General%20Education%20March%2026,%202007

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General EducationMarch 26, 2007

• Going forward, what might the endgame look like?

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Why Address This Now?

• In laying out an endgame, it continues momentum
  of going forward and instills a measure of
  confidence that our efforts will, this time,
  succeed.
• If the process is articulated in such a way that
  whatever the GenEd curriculum ends up being will
  be able to 'breathe,' it could free us up to take
  chances and propose bolder initiatives than we
  may otherwise have if wed thought we'd be
  eternally stuck with what results.

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Why Address This Now?

• We will also have to answer the question How
  should the new program be governed, such that it
  is effectively implemented and also subject to
  change when needed?
• Where do we find an answer
• Preliminary suggestions already laid out in
  charge
• Examining the Governance Manual for possible
  solutions
• Asking our experienced faculty to propose its
  governance

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Nov. 2, 2005 Faculty Assembly Meeting

• President Mooney proposed the creation of a new
  standing committee under the Academic Affairs
  Council
• She proposed a charge, a committee structure, and
  a governance process
• The Curriculum Study Committee gives up oversight
  over the Gen Ed curriculum
• The new GE Committee would report to Academic
  Affairs Council which has the authority to enact
  curriculum changes
• It may seek general faculty input to the new
  General Education Curriculum through Faculty
  Assembly prior to Academic Affairs Council
  approving it.

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Process of Approving a General Education
Curriculum
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Nov 2, 2005 Faculty Assembly Meeting

• The General Education Committee will have
  authority to approve courses and rearticulate the
  statement of purpose and aims every ten years.
• General Education courses must first be approved
  by the Curriculum Committee
• These courses would then be approved to receive
  the General Education designation by the General
  Education Committee

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Approval and implementation process of GEC
courses/other requirements
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Nov 2, 2005 Faculty Assembly Meeting

• In addition, the General Education Committee has
  the right to determine a structure for faculty
  input before moving a proposal to the Academic
  Affairs Council
• Using Development Days
• Sponsoring Lunches
• Went to Faculty Assembly with Learning Outcomes
• Creating Design Teams

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What has happened in AY 06-07?

• Ad Hoc General Education Committee created in
  November 2006
• Spring Development Day
• Built Models A, B, C, and D and met with
  departments in spring 2007
• Attended General Education Meeting in Rhode
  Island in summer

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What is happening in Ay 2007-2008?

• http//smcgened.blogspot.com/
• Models Learning Outcomes (3 pairs)
• Knowledge Integration and Acquisition of Learning
• Cognitive and Communicative Skills
• Intercultural Competence and Social
  Responsibility

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Design Teams Are Being Created and Are Working
Hard
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Rest of AY 2007-2008 and Summer
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Better picture Interlocking character of General
Education Curriculum
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AY 2008 -2010
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AY 2008-2009
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In the end, we will have
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How it would work
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Keep it open and flexible
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Are you satisfied with the current process and
what is proposed for future governance?
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Repeat Why Address This Now?

• We will also have to answer the question How
  should the new program be governed, such that it
  is effectively implemented and also subject to
  change when needed?
• Where do we find an answer
• Preliminary suggestions already laid out
• Examining the Governance Manual for possible
  solutions
• Asking our experienced faculty to propose
  suggestions for its governance

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Do we need an General Education Advisory Board?

• to assure us that we have a GEC that can
  breathe
• to craft answers to governance questions
• to advise on transition issues
• to handle unforeseen matters