Marquette Dental School Secures $1.37M Grant for Innovative Education Hub!
Jan. 6, 2025
MILWAUKEE — Big news is brewing at the Marquette University School of Dentistry! They’ve just snagged a whopping $1.37 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education to launch the groundbreaking Open Dental Education Consortium. This initiative is all about revolutionizing dental education by standardizing practices and cutting tuition costs for future dental professionals.
In an exciting collaboration, Marquette will join forces with Chippewa Valley Technical College, Milwaukee Area Technical College, and Brigham Young University. Together, they’re setting out to support aspiring dentists at every level of their training—whether they’re pursuing a predoctoral DDS/DMD, dental hygiene, or dental assisting.
“Right now, there’s a significant gap in open education within dental training,” shared Dr. Elisabeta Karl, the associate dean of academic affairs and the mastermind behind this initiative at Marquette. “This consortium will allow faculty and student instructional designers to collaborate in crafting a curriculum that will not only enhance learning but also save each student an estimated $1,000 during the grant period!”
But that’s just the beginning! ODEC will focus on providing comprehensive training and development opportunities for faculty and stakeholders, ensuring they’re well-versed in open educational resources. Faculty members looking to innovate their courses will be paired with talented graduate students, creating high-quality educational materials. Plus, all these resources will be housed in a centralized repository at opendentaled.org, making them accessible for years to come.
Dr. Karl is teaming up with Dr. Casey Wright, who has transitioned from MUSOD to an assistant professor role at Pacific Northwest University, to drive this project forward.
“We’re incredibly proud of Dr. Karl and Dr. Wright for spearheading this initiative alongside our consortium partners,” declared Dr. Elsbeth Kalenderian, dean of MUSOD. “The goal is to standardize high-quality dental education and ease the financial burden on students who dream of entering this vital field. In a time when communities desperately need more dentists, this grant aligns perfectly with Marquette University’s mission of access to education.”
Looking ahead, ODEC aims to have its resources adopted by dental schools across the nation and beyond. The ambitious plan is for each consortium member to transform at least 25% of their curriculum to an open model within the next three years. This could mean substantial savings for over 530 students, each pocketing at least $1,000!
As more technical colleges and dental schools join the movement, the impact will only grow. Not only will this initiative lead to financial savings, but it will also likely enhance student performance and engagement, paving the way for superior learning outcomes.
About Marquette University School of Dentistry
Since its inception in 1894, Marquette University School of Dentistry has been a cornerstone of oral health care, providing exceptional clinical education and community service. Celebrating over 130 years of commitment, the school is dedicated to training skilled practitioners who deliver top-notch dental care to both urban and rural communities across the nation and around the world.
About Kevin Conway
Kevin serves as the associate director for university communication in the Office of Marketing and Communication. Reach out to Kevin at (414) 288-4745 or via email at [email protected].
