As roles change within teaching structures, so do relationships. At the Cornell College of Engineering, the emphasis on research has remained high over the decades while the demand for quality teaching and advising has increased, thus creating a triple burden on the faculty members. The emphasis on teaching excellence is being fueled by our increasing understanding of how to maximize the learning process with increasingly sophisticated teaching skills. We understand that different people learn differently, necessitating that teachers employ a variety of communication strategies. We understand that some people learn better through cooperative work, rather than through the independent scholar model.
Studies continue to emphasize that gender and cultural barriers can filter out gifted individuals.
In this competitive world, we can t afford to let talent get away. We must learn how to speak to all. In addition to the increasingly complex world of teaching, we have acknowledged the dangers to some students of the psychological pressures inherent in a highly competitive learning environment. Because of these pressures, staff and faculty must be vigilant when assessing the well-being of students. They must know how to deal with a student in crisis.