General Education

1
General Education Core Curriculum Review Town
Hall Meetings October 2003
2
Objectives for Today

• Inform you about the ongoing general education
  review/revision process
• Obtain feedback from you regarding the initial
  draft of general education learning objectives.

3
Past Work
4
Charge to the Committee

• Assess effectiveness and relevance of present
  General Education Core Curriculum
• Examine best-in-field programs
• Recommend strategies consistent with FUTURES,
  SACS, and 21st century trends

5
Findings

• General Education serves a variety of purposes
• Prepare for upper classes, promote communication
  skills, math and science abilities, civic
  responsibility, critical thinking
• Support for increasing emphasis on
• Oral and written communication skill development
• Mathematical abilities
• Consensus that currently there is limited
  exposure to global and interdisciplinary
  activities
• Concern over growing use of adjunct professors
• Lack of assurance that learning objectives have
  been met

6
Findings

• Students are completing General Education
  requirements during their first two years
• Students are
• satisfied with
• Communication skills
• Critical thinking skills
• Uneasy about
• Mathematics
• Quantitative reasoning

7
Peer Institutions

• Cleveland State University
• Florida AM University
• James Madison University
• Oakland University
• Old Dominion University
• Prairie View AM University
• Tennessee Tech
• Univ of Texas at San Antonio
• University of Central Florida
• Univ of Mass Dartmouth

• Univ of Minnesota Duluth
• UNC Charlotte
• University of South Florida
• Univ of Tenn Chattanooga
• Virginia Commonwealth Univ
• NC State
• Georgia Tech
• UNCG
• Virginia Tech
• UNC-Chapel Hill

8
Peer Institution Review

• Most require 35-45 semester credits
• Courses are grouped in 5-10 thematic clusters
  with well-defined learning outcomes
• Depth courses within major (writing intensive
  senior projects)
• Assessment of learning objectives
• Simplified structure to make it easy for students

9
Comm. Recommendations

• A draft statement of general education objectives
• Flexible cluster arrangement around learning
  objectives
• Greater emphasis on communications, scientific
  and quantitative reasoning
• At least one writing-intensive course in the
  discipline
• Foreign language beyond high-school level
• Information/Computer Technology proficiency

10
Comm. Recommendations

• Institutional process to deal with transfer
  students general education courses
• General standards and procedures for assessment
  of General Education courses
• Process for admitting a course as a Gen Ed course
• Uniformity of course syllabus, content across
  sections
• Single person to administer Gen Ed Program with
  faculty oversight committee

11
Going Forward
12
Guiding Principles

• Intentionality of Gen. Ed. Curriculum
• Alignment of general education and major
• Assessment of student learning
• Senior Year culminating/capstone experience
• Faculty development
• Focus / Theme
• Inter-disciplinary, service learning, research
  experience, global studies,

13
Action Plan - Fall 2003

• Conduct University-wide discussion on general
  education objectives (Sep Oct 03)
• Ensure consistency with FUTURES Blueprint
• Determine constraints (Sep 03)
• Accreditation requirements
• UNC-Community College articulation agreements
• Requirements specific to individual degree
  programs
• Arrange workshops on general education related
  topics
• Approval of General Education objectives (Nov 03)
• Develop preliminary curriculum based on objectives

14
Action Plan Spring 2004

• Conduct University-wide discussion on general
  education curriculum (Jan Feb 04)
• Initial development of (Jan Feb 04)
• Assessment strategy for General Education
• Process for including courses into General
  Education Curriculum
• Faculty Senate Approval of (Apr 04)
• Revised curriculum structure (credit hours,
  course sequencing, how courses relate to majors,
  etc.)
• Process for including courses into general
  Education Curriculum
• Establish a governance structure for general
  education (Summer 04)
• Continue to develop and refine courses that
  support general education (ongoing)
• Initial development of pilot courses

15
Action Plan Summer 2004

• Governance structure and faculty oversight
  process
• Development of pilot courses for general
  education curriculum
• Refinement of assessment strategies

16
Action Plan Fall 2004

• Initial set of pilot courses offered under
  existing General Education Curriculum
• Mid-semester formative assessment of pilot
  courses
• Approval of general education courses for general
  education curriculum
• Workshops/presentations by experts

17
Action Plan Spring 2005

• Second round of pilot courses offered Post-course
  assessment of pilot courses from fall 2004
• Revision of policies and procedures for general
  education curriculum based on outcomes of fall
  2004 pilot courses
• Approval of general education courses for general
  education curriculum
• Workshops/presentations by experts

18
Action Plan Summer 2005

• Review of 2004-2005 academic year experience with
  pilot courses
• Continuing development of assessment
  procedures/policies
• Final governance/oversight structure
• Fall 2005 Initial implementation of revised
  General Education Curriculum

19
Open Process

• General Education Core Review Committee open
  meetings (1st and 3rd Wednesdays, meeting
  schedule and minutes posted on website)
• Department meetings in response to Provosts
  request
• Course and curriculum approval through
  schools/colleges and Faculty Senate
• http//www.ncat.edu/simkinss/gened/
• College/School Town Hall meetings

20
(No Transcript)
21
Feedback on Learning Objectives

• Quick review of draft learning objectives
• What set of attributes/skills should every NC AT
  student, regardless of major, possess when she/he
  enters her/his major and when she/he graduates?
• What general education learning objectives will
  lead to this outcome? Do the learning objectives
  that have been drafted accomplish this?

22
Draft Statement of Objectives

• Effectively develop a written report or oral
  presentation that accommodates audience needs and
  shows a mastery of basic communications skills
• Proficient in basic mathematical skills, be able
  to formulate problems mathematically, be able to
  use mathematical methods to solve original
  problems, and demonstrate an understanding of the
  nature of mathematical reasoning

23
Draft Statement of Objectives

• Demonstrate an understanding and application of
  scientific methodology, laboratory techniques,
  quantitative problem solving, modeling skills,
  and experimental design to formulate and evaluate
  hypotheses
• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of
  diverse cultures in a global world
• Develop an understanding and awareness of
  African/African American culture

24
Draft Statement of Objectives

• Demonstrate an appreciation of music, literature,
  and the fine arts
• Examine issues involving values, ethics, and
  social responsibility in disciplined and critical
  ways
• Understand the psychological and physiological
  bases of a healthy mental and physical lifestyle