Associate Professor

Office: Kohl Hall
Phone: (419) 372-0563
Email: midden@bgsu.edu

Biographical Facts
Joined the faculty in 1987
Ph.D., Ohio State University (1978)
B.A., St. John's University (1974)

Research Interests
Dr. Midden was co-founder of the first full-featured residential learning community at BGSU, the “Chapman Learning Community ” (CLC). This program was cited nationally by the Joint Task Force on Student Learning of AAHE, ACPA and NASPA in its report of best examples of how learning communities enhance undergraduate education (Joint Task Force on Student Learning 1998). Evidence of the effectiveness of CLC includes higher retention rates, higher student satisfaction, and higher GPAs when CLC participants are compared to another group of BGSU first-year students matched on high school GPA, ACT scores, size of high school, type of home town, socio-economic levels and other relevant factors. CLC has been extremely effective in enhancing and increasing collaboration at all levels, including student-student, student-faculty, faculty-faculty, faculty-residence hall staff as well as three-way collaborations involving all participants.  Dr. Midden is also the founder and director of the International Clearinghouse and Registry for Residential Learning Communities: http://www.bgsu.edu/colleges/as/clc/rlcch/.   He has made many presentations at regional and national professional meetings on various aspects of residential learning communities and their role in increasing student academic achievement, engagement and satisfaction.  A few examples follow.

Midden, W.R.; Klein, T.: “The Chapman Learning Community” AAC&U National Meeting on “Learning Communities: Strategies for Strengthening Connections, Competence, and Commitments” Providence, RI Mar 1-3, 2001.

Schoem, D.L.; Midden, W.R.; Minor, F.; Levine, J.: “Critical Issues in Living/Learning Communities” joint presentation by Univ. of Michigan, BGSU & Univ. of Missouri, 6th Annual Learning Communities Conference, Chicago, IL Nov 7-9, 2001.

Midden, W.R.; Schoem, D.L.: “Benefits of Residential Learning Communities—The Student Perspective” facilitation of panel of students at the 6th Annual Learning Communities Conference, Chicago, IL Nov 7-9, 2001.

Midden, W.R.; Klein, T.D.; Richardson, S.M.; Craft, W.; Hinds, C.; Bushman, D.: “The Costs of Learning Communities: What Are They & Are They Worth It?” 85th Annual Meeting of the Association of American Colleges and Universities, San Francisco, CA, Jan. 28-30, 1999.