Goals of General Education Program

Transcription

1 Goals of General Education Program Statement of Philosophy "General Education is a part of our curriculum that challenges students to develop the intellectual habits, skills, values, and breadth of knowledge characteristic of all university-educated persons.... In General Education we work toward education of "intellectually vital graduates who are creative, effective leaders and communicators...aware of the changing social, economic and cultural values of the world" (MTU Vision Statement).

2 Goals of General Education Program Faculty and students cultivate intellectual values essential to the practice of democracy: respect for others, desire to engage in constructive discourse, clear reasoning and communication, and careful and balanced analysis. Students learn to understand, value, and negotiate individual, intellectual, and cultural difference, and to recognize and understand the significance of historical, social, and environmental context. Every graduate should understand the diverse modes of inquiry that distinguish the sciences, humanities, social sciences and professions, and should acquire a broad knowledge of the world's intellectual, spiritual, and artistic traditions. Together, these elements prepare graduates who can work with others to improve their communities, their societies, and their world. (1998 General Education Task Force Report)

3 Goals of General Education Program Understanding the whole person - wellness education Moral and ethical reasoning Environmental awareness Social and cultural awareness, knowledge of human cultures (global diversity, and community, American pluralism, social change and public deliberation, Western and non-western cultures, human institutions Modes of Inquiry - the assumptions, methods, values and goals of philosophy, history, literature, fine arts, science, social sciences, economics and engineering; abstraction and algorithmic processing

4 Goals of General Education Program Intellectual habits and values: the nature of inquiry, evidence and informed reasoning, critical reasoning, dialogue and critical exchange, intellectual curiosity, life-long learning, learning as a social process (teamwork, etc.), reflection, understanding of multiple intelligences, acting as a producer of knowledge and understanding Skills Personal skills for success - time management, decision making and goal setting Communication - its modes and contexts Quantitative skills - understanding and use of

5 Goals of General Education Program Algorithmic processing Analytical techniques Statistical techniques Problem solving skills Knowledge area goals - as we work toward student learning and growth in the areas above, we at the same time want to build student knowledge in the following areas Literature and language Visual arts, music, theater, film and video Social and behavioral analysis Epistemology and cognition

6 Goals of General Education Program Ethics and moral philosophy Historical studies Natural and physical science Economic institutions Mathematical modeling and problem solving in natural and physical sciences, mathematics, economics, computer science, and engineering

7 Structure of General Education 4 Core Courses (13 cr) Distribution Requirement (15 cr) Select courses from 5 lists within 2 areas Science/Engr/CS/Math Requirement (16 cr) Co-curricular Requirement (equiv. to 3 cr)

8 General Education Administration General Education Council 14 members Method of selection vague All colleges and schools represented First Year Subcommittee Communications Subcommittee Distribution Subcommittee Executive Subcommittee

9 Changes in General Education 4 Core Courses (13 cr) no change Distribution Requirement (15 cr) 5 lists shrunk to 2 2 lists replaced with one HASS List Limit of 3 credits of creative endeavor Limit of 3 credits from supplemental list All courses reviewed, Science/Engr/CS/Math Requirement (16 cr) Established STEM list Co-curricular Requirement no change

10 Changes in General Education Administration General Education Council 11 members Appointed by Provost Represent 4 core courses; STEM disciplines; writing center Terms of service established Perspectives Committee World Cultures Committee Distribution Committee

11 Perspectives Who Teaches Perspectives? instructors 16 tenured/tenure track 7 fulltime faculty/staff 3 ABD 11 adjuncts 27 hold terminal degrees 6 are first-time Perspectives instructors 2 have taught Perspectives once before 25 have taught Perspectives 3 or more semesters Quality of Instruction - Teaching Evaluations, 2008 Overall, Q 20 Average 4.41 T/TT; fulltime Q20 Average 4.48 ABD/Adjuncts Q20 Average 4.34

12 Other Core Courses Who Teaches World Cultures? instructors 4 tenured/tenure track 1 fulltime faculty/staff 5 hold Ph.D.s Who Teaches Revisions? All instructors are graduate students in the Humanities Department Who Teaches Institutions? instructors 3 tenured/tenure track 1 fulltime faculty/staff 2 are adjunct faculty 4 hold Ph.D.s

13 Plans for Review and Revision of General Education Clarify Goals of Core Courses Articulate Goals of General Education Program Seek to move UN2001 to First Year; World Cultures to Second Year Investigate ways to increase emphasis on writing Re-evaluate STEM and HASS distribution requirements Strengthen institutional support