General Education Initiative at Eastern Washington University

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General Education Initiative at Eastern
Washington University

• General Education Review Group and the Greater
  Expectations Team

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(No Transcript)
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Project Goals

• ASP- Revitalize general education inclusive for
  all students, rigorous, engaging and integrated
  throughout the students educational experience
• Incorporate cyclical review and revision to
  maintain evolution of general education

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Project Goals- continued

• Ensure open, transparent communication at the
  forefront of our process, engaging the
  literature, best practices, and research in a
  fashion that is self-reflective and
  future-oriented.

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Background

• EWU Mission To prepare broadly educated,
  technologically proficient, and highly productive
  citizens to attain meaningful careers, to enjoy
  enriched lives, and to make contributions to a
  culturally diverse society
• Academic Strategic Plan confirms our commitment
  to achieving this mission.

FOR MORE INFO...
http//www.ewu.edu/x2248.xml
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Our Students

• Our campus is dedicated to supporting all
  students in achieving this success.
• 10,000 students within six colleges
• Many of EWU students are under servedthey come
  from rural areas, are first-generation, and /or
  low-income.

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• 74 traditional aged (18-24)
• 79 receiving need-based and non-need based aid
• 15 Racial/ethnic diversity
• 55 of first-time/first year students are
  first-generation
• 34 of first year students entering with a 3.5 or
  higher GPA

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Current General Education Curriculum

University Competencies and Proficiencies Core
Requirements University Graduation Requirements
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Current Assessment

• General Education Curriculum Committee (GECC)
• Shared Learning Objectives
• Three Tiers Competencies, Core Requirements,
  University Requirements
• Courses assess one objective every three years

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Current Assessment continued

• End of Program Assessment
• Departmental Level
• Assessment of Program Learning Objectives on a
  three year cycle
• May include student surveys, work samples, etc.
• Accreditation Review
• In process

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Rationale for Review and Revitalization

• A meaningful commitment to educational
  excellence begins with agreement about the most
  important goals for student learning.
• --Greater Expectations, National Panel Report,
  AACU

FOR MORE INFO...
http//www.ewu.edu/x2248.xml
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Value Key Learning Outcomes Proposed
Six Pillars of an Eastern Education

• Critical Thinking and Intellectual Curiosity
• Communication
• Diverse Perspectives
• Internationalization Globalization
• Social, Environmental and Ethical Responsibility
• Disciplinary Expertise

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Enhance Retention

• While 3 out of 4 first-time, full-time,
  Baccalaureate Degree-seeking Freshmen at EWU
  continue to their second year, year-to-year
  retention rates drop sharply after the second
  year (2004-2005 CSRDE Retention Survey).

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Foster Student Success to Graduation

• Graduation rates for our first-time, full-time,
  Baccalaureate Degree-seeking Freshmen
• 21 graduate after four years
• 40.4 graduate after five years
• 45.4 graduate after six years
• (2004-2005 CSRDE 11/16/05)

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General Overview of Process
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Resources

• History--Failed and Successful Attempts
• Human CapitalLeadership, Diversity, Faculty
  Commitment
• Institutional ResourcesAcademic Strategic Plan,
  Faculty Fellows Program

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Obstacles

• Leadership transitions
• Funding model
• Need to integrate transfers/DTA
• Strength of individual programs and their
  identity
• Cynicism
• Fear of change

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Current Status

• General Education Review Group
• Research on Campus Climate
• Research on National Models and Best Practices
• Discussion of Key Learning Outcomes
• Visioning Conference- Greater Expectations Team
• Integration Project Proposals
• Service Learning and Gen Ed
• e-Portfolio Integration Project

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Schedule

• Year 05-06Adopting key learning outcomes,
  Visioning, and Planning

FOR MORE INFO...
http//www.ewu.edu/x24094.xml for General
Education Initiative Action Plan
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Current Research/Assessment

• ETS General Education Exam
• General Education History at EWU
• Faculty/Staff Survey on Gen Ed
• Empowering Student Voices Project
• University Relations Community Survey

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Matrix of Key Learning Outcomes

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Contributors

• Faculty Fellow for General Education
• Sue Marie Wright
• General Education Review Group Chair- tbd
• Greater Expectations Team
• Marti Brzoska
• Nick Jackson
• Richard Meier
• Esteban Rodriguez-Marek
• Victor Rodriguez
• Michelle Whittingham

• General Education Review Group
• Barbara Alvin, Mark Baldwin, Marti Brzoska,
  Cynthia Cutler, Ray Hamel, Fred Hurand, Garrett
  Kenney, Linda Kieffer, Terry MacMullan, Mimi
  Marinucci, Robert McGinty, Ginny Mehlert, Suzanne
  Milton, Deacon Meier, Lisa Nappa, Dave Nelson,
  Toni Oertling, Robert Quinn, Edward Slack, Robert
  Stirling, Chris Valeo, Cami Warren, and Michelle
  Whittingham.