 students spent spring semester interviewing candidates, observing them in class and going over the proposed courses that recipients of the award are permitted to teach.
After deliberation, the committee chose Jennifer Chabot, an associate professor of social and public health, Gary Coombs, an associate professor of management systems, Cory Crawford, an assistant professor of classics and world religions and Deborah Thorne, an associate professor of sociology and anthropology.
Thorne and Chabot are two-time and three-time recipients of the award, respectively.
“I’m in a department of fantastic teachers and I was really shocked … and honored to receive this award,” Crawford said during his acceptance speech.
Besides receiving a plaque in Chubb Hall and recognition among students and peers, recipients of the award are given the opportunity to teach a class that will typically be taught in Spring Semester 2015.
Thorne will teach a class called “Days With The Times: Thinking And Learning With A Really Good Newspaper,” in which students will sit down with coffee and pastries as they read The New York Times and write follow-up, analytical blog entries.
“I don’t think there’s anything more relaxing,” Thorne said of the class. “Facebook can’t pull you away, homework can’t pull you away; you get to sit there and read the newspaper and discuss it and have coffee and pastries.”
Chabot will teach a course titled “Family Connections and Social Media,” and Coombs will teach “Product Design and Design Thinking.”
Crawford will teach “Sex in the Bible,” which will critically look at how sex, gender and sexuality are used in the Bible and its effects on modern society.
“We’re a university, we’re about learning, we’re about students,” said Timothy Vickers, associate director in the Center for Teaching and Learning. “People don’t realize how much work goes into (teaching). I think it’s important that we … not only recognize it and reward it, but celebrate it.”
This story originally appeared in print under the headline: "Professors create dream classroom for students"
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