As a law professor, Knight taught two interdisciplinary courses through Literature, Science, and the Arts, an undergraduate interdisciplinary program. In Form and Milieu in the Arts, Knight teamed up with Wallace Chappell, director of Hancher Auditorium, and James McPherson of the Writers' Workshop. Most recently Knight taught Race, Law, and Culture with Stephana Colbert, an attorney for the University. Knight says that as vice provost, he'd like to further develop the University's interdisciplinary collaborations. Interdisciplinary courses are best when students see things differently when they leave the class than they did when they walked in.
Professors can gain a broader perspective as well.
Last spring Reitz taught Law and Democracy with political science professor William Reisinger. The class was the result of a collaboration by Reisinger and Reitz on an analysis of the legal systems of newly independent countries of the former Soviet Union. I've learned a tremendous amount from Professor Reisinger. Reitz says that although responsibility for teaching the course was divided in half, both professors attended all of the classes, a format that is typical of many interdisciplinary classes. While some courses result from specific projects professors have worked on together, others spring from conversations between faculty with mutual interests who seek one another out while doing research.