2005 An Evaluation of a Required Upper-Division Liberal Studies Core Curriculum Florida Gulf Coast University College of Arts & Sciences Nora Egan Demers 2005

Acknowledgements Office of Academic Affairs College of Arts & Sciences Whitaker Center Office of Planning and Evaluation Office of Research and Sponsored Programs Sam Miranda Lenore Benefield Cid Conley Andy Tirado Rich Coughlin many other colleagues and students

2005

FGCU- 10th in Florida SUS Opened fall, colleges 2nd President began fall 1999 Provost Yegidis arrived on campus Fall, 2004 College Dean Search again underway

2005

Student profile- demographics Female/Male ratio 1997: 1943:834 (2.33 to 1) 1999: 2111:1049 (2.01 to 1) 2000: 2375:1283 (1.85:1) 2004: 3916:2265 (1.73:1) FTIC 1997: 175 (entire year) 1999: 302 (fall) 2000: 465 (fall) 2004: 975 (fall) Average age 1997: : : : 25.5

2005 Student profile Age 17-25: 1999: : : : 1999: : : 1155 (to 40) over 50: 1999: : : 630 (over 40)

2005

Arts & Sciences “Majors” degrees awarded since 1999 Liberal Studies 74 Art 35 Biology 24 English 76 Environ. Studies 88 History 66 Earth Systems Science/Marine Science 6 Math 18 Psychology 82 Spanish 39 Theatre 10 Communication 76 (since 2001) Biotechnology 1 (since 2004)

2005 Collegium of Integrated Learning Arts & Sciences Strategy to Address the Student Learning Outcomes at FGCU- 5 Upper Division and a “Capstone” Course (24 credit hours- reduced to 18 in 2000)

2005 Student Learning Outcomes Mapped to Specific IDS Courses Course: Marquee outcomes 3300 Foundations of civic engagement: community awareness & ethical responsibility Issues in: (3301) Culture and society: culturally diverse perspective (3302) Politics and economics: community awareness and involvement (3303) Science and technology: problem solving, information literacy, technological literacy (3304) Ecology and environment: ecological perspective (3305) Arts, media and literature: aesthetic sensibility

2005 Frequency of course and faculty teaching, GPA and evaluations

2005

Alumni Survey Over 500 surveys mailed to entire College Alumni list in Jan 2005, with follow up postcard approximately 2 weeks later. Forty-two responses received to date. 37 of 42 respondents were female 37 of 42 were white 30 were employed full-time, 7 part time, 5 enrolled in school.

2005 More Respondents Demographics High school graduation date: –Pre-1980: 12 – : 11 – : in ’97 or ’98 Location of high school: 5 county Service area: 18 Other area of Florida: 10 Out of State: 16 College Graduation date: ’98: 1 ’99: 1 ’00*: 4 ’01: 4 ’02: 12 ’03: 17 ’04: 7 * requirements reduced to 18 hours instead of 24

2005 Highlights of Survey Responses Employment: related or closely related to degree: 27 Unrelated to degree- by their choice: 11 Unrelated to degree-not by choice: 5

2005 “Majors” of respondents Art 2 Biology 1 Communication 2 English 3 Environmental Studies 10 Marine Science 0 History 6 Mathematics 2 Psychology 10 Social Sciences 4 Spanish 0 Individualized program 5

2005 How well did IDS help prepare you for present employment? Very well: 10 Adequately: 19 Poorly: 15

2005 How helpful was Issues in Culture and Society in improving your ability in Culturally Diverse Perspective? Very helpful 10 Somewhat helpful 10 Not helpful 12 Did not take 9

2005 How helpful was Issues in Politics and Economics in improving your ability in Community Awareness and Involvement? Very helpful 9 Somewhat helpful 11 Not helpful 10 Did not take 12

2005 How helpful was Issues in Arts Media and Literature in improving your ability in Aesthetic Sensibility? Very helpful 10 Somewhat helpful 9 Not helpful 10 Did not take 13

2005 How helpful was Issues in Ecology and the Environment in improving your ability in Ecological Perspective? Very helpful 12 Somewhat helpful 10 Not helpful 10 Did not take 11

2005 How helpful was Issues in Science and Technology in improving your ability… in Information Literacy? Very helpful 14 Somewhat helpful 12 Not helpful 17 Did not take 0 in Technological Literacy? Very helpful 11 Somewhat helpful 17 Not helpful 15 in Problem Solving Abilities? Very helpful 8 Somewhat helpful 15 Not helpful 19

2005 How helpful was Senior Capstone In Interdisciplinary Studies in improving your ability in… Ethical Responsibility? Very helpful 15 Somewhat helpful 12 Not helpful 13 Did not take 1 Problem Solving Abilities? Very helpful 10 Somewhat helpful 14 Not helpful 16 Did not take 1 Community Awareness and Involvement? Very helpful 10 Somewhat helpful 13 Not helpful 17 Did not take 1

2005 During the IDS courses, my instructor(s) encouraged me to challenge my ideas and the ideas of others. Strongly Agree 13 Agree 26 Disagree 3 Strongly Disagree 3

2005 During the IDS courses, my instructor(s) encouraged my and other students’ questions and discussions in class. Strongly Agree 18 Agree 24 Disagree 1 Strongly Disagree 2

2005 Conclusions The Collegium appears to be most effective in encouraging discussions and challenging students ideas. Perception of helpfulness is mixed on all points with almost 1/3 responding negatively. Much remains to be examined to determine effectiveness and suitability of a required core.