Closing out the week
In this Issue:
- From Wente’s Desk: Why university research matters
- Deacon Blvd. closure notice
- Clarification about Business summer session class
Happy Friday, Deac families! Yesterday around dinnertime it was incredibly windy and chilly, but today is sunny and we are supposed to be in the mid 60s. this weekend is projected to be in the low 70s and sunny, ideal weather for being outdoors!
Today I have a mishmash of the philosophical, the practical, and the academic. Help yourself to any/all that serves you, and have a great weekend!
From Wente’s Desk: Why university research matters
President Wente shared a new entry in her blog, From Wente’s Desk, yesterday. It is entitled “Why university research matters” and it is a really good reflection. Here is a snippet, but you can read the full post here.
“The work of many scientists, researchers and scholars across the nation’s tapestry of higher education institutions, including right here at Wake Forest, has in turn profoundly shaped the world: through life-saving discoveries, breakthrough technologies, and solutions to complex global problems….the research that universities do matters – not for our own sake, but because the outcomes we produce have global implications for all human beings. And if the infrastructure to support those outcomes erodes or crumbles, the effects will be felt not only here in the U.S. but by people all around the world.”
Dr. Wente’s post made me think about one of the classes I took during my higher education doctoral program; it was about the history of the American university, and I remember how interesting I found it. I am about to nerd out for a moment, so bear with me 🙂
Our textbook was The Great American University by Jonathan R. Cole (2009). Chapter 3 was entitled “The Path to Greatness” and it was about research and the history of research. It told the story of how American universities were the beneficiaries of European scholars who had to flee during WWII, and how research projects were essential in helping build America’s international prominence, as well as our economy and public health.
The chapter talks at length about Vannevar Bush (no relation to the presidents), who was VP and Dean of Engineering at MIT. Cole said that “Bush was a giant. Like Benjamin Franklin, he combined scientific acuity with a vision of how it could be used in the service of national goals.” This particularly struck me: Bush “believed that advances in fundamental science – and what had been viewed as esoteric specialties, like nuclear physics and microbiology – had paid off spectacularly in truly original technological breakthroughs…you had to stockpile basic knowledge that could be called upon ultimately for its practical applications, and that without basic knowledge, truly new technologies were unlikely to emerge.”
Fast forward to the 70s, when Donald Stokes of Princeton’s Woodrow Wilson School came up with this framework: “he identified three types of scientists. The first were those whose only goal was the quest for pure understanding, and…they engage in pure, curiosity-driven research….Danish atomic physicist Niels Bohr, who worked on the structure of atoms, would be in this category….The second category was for those who were motivated solely by considerations of practical use. Thomas Edison was [an] example [of this type of scientist].” The third category was “scientists who were motivated by the quest for fundamental knowledge but also interested in solving problems. Louis Pasteur was the quintessential example.”
Cole’s point is that all types of research – whether curiosity-based or applied – have great value, and they are highly interconnected. And that there are “linkages between economic prosperity, the long-term health of the nation” and investments in research universities. If it were not against copyright, I would share this chapter. Because I did not live through that time myself, I had no real appreciation for the growth of research universities and how our country advanced post WWII as our research capabilities advanced, so this was a fascinating read for me.
Deacon Blvd. closure notice
If your Deacs do a lot of driving around town, they may have noticed there is an enormous amount of work taking place around Baity Street and Deacon Blvd. as part of the construction footprint for The Grounds. So I want them to be aware that the construction area will soon expand to include a portion of Deacon Blvd.:
“Beginning next Wednesday, March 26, Deacon Blvd. will be closed to traffic from University Parkway to the Wake Forest football stadium. This closure is expected to remain in place through late August of this year.”
This is going to be a really amazing space once completed. If you are not following The Grounds Instagram, I encourage you to give it a follow. There was a post in February that shared some of the improvements that are coming, along with a visual:
“Over the next few years, this area will flourish with grasses, wildflowers, shrubs, and trees, creating a thriving space where nature, community, and campus come together. 🌱 🌺✨
Highlights include:
🌳 Over 200 new trees planted
🐾 New wildlife habitat creation
🌾 Over 30,000 native shrubs, grasses, ground covers, and perennials planted
🏃♀️➡️ Multi-purpose path threaded into nature”
I love, love, love seeing all those flowers and flowering trees along Silas Creek. Can’t wait to see this project when it is finished!
Clarification about Business summer session class
Prior to Spring Break, I shared some information about summer business school classes that are open to all students, not just students admitted to the Business School. This week I happened to look in Workday for those same business classes and did not find the courses I had mentioned. So I asked some of my [much wiser] colleagues why they weren’t listed.
Turns out they were listed, I just totally missed the fact that in Workday, there are Business classes, and also Business and Enterprise Management classes – which were the ones I needed. So I wanted to remind people to be sure to look at the correct option (or choose both as you search for ‘business’ courses to cover the bases).
A question also came up about one of the aforementioned courses, Consumer Behavior (BEM 325): should a non-B school student should take a 300-level course, or would that be too advanced? I went straight to the source, my excellent colleague Kenny Herbst, Associate Dean of Undergraduate Business Program and Board of Visitors Fellow in Marketing. Here is what Dean Herbst told me:
“The online summer Consumer Behavior course (BEM 325) in the School of Business is designed to provide a comprehensive and engaging exploration of the psychological, emotional, and social factors that drive consumer decision-making. Although it’s a 300-level course, it is approachable for students who are not business majors, particularly those with a strong interest in understanding how consumers think, feel, and act in the marketplace. This class is ideal for College majors who may be curious about the intersection of human behavior and business but may feel hesitant due to the course’s 300-level designation.
Taught online over 5 weeks in the summer, this course offers a unique opportunity for non-business majors to dive into an essential part of business knowledge, all while enjoying the flexibility of an online format. The condensed, 5-week schedule ensures that the material is presented in an engaging, focused way, and the course content is designed to be relevant, approachable, and easy to grasp.
The goal is to present concepts in a way that is clear, straightforward, and tied to real-world examples, making it a valuable experience for anyone curious about the marketplace and human behavior. The small cohort of students creates a collaborative learning environment in which students can interact with peers and receive personalized feedback from me.
Key takeaways from the course include an understanding of consumer needs, decision-making processes, and how factors like culture, social influence, and psychological biases impact purchasing choices. The course will also explore how businesses use these insights to shape marketing strategies and develop products that resonate with their target audiences.
In summary, Consumer Behavior is a dynamic, practical course that allows College majors to build their understanding of key business concepts, gain insight into human behavior, and explore the fascinating ways in which consumers shape the world around them. With a focus on accessible content and real-world applications, this course offers an enriching summer learning experience without the pressure of intimidating academic jargon or complex prerequisites.”
So in the event your Deac was anxious to try a 300 level Business and Enterprise Management course this summer, hope this might help them feel reassured to give it a try. And while I have not taken any of Dean Herbst’s classes myself, I know him to be a tremendous colleague, plus he is a Wake Forest alumnus, so he knows Wake teaching and learning through and through. It’s a course I wish I could have taken as a student!
Wishing you all a wonderful weekend!