Bringing Theory to Practice

The Bringing Theory to Practice Project (BTtoP) encourages colleges and universities to reassert their core purposes as educational institutions, not only to advance learning and discovery, but to advance the potential and well-being of each individual student, and to advance education as a public good that sustains a civic society.

The Project supports campus-based initiatives that demonstrate how uses of engaged forms of learning that actively involve students both within and beyond the classroom directly contribute to their cognitive, emotional, and civic development.

Synopsis

For a comprehensive overview of the evolution of the Project since 2002-2003, please see the Synopsis of the Development of the Bringing Theory to Practice Project (PDF).

What's New

Register now for our 2nd National Bridging Conference. "Bridging Institutional Divides: Practical Applications for Strengthening Campus Cultures for Learning, Civic Engagement and Psychosocial Well-being" will address patterns of campus divide and dissonance that restrain the full expression of higher education’s core purposes and offers practical strategies for maximizing campus resources to more directly connect mission to action and to strengthen campus cultures for engaged learning, civic development and psychosocial well-being of students. More informaton | Register

BTtoP's new volume Transforming Undergraduate Education: Theory that Compels and Practices that Succeed is available. This resource features chapters from twenty-four scholars, educational leaders and practitioners as well as ten case studies of campuses that have been recipients of Bringing Theory to Practice support. Project Co-founder and Director Don Harward contributed Part 1 and edited the book; National Evaluator Ashley Finley both authored a chapter and co-edited the case studies. Table of Contents | Press Release | More info and purchase

BTtoP celebrated a decade of support and accomplishments with a dinner and strategic meeting on September 23-24, 2011. The Friday evening gathering provided an opportunity to thank friends and colleagues for their support, involvement and encouragement over the past decade of BTtoP work. The Saturday strategic meeting was an opportunity to look ahead—to gain from the contributions and perspectives of the scholars, practitioners, administrators and students gathered to not only reflect on what has been achieved as a Project, but also to determine what were seen as current and relevant realities facing the project’s continued growth and scope of work in encouraging and sustaining transformational changes—changes that have confirmable positive implications for the learning, psychosocial development, and civic engagement of students. A "decennial report" created for the meeting highlights the history and achievements of the national Project over the past decade and is available for viewing online and a transcript/summary of the meeting will soon be available.

The Bringing Theory to Practice Project is sponsored by the Charles Engelhard Foundation of New York City and the S. Engelhard Center and developed in partnership with the Association of American Colleges and Universities. More information on funders.