Teaching and Learning

At its heart, the Oxford College experience is transformative.  We promote the pursuit of knowledge through excellence in teaching and learning with three things in mind:

• What knowledge can do for us: empower us to achieve our goals and to have successful lives and careers;
• What knowledge can do to us: make us better human beings;
• What knowledge can do with us: create in us both the desire and ability to interact with other human beings and our natural environment in ethical, humane, and beneficial ways.

The interrelated programs of the Center for Academic Excellence (CAE) and the Pierce Institute for Leadership and Community Engagement combine to enrich the work of the faculty and to help Oxford students succeed in their academic endeavors, in leadership and service roles on campus and in the community, and in their future careers.

At Oxford you will enjoy the talent and innovation of faculty who continually explore and adopt the most effective strategies and techniques to capture and expand your intellectual curiosity. Some of our programs include: 

Oxford Undergraduate Research Scholars Program
The Oxford Research Scholars Program offers students the opportunity to assist faculty members in carrying out their research projects. Faculty in the humanities, social sciences, sciences, mathematics, and physical education work with selected students on designated research projects of common interest. At the end of the academic year, each participant takes part in a research symposium.

Oxford Studies
Oxford Studies is a one-hour, elective, interdisciplinary course. Through attendance, participation, and written reflection, the course encourages thoughtful involvement in the rich cultural and educational activities available in our community beyond the traditional confines of the classroom. Oxford Studies supports the College's efforts to promote engagement with the arts and with intellectual issues of shared interest.

Writing Center
The Oxford College Writing Center is a place for all students to get feedback on their writing in a comfortable atmosphere. Students can visit the center to organize their thoughts, learn to recognize grammatical errors, smooth over transitions, and develop more focused papers. Writing Center Tutors are successful writers themselves and are trained peer reviewers. Instead of simply editing papers with an intimidating red pen, they go through each piece of work explaining why things should be revised so that students develop not only better papers, but also highly improved writing skills to serve them for many years to come

Mathematics Center
The Math Center seeks to support and promote the learning of mathematics through tutoring, innovative instruction, and the effective use of technology.

Off campus courses such as Social Problems and Social Change in Developing Countries and other travel/study opportunities such as Oxford's Global Connections program.

Oxford Scholars
Each year Oxford College designates a number of its predicted outstanding incoming freshmen as Oxford Scholars. Oxford Scholars include Robert W. Woodruff Scholars, Dean's Scholars, and Faculty Scholars, all of whom are selected on the basis of their grades, curriculum test scores, essays, extracurricular activities, and demonstrated interest. The Oxford Scholars Program is dedicated to the academic enrichment of Oxford College as well as to promoting a sense of community among Oxford Scholars, including leadership development. Oxford Scholars not only interact with other scholars but also with faculty members who volunteer their time to this program. 

Summer Undergraduate Research Program at Emory
The Summer Undergraduate Research Program at Emory (SURE) allows undergraduate students to conduct supervised research with a faculty mentor. Students receive training in the research methods applicable to their research plan, analyze their data and create written and oral presentations of their results. At the end of the summer, each participant takes part in a formal research symposium.

Institute for Pedagogy in the Liberal Arts (IPLA)
The Summer Institute for Pedagogy in the Liberal Arts is a week-long collaborative workshop that promotes faculty teaching innovations and initiatives that develop pedagogies to enhance student learning. IPLA supports four of our Strategic Plan's goals: (1) To establish Oxford as the exemplar of a Liberal Arts Intensive college; (2) To support the continuing growth of Oxford's transformative learning environment grounded in innovative pedagogies of engagement; (3) To make the contributions of Oxford's students, faculty, and staff a definitive, enriching element of the Emory University identity; (4) To catalyze the emergence of Emory University as the paradigm for undergraduate education within a national research university.

Journal of Cognitive-Affective Learning
The Journal of Cognitive Affective Learning (JCAL) is a peer-reviewed journal dedicated to disseminating research on holistic educational practices that focus on the significance of the cognitive-affective relationship in promoting deep and enduring learning. Access to the journal (articles and services) is free of charge. JCAL publishes theoretical papers, original research reports, literature reviews, and extended reviews of selected books.