GERT Force March 14, 2019

Agenda Talk about conference Put some language to SLOs Mission and Vision...begin a draft Path forward...syllabi analysis and course redesign Skill badges Communication to campus Gen Ed Redesign stipends Upcoming webinars Article from Dr. Burckel

Conference Reflections What did you learn that can help you in the classroom?  What did you learn that will help us implement the new SLOs?  What did you learn about other schools' efforts toward reforming gen ed?  What innovative ideas impressed you?  What will be our challenges?  Five themes:  Proficiency – Rita and Keagan Agency and Self-Direction – Chris and Jess Integrative Learning and Problem- Based Inquiry – Darren and Mark Equity – Greg and Lisa Intentionality, Transparency, and Assessment – Wes and Jess

Adding language to our SLOs Big 3 Communication – Students will effectively use written, oral, and visual modes of communication.  Problem Solving – Students will apply diverse methods to answer questions and explore solutions to problems.  Personal and Professional Development – Students will cultivate personal and professional development, laying the foundations for life-long learning.

Adding language to our SLOs Little 6 Information Literacy – Students will identify authoritative information sources; compose search strategies to access needed information, ask questions that lead to new areas of inquiry; and participate in the world of scholarly communication.  Ethical Reasoning – Students will evaluate ethical judgements and courses of action by considering various perspectives and formulating reasonable positions about ethical situations and dilemmas. 

Adding language to our SLOs Little 6 Civics – Students develop civic literacy and the capacity to be community-engaged learners who act in mutually beneficial ways with community partners. Students have a working knowledge of the history, governing documents, and governing institutions of their country.  Financial Literacy – Students will apply strategies to manage and control personal finances and investments. 

Adding language to our SLOs Little 6 Personal Responsibility - (repeat of personal and professional development above?) Teamwork - Students develop the knowledge and skills to work with others in a professional and constructive manner. (maybe lump this under personal and professional development?)

Mission and Vision The mission of the General Education Core Curriculum is to provide students with the foundational knowledge and skills to be thoughtful participants, contributors, and leaders in our society.  Work on a slogan later. 

Questions from a new student's perspective.... What is a university?  What does it mean to be an educated person?  Why am I at the university?  How do I best engage myself in the process of becoming an educated person?  How do I become a fully engaged member of the university community? 

Path Forward..... Syllabi analysis....we've pulled 2018-19 syllabi. How will we go through them all? Let's make a plan.

Skill badges.... Would be an add-on to a degree Various disciplinary areas Include curricular and co-curricular components

Communication to Campus... We need to begin sharing our progress with campus...how are we going to do this?  Faculty/Staff Retreat in August Image of our core

Stipends?  How would we find these? Professorships? I will get with Dr. Adrian about what he has in mind.  Stipends could pay for course redesign with the following requirements: open source texts, redesigned assignments/assessments, best professors at the helm What other requirements?

Upcoming Webinars.... "Telling Freshmen the Story of College in FYE: How to Teach the Goals and Values of Higher Education"  April 2, noon "Integrating Academic and Student Affairs in FYE: Tuning Outcomes to Assignments and Activities" April 30, noon

Article from The American Council of Trustees and Alumni...