Britni Ratliff, Senior Instructional Professor in the Physical Sciences and a vital part of the Chemistry department, has been honored with this year's Swogger Award. The annual award recognizes faculty for exceptional contributions to teaching and student learning, and recipients are chosen by the undergraduate student population.
Ratliff wears many hats at UChicago, serving as the director of STEM Pedagogy for the Physical Sciences Division, the associate master for the Physical Sciences Collegiate Division, and a senior instructional professor in the Chemistry department.
Her most impactful recent contribution is the UChicago Collaborative Learning model. This innovative program empowers numerous students to learn more deeply through peer engagement, training student leaders to facilitate courses that boost academic performance and confidence. These Learning courses are distinguished within the Sciences curriculum for their unique focus on critical inquiry and for the dedication of the students who embrace the chance to become leaders themselves.
Speaking with UChicago News, Ratliff emphasizes the core benefit of this approach: "Collaborative learning courses reinforce the Core curriculum principles by creating structured opportunities for students to practice analytical reasoning, problem solving and reflective thinking." She added, "My goal is to ensure they gain the skills, confidence and tools to navigate their path with clarity and purpose."
Chemistry Chair Jiwoong Park, writing in email to the department, praised Dr. Ratliff’s "commitment to student learning, her thoughtful approach to instruction, and her positive impact in the classroom have made her an outstanding educator and a valued member of our department. Her recognition with the Swogger Award reflects the high regard in which she is held by students and colleagues alike.”
Ratliff joins a distinguished group of Chemistry department recipients, including 2024 Swogger Award winner Hannah Lant, in continuing a tradition of excellence. She expressed deep appreciation for the exceptional quality of UChicago students and for this recognition of her significant impact on both student success and the university's teaching philosophy.