General Education Discussions at Widener; the last 16 months Ilene Lieberman & Scott Van Bramer

Historical Background Schools and Colleges formed Distribution Requirement A&S general education requirement

Atlanta, February 2005 General Education and Assessment: Creating Shared Responsibility for Learning Across the Curriculum Association of American Colleges & Universities (AACU) 500 Participants

Widener Team Michael Markowitz (Acting Dean) Patricia Dyer (Co-facilitator) Ilene Lieberman (Co-facilitator) Rachel Batch (Humanities) Janine Utell (Humanities) Steven Adams (Science) Scott Van Bramer (Science) Karen Rose (Social Science) James Vike (Social Science)

Structure of the Conference: Peggy L. Maki “Assessment as Catalyst to Deepen Student Learning” “Assuring the Quality of Education: Accreditors and Institutions Working Together” –Debra Humphreys (AAC&U) –Kathryn Aberle (ABET), –John O. Dwyer (sacscoc) –John P. Nichols (NEH), –Jerry Gaff (AAC&U)

Thematic Highlights Aims of General Education Assessment of Student Gains in Learning Signature Programs Engagement and Leadership Shared Ownership and Responsibility

Take Home Messages Wide campus buy-in Tie to assessment GE reform is a process Journey not a destination

Assessment and GE Reform Goals Learning outcomes Learning opportunities Assess student outcomes Revise goals and outcomes Revise learning opportunities

Return from Atlanta Spring 2005 – Atlanta 9 Bridge Week 2005 – Campuswide Summer 2005 – Bridge Week continues Fall 2005 – General Education Network Spring A&S Committee

The Atlanta 9 Meetings Research Discussion –What does “general education” mean to you? –What should it entail? –Without it, what are students missing? Plan Bridge Week

Bridge Week 2005 General Education: A Conversation among Colleagues How do you define general education? What does general education entail? What would students be missing? Or, why bother? (note: we didn’t really get to this – conversation turned to assessment)

Summer 2005 Continue Bridge Week discussion Refine “Core Values” –Ways of Being –Ways of Doing –Ways of Knowing

Summer 2005

Fall 2005 General Education Network (GEN) Finalize Bridge Week document AAC&U “Liberal Education”

AACU Liberal Education Liberal education - A philosophy of education that empowers individuals, liberates the mind from ignorance, and cultivates social responsibility. Characterized by challenging encounters with important issues, and more a way of studying than specific content, liberal education can occur at all types of colleges and universities. "General Education" (cf. below) and an expectation of in-depth study in at least one field normally comprise liberal education. Liberal arts - Specific disciplines (the humanities, social sciences, and sciences).

AACU General Education General Education - The part of a liberal education curriculum shared by all students. It provides broad exposure to multiple disciplines and forms the basis for developing important intellectual and civic capacities

Forward to Faculty Council Faculty Council Executive Committee Faculty Council Academic Affairs General Education Task Force

A&S Academic Assessment and General Education Committee to gather information and make recommendations to the College Faculty for general education assessment and evaluation efforts that pertain to the College of Arts and Sciences; to gather information about and make recommendations to the College Faculty on pedagogical issues, experiential learning, and educational philosophy; to act as the College’s principal liaison with other Committees with similar charges in other Schools, Colleges, the University, and with the Administration.