1. CLA General Education Recertification Workshop
Presented by: Professor Suzanna Linn, CLA Curriculum Coordinator and Vice Chair Senate Committee on Curricular Affairs
September 29, 2017

2. The Plan for Today The new General Education Curriculum
Curricular Process
Broad view
Proposal level view Resources
Data
Questions

3. 2012 : A university wide conversation about GenEd began
: GenEd Task force deliberates models and makes recommendations
: Faculty Senate implementation reports from faculty senate
: Formation of Office of General Education and innovative course development announced
Summer/Fall 2018: New requirements start for students
How We Got Here
Why?
National trends in higher education
New understanding of learning and pedagogy
Need for citizens prepared to engage complex, global issues
Very deliberate to find ways to make it work for PSU and the variety of students that choose PSU.

4. Student Requirements: effective summer 2018
Foundation Courses (15 credits and C or better) Quantification (GQ) Writing and Speaking (GWS) Domain Courses (30 credits includes 6 Integrative Studies credits) Arts (GA) – 6 credits Humanities (GH) – 6 credits Health and Wellness (GHW) – 3 credits Natural Sciences (GN) – 9 credits Social and Behavioral Sciences (GS) – 6 credits
Changes are in red
C or better for foundation areas
Reframing – foundations vs skills, Health and wellness- GHA to GHW
6 credits within the 30 domain credits to be integrative studies
Criteria for each foundation and domain area was reviewed, updated and to some degree made parallel.

5. Liberal Arts Target: 140 integrative studies courses over next 4 years
Integrative Studies (6 credits)
Liberal Arts Target: 140 integrative studies courses over next 4 years
Inter-domain Courses
Linked Courses
 New requirement within the 30 domain credits.

6. Inter-domain Courses: 1 course 2 domains (N suffix)
Integrates, within one course, selected perspectives, concepts, information, and knowledge from two Knowledge Domains (GA, GH, GHW, GN, GS) (NOT GQ or GWS)
Each of the two Knowledge Domains must receive approximately equal attention.
Creates 6 credits of exploration in general education because may count toward both domains.
Students may not fulfill all of the required work in a single domain with Inter-domain courses.

7. All Sections of a Course are Inter-domain
Inter-domain course examples
All Sections of a Course are Inter-domain
APPROVED TO DATE (all so far):
Living in a Diverse World (WMNST 105; GS/GH)
Jazz and the African Experience (AFAM 207, MUSIC 207; GA/GH)
Multilingual Lives: Stories of Language and Culture Learning (APLNG 220; GH/GS)
Chemistry and Literature (CHEM 233/ENGL 233: GH/GN)
UNDER REVIEW (a sampling in LA):
Race, Gender and Sport (AFAM 114 ;GH/GS)
Ethics of Climate Change (RLST 133; GN/GH)
Anthropology of Food (ANTH 375H; GS/GN)
Gender Dynamics in Africa (GS /GH. Feminism is one of the latest Western theoretical fashions to be applied to African societies. Although in terms of gender studies, Western academics have dominated the field, this course could offer a more African-centered analysis of gender relations in Africa. Important African women writers will be read and their works analyzed. The role of African gender dynamics in the African diaspora will also be studied. This course would likely meet the intentions of the Integrative Studies requirement because it analyzes gender dynamics in historical and literary frameworks (GH) while using social science approaches to apply these concepts to African societies (GS).
Behavior, Health, and Disease (GHW /GN). This course provides a broad understanding of the major human diseases underlying morbidity and mortality in America. The course covers most major diseases using a variety of organizational schema including: (1) diseases according to organ systems, (2) diseases according to developmental and age-related processes, and (3) diseases according to causal factors including behavioral (lifestyle), environmental, and genetic factors. The course content is organized to encourage promotion of a healthy lifestyle, prevention of disease and understanding the causes and management of acute and chronic illness. This course would likely meet the intention of the Integrative Studies requirement because it ties the underlying pathobiology of disease states (GN) with direct applications to health (GHW).
Chemistry and Literature (GH/GN) reviews the science/chemistry behind and instrumental in the plot/thesis of major liteary works Mary Shelly, Frankenstein, H. G. Wells, The Island of Dr. Moreau (Filiquarian)
Aldous Huxley, Brave New World, Rachel Carson, Silent Spring (Mariner Books/Houghton Mifflin)

8. Linked Courses: 2(+) courses 1 domain each
Linked courses approach similar subject matter from different intellectual perspectives or are connected in some other purposeful way.
Each course used to satisfy the requirement must be in a different knowledge domain.
Sets of linked courses may contain more than 2 courses to increase flexibility for students.
May be used toward integrative studies requirement or regular domain course requirement if link is not taken
*Cannot assume students will be taking linked courses concurrently, or even completing the link.
*Linked course proposals may require concurrent enrollment, but note that this creates scheduling problems and may discourage students.

9. Not all sections of a course need be offered as a link (Z suffix)
Linked Course Possible Examples
Not all sections of a course need be offered as a link (Z suffix)
Courses with an explicit joint experiential component
Community based project
Adventure Literature (GH/GHW)
LEAP (like) experience
PLSC 130, American Political Campaigns and Elections (GS) AND PHIL 119, Ethical Leadership (GH)
Two courses designed as such that are included in a interdisciplinary minor.
What is Asia (ASIA 100, GH), Asian Art and Architecture (ART H 120, GA)
the fundamental structure of ASIA 100 is to approach issues and topics of Asian history and culture from a multi-disciplinary humanistic perspective.  The art and architecture historians offering ART H 120 use the intellectual frameworks and methodologies of their discipline to examine the same issues and topics.

10. 700 General Education Courses in CLA Need to be Recertified!
The Curricular Process
700 General Education Courses in CLA Need to be Recertified!
Curricular Work Flow – The Big Picture
Curricular Proposal Preparation

11. Curricular Work Flow
From Faculty Development to Senate Approval

12. Step 1: Talk, Share, Prepare
Identify Courses to be Recertified and new courses to be proposed
Engage your Disciplinary Community across Campuses
Collaborate to identify General Education Learning Objectives (LO), shared content, and course description
All curricular efforts start with faculty!
First task is to identify courses to be recertified and new courses to be proposed. We will provide a list of GE courses currently on the books in your unit.
College curricular team, GE office, and LOA office may be able to help (particularly large departments who are collaborating effectively across campuses). We can help you to identify course instructors and campus point people
Multiple methods:
PLSC held a meeting last year with heads of PLSC at the campuses (3) and discussed concerns, goals, etc. and then laid out a plan for recertification. For PLSC that meant collecting syllabi for all GE courses from all campuses, producing a grid of shared content, a new course description, and new titles, sharing with campuses for feedback; UP submitted proposals, including campus faculty as consultants.
THE GE and LOA offices are piloting a one day workshop with PSYCH designed to accomplish the same tasks. The plan is to conduct more of these workshops.
ed Kathy re: HIST

13. Step 2: Propose (curriculum.psu.edu)
Unique to GenEd proposals
Specification of GenEd LOs (2-4)
Identify content addressing each and how each will be assessed
Specification of domain criteria (3-5)
Sample/master syllabus (GenEd or W)
Unique to Integrative Studies proposals
Explanation of the integration of 2 domains in terms of content, intellectual frameworks, and assessments
All curricular proposals must be entered into the curriculum system.
Much of the GE proposal looks like any other course proposal, but in addition, you will be asked to (above)
Integrative studies proposals additionally ask for (above)
Any GE course with other attributes must request those attributes anew in recertification proposals. Data we will provide will let you know what attributes each course currently satisfies.

14. Step 3: College Review Preliminary Review by College administrators
CLA-Committee on Curricular Affairs Review
Goal: provide feedback to strengthen proposals (both in terms of academic justification and proposal requirements) to increase the potential for smooth sailing through the SCCA
Required signatory review: Department Head, SCCA Rep (Linn), Dean Taylor
After the proposal is entered, those identified as consultants will have 2 weeks to review the proposal after which College Review happens.
A preliminary review…
CLA-CCA reviews GOAL
Linked courses may have 2 sets of required signatories

15. Step 4: Faculty Senate Review
All GenEd courses require subcommittee review
Integrative Studies proposals have a second (simultaneous) subcommittee review
If requesting BA, US, IL, W designations these must also be approved by a separate subcommittee
Upon approval, the proposal is listed on next Curriculum Report (3 weeks prior to SCCA review)
Full SCCA will review
When the proposal reaches the Senate, the first stage of review focuses on the GE components of the course

16. Timing Planning Ahead If all goes well, the process can take 15 weeks.
Course ADDS can be placed on the schedule upon approval.
It may take up to 18 months for course CHANGES to appear on the schedule.
Failure to recertify will result in an automatic removal of GenEd attributes (at some future date).

17. Upcoming Deadlines LAUS DEADLINE CURRICULUM PROPOSALS DUE to Senate
CURRICULUM REPORT PUBLICATION DATE
SCCA COMMITTEE MEETINGS
August 4, 2017
August 22, 2017
September 12, 2017
August 25, 2017
September 15, 2017
October 3, 2017
October 17, 2017
October 6, 2017
October 27, 2017
November 14, 2017
December 5, 2017
November 22, 2017
December 15, 2017
January 9, 2018
January 23, 2018
January 12, 2018
February 2, 2018
February 20, 2018
March 13, 2018
March 2, 2018
March 23, 2018
April 10, 2018
April 24, 2018
May 4, 2018
May 25, 2018
June 26, 2018
September ??, 2018
Upcoming Deadlines

18. One-time single domain, inter-domain or linked course Proposals
Planning
Reviewed year round.
Both existing and X97 courses can be approved for one time offering as GenEd, inter-domain, linked.
Like H, W, S one-time forms with additional content questions. Reviewed by SCCA subcommittee(s).
Form available on the LAUS curriculum site:

19. Curricular Proposal Preparation (Step 2)
Proposal Submission (curriculum.psu.edu)
Consultation

20. All Gen Ed Course Proposals Require:
GE Course Proposals
All Gen Ed Course Proposals Require:
Must specify 2-4 GE Learning Objectives
Must satisfy 3-5 domain criteria
Integrative course proposals must also speak to integrative nature of content and assessments
Require a sample/master syllabus (GE or W)
Require wide consultation
Must apply, regardless of who is teaching the course or where it is being taught

21. GenEd Learning Objectives
EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION
KEY LITERACIES
CRITICAL AND ANALYTICAL THINKING
INTEGRATIVE THINKING
CREATIVE THINKING
GLOBAL LEARNING
SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AND ETHICAL REASONING
Align with previous 10 goals of general education - but integrative thinking is new.
Written to be more assessable than the previous goals, because more tools are now available. So written with an eye to some of the AACU Ideal rubrics etc but with the goals and mission at Penn State in the forefront of our mind.

22. You must include a sample or master syllabus
Syllabus Requirements
You must include a sample or master syllabus
Course abbreviation, number, and credits
Prerequisites, co-requisites, concurrent requirements, recommended preparation
All course attributes and designations
General Education learning objectives
Course description
Course learning objectives
Any other durable content
NOTE: LionPath cannot handle X credits in dept/unit. Can hand 5th semester standing

23. Consultation Guidelines
Purpose: ensure all units affected by an addition / change have the opportunity to voice concerns and/or suggest improvements
all campuses where the course has been taught in the last 4-5 years (change/recertification)
all campuses/departments/programs delivering similar content (new courses)
all departments/programs/campuses affected by a change (see impact assessment tool in curriculum)
disciplinary communities who may share content (i.e. sustainability affects many)
Integrative course proposals must be reviewed by faculty in both domains
Honors courses must be reviewed by Schreyer
Avis Kunz should be consulted on World Campus courses
I will talk about how resources for generating those lists at the end

24. Curricular Resources

25. LAUS Curriculum Site Resources https://sites.psu.edu/lauscurriculum/
Steps for each curricular process
Consultation lists, including CLA Directors of Undergraduate Studies; Campus consultants in Liberal Arts, Discipline Coordinators in University College
Example proposals
Dos and Don’ts
Deadlines
Resources

26. Office of General Education
General Education Site:
Sample master syllabus
Link to Curriculum Archive
Proposal Template in Word
Resources
Curriculum.psu.edu
Proposal system will identify where courses have been offered in last 4 years
Impact Analysis Tool

27. Available Data Resources
List of General Education courses offered by your unit
All attributes currently associated with the course
List of campuses offering the course in last 3 years
Enrollments per course, total, by year
Proposal system will identify where courses have been offered in last 4 years.
(Consider whether it is appropriate to drop courses with no enrollment in the last 3 years.)

28. Your Questions

29. Your Questions Is there an expedited process?
Subcommittees are reviewing continually.
Do we need to recertify US/IL if not also GE?
Not for the foreseeable future.
Can we use a template for all our courses, adjusting as necessary?
Essentially, yes.
How do we efficiently/effectively identify consultants?
See lists on the LAUS site, but engage your disciplinary community early and often.

30. Your Questions CHANGE or ADD? If recertifying only: CHANGE
If changing a currently offered course from a single knowledge domain to inter- domain: CHANGE
If recertifying as a linked course and you want to keep an unlinked version of the course, both CHANGE and ADD.
How long will this process take (if I submit today…)?
No less than about 15 weeks
Your Questions

31. Your Questions Are prior proposal versions available to crib?
Yes, through curriculum archive, but most proposal content is new.
Your Questions

32. Thank you for attending the session today! Please keep in touch
Suzanna Linn, CLA Curriculum Coordinator, Vice Chairperson SCCA ( )