General Education Senate discussion scheduled for April 11 and 25

1. General EducationSenate discussion scheduled for April 11 and 25 • Proposal to base General Education on outcomes that can be assessed • Proposal for a process and timeline to revise General Education

2. General EducationSenate 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 28-33. 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=/ProcessForAssessment/ • Draft proposals from the 2010-2011 Ad hoc Committee. Download from the ad hoccommittee’s page under Senate’s Current Topics page

3. 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.

4. Process and timeline • April 2011. Motion to the Faculty Senate to base General Education on outcomes that can be assessed • May-September. Departments review the drafts that have been prepared by the Ad hoc General Education Committee, and provide feedback by September 30th • 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

5. Process and timeline (page 2) • 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 • Feedback from departments would be incorporated into the general education requirements and assessment process by the Standing General Education Committee

6. 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

7. 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 assessment

8. Current Proposal • Coordination with the KBOR Program Review process, Higher Learning Commission and program accreditation requirements • Acknowledges the current climate of “accountability” in higher education, e.g. the Voluntary System of Accountability • 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

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. 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.

12. 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