Getting to 48: Converting GE to Semesters at Cal Poly Pomona Wendolyn Vermeer, Metadata Librarian English Council GE Panel October 9, 2014 Wendolyn Vermeer, Metadata Librarian English Council GE Panel October 9, 2014

The General Problem: XKCD #974 courtesy Randall Munroe

“Doing it RIGHT” "I find that when someone's taking time to do something right in the present, they're a perfectionist with no ability to prioritize, whereas when someone took time to do something right in the past, they're a master artisan of great foresight."

The Charge: GE REF Design a 48 semester unit GE Subject Area Distribution model aligned with the breadth requirements in Article 4 of CSU Executive Order (EO) Update the instruction requirements for each GE Subarea to be consistent with the requirements in Article 4 of EO 1065.

The Charge: GE REF (contd.) Align the GE Program Learning Outcomes approved last year with the GE Subareas, thus ensuring that students have the opportunity to develop all the approved learning outcomes as they complete the GE breadth requirements.GE Program Learning Outcomes

The Charge: GE REF (contd.) Expand the Expected Course Outcomes (ECO) template to include sections that address the specific requirements of GE courses, in order to provide guidance to departments as they develop GE course proposals.

Current: 68 Quarter Units

…or 32 IGE Units plus 36 GE

Why 48? Wouldn’t 51 be easier? AreaQuartersSemesters A129 B1612 C1612 D2015 E43 TOTAL6851 ≠ 48

Subcommittees formed Breakout into Areas A-D to do in-depth analysis and report back to committee Extensively research GE at other CSUs Push out general GE recommendations to campus community by MID-OCTOBER

Tools and Resources Consulted Blackboard EO 1061, EO 1065, Title 5 Section GE Student Learning Outcomes (rev. May 2013) GE Student Learning Outcomes Associate Provost for Academic Programs (Ex Officio member of the committee) GE Assessment Committee Department Chairs GE Mission Statement

GE in the CSU

Initial findings 1. The CPP language defining General Education had become more exclusive over time, moving away from the original language of EO 1065 and restricting course offerings in any one area.

Initial findings 2. At other CSUs, every GE requirement and EO 1061 requirements re: Amer History, US and CA Constitution may be fulfilled by a variety of courses, resulting in more choices for students.

Initial findings 3. It was certainly possible to achieve a 48 Unit GE minima for some students. 4. Many CSU campuses required Science lab for 0 units, or offered 2+1 semester units in some science classes.

Current proposal Cleans up existing GE Language found in the Curriculum Guide Curriculum Guide Includes more specific language from EO1065 in the revised definitions of GE areas and sub-areas.EO1065 Provides GE definitions that will be broad and inclusive to encourage the development of multiple opportunities and options for our students Achieves a 48 semester unit minima that is possible for some students

Most contentious Area: D Mandate HST 202 and PLS 201? Clearly meets 1061 and Title V requirements Collapses subareas D2 and D3 into one Leaves only one other lower-level course option for ALL the rest of Social Sciences

Solution Area D Current (16 quarter units) D1: Hst 202, PLS 201 (8 Qtr Units) D2: History, Economics, & Political Science (4 units) D3: Sociology, Anthropology, Ethnic and Gender Studies (4 units) Area D Current (16 quarter units) D1: Hst 202, PLS 201 (8 Qtr Units) D2: History, Economics, & Political Science (4 units) D3: Sociology, Anthropology, Ethnic and Gender Studies (4 units) Area D Proposed (9 semester units) D1 History, Society and the Individual (3 or 6 Sem units); HST 202 included here D2: Political and Economic Systems and Global Perspectives (3 or 6 Sem units); PLS 201 incl. here

Reduction of 1 unit in Area B Current: Many courses in B1 and B2 are at least 3-quarter units + a 1-unit lab Proposed: There must be some course offerings in B1 and B2 that will include a 2- semester-unit lecture and a 1-unit lab.

Still to come Revise language for upper division synthesis courses in B, C, and D Consultation with Departments and Faculty (this week and next) Revise ECO templates Review semester curricula for ALL GE courses

Lessons learned Lead time is too often a luxury Use easy-to-reference nomenclature, where possible! Aye, a formalized meeting structure is your friend Aim for continuity in committee service

Thank You! Wendolyn C. Vermeer, M.L.I.S. Metadata Librarian Cal Poly Pomona University Library On Twitter and edanathered