Naming and creating a visible framework for our offerings in interdisciplinary/integrative work and in individualized/independent study would be of tremendous help to students, prospective students, even faculty and the programs as such: naming is not just important, but it is, in fact, crucial.
- The name/framework allows clear identification along with a connective thread to whatever is under the umbrella of the framework.
- The name/framework communicates a deep commitment to the programs–a definitive direction.
- The framework establishes priorities and connections, a reality in which the programs are interwoven–rather than supplemental or isolated.
- The framework provides visibility for students and facilitates a clearer understanding of those offerings and their relevance within the curriculum.
After some considerations and consultations, we settled on The Fuse Nexus in Spring 2017, a name that actually resonated and allowed clear branding and identification. The Fuse Nexus lent itself to be seen as a space of innovation and experimentation, a sphere of rigorous work that would still push the boundaries and be daring within the higher education realm–a cutting-edge (avant-garde!) higher ed practice, if one may allow oneself. The Fuse Nexus gave way to the more formal–and more easily idenetifiable–Center for Interdisciplinary Studies.