Transcript Slide 1

General Education
Senate discussion scheduled for April 11 and 25
1. Proposal to base General Education on outcomes that
can be assessed
2. Proposal for a process and timeline to revise General
Education
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General Education
Senate discussion scheduled for April 11 and 25
Documents for Senate review to frame the discussion
• May 2002 report from the Senate’s Ad hoc General
Education committee. Item 6
athttp://webs.wichita.edu/?u=facultysenate&p=/201011adhocgeneduc/
• KBOR Foresight 2020, especially “Pillar #4” on slides 2833. Download from KBOR tab at
http://webs.wichita.edu/?u=academicaffairs&p=/index
• Program review requirements. Download at
http://webs.wichita.edu/?u=SHOCKERASSESSMENT&p=/ProcessForAsses
sment/
• Draft proposals from the 2010-2011 Ad hoc Committee.
Download from the ad hoc committee’s page under Senate’s Current Topics
page
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Motion from Gen Ad Hoc Comm.
• The Faculty Senate endorses the creation of General
Education learning outcomes that (i) can be assessed for
the purposes of accreditation, (ii) meet KBOR
requirements and goals (Program Review), (iii) create
transparency and clarity about the goals of General
Education, and (iv) provide guidelines to the
departments and colleges as they evaluate and modify
their courses and curricula in the future.
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Process and timeline
a) April 2011. Motion to the Faculty Senate to base
General Education on outcomes that can be assessed
b) May-September. Departments review the drafts that
have been prepared by the Ad hoc General Education
Committee, and provide feedback by September 30th
c) October 24th. Based on feedback from departments a
revised draft will be prepared by the Ad hoc General
Education Committee and brought to the Senate for an
initial reading. Target date October 24th
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Process and timeline (page 2)
d) February 2012. After Senate approval, the mission
statement and outcomes will be sent back to
departments. Departments that offer courses for
general education credit will determine how their current
general education courses meet these outcomes and
how they are assessed. Target date February 24th,
2012
e) Feedback from departments would be incorporated into
the general education requirements and assessment
process by the Standing General Education Committee
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2001-2003
• Ad hoc committee was formed by Senate President Will
Klunder in the spring of 2001 at the request of Provost
Kendrick to address the program’s assessment. Convened in
October 2001 by Senate President Jeri Carroll
• The committee addressed program structure, content,
advising, and, to a lesser extent, program outcomes. Its report
was completed in May 2002.
• In 2002-2003 four task forces were formed by Senate
President Kirk Lancaster to follow up on the report: Identity,
Graduation, Transfer Equivalency, and Assessment.
• The work of these committees resulted in 5 motions presented
to the faculty in April 2003
• The reports and motions can be downloaded
athttp://webs.wichita.edu/senate/structure.html
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Potholes 2001-2003
• The work done from 2001-2003 resulted in some useful
administrative changes to general education, e.g. the 48-hour
rule, but many of the faculty committee recommendations
remain unimplemented (e.g. prerequisites for further studies
courses)
• The proposals to the faculty focused on administrative
changes without providing greater clarity to the objectives of
General Education at WSU. The 2002-2003 reports highlighted
the need for program identity and assessment
• The 2001-2003 process did not provide a mechanism for
departmental input
• The process underestimated the amount of time, dialogue and
commitment required by the process
• Lack of direct connection between the objectives and
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assessment
Current Proposal
1. Coordination with the KBOR Program Review process,
Higher Learning Commission and program accreditation
requirements
2. Acknowledges the current climate of “accountability” in
higher education, e.g. the Voluntary System of
Accountability
3. Will provide a mechanism for improvement in General
Education, a means for evaluating course approvals by
the standing General Education committee, and a basis
for articulation agreements
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Present Mission
• The general education program seeks to provide each
student with a body of knowledge that is both a broad
foundation for his or her major field of study, and also the
beginning of what is necessary to become a genuinely
educated person. The general education program
provides the opportunity for all students to grow in
knowledge and appreciation of the rich variety of human
achievements in the arts, humanities, and sciences.
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Proposed Mission (Draft)
• Wichita State University is a diverse community united in
a common desire for excellence in learning, teaching,
scholarship, and public service. While there are many
important reasons for a university education, one
overarching purpose encompasses all others – to
educate and mentor students to become responsible and
informed citizens and leaders for our communities, our
nation, and the world.
• General education is the common element of the
university experience and is the foundation which infuses
and integrates the knowledge, skills, values, and
reasoning essential for academic and personal success.
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Present Goals
• to study and apply basic mathematical principles;
• to study and apply principles of written and oral
communication;
• to study and apply basic library research skills including
basic assessment of various kinds of sources;
• to study and gain a basic understanding of the natural
sciences, social and behavioral sciences, humanities
and fine arts; and
• to study human diversity on a global basis and its
implications for society.
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Proposed Outcomes (Draft)
Upon graduation, students will:
• Have been introduced to the arts
• Have knowledge of historical and contemporary global issues
• Understand the relevance of professional and ethical responsibility
• Have learned to use research and information tools
and be able to:
• Communicate effectively in writing and speaking
• Think critically and creatively
• Solve problems
• Demonstrate knowledge of mathematics and the natural and social
sciences
• Function collaboratively in multidisciplinary and in intercultural
environments
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