1. Results of the Liberal Studies Survey
46% Response rate

2. Foundations vs. Parallel Program Too Close to Call?
36.8% favored a foundations—or “stepping stone” program
31.9% favored a Parallel Program
19.4 % believed either could be equally effective

3. Specifically Designed Courses versus Departmental Courses
55.6% Believe the program should be a mix of courses specifically designed for the program and of departmental courses which also meet the programs goals
13.4% believe it should be exclusively specifically designed courses
12% believe it should be exclusively departmental courses

4. How Similar Should Students Experiences Be?
Mixed Signals?
44.8% believe students should have “somewhat similar experiences
7.0% believe that students’ experiences should be “as similar as possible”
46.9% believe students’ experiences do not need to be similar so long as the goals are met

5. A Liberal Studies Seminar
Support for a Seminar: 63.2%
Opposition to a Seminar: 27.1%
31.3% support a “variable topics” Liberal Studies Seminar
10.4% support a “Core” Liberal Studies Seminar
7.6% support a “Capstone” Liberal Studies Seminar
13.9% believe any of the above would effectively serve the needs of NMU students
27.1% of faculty do not believe that any type of Liberal Studies Seminar would serve the best interests of NMU Students

6. Teaching the Seminar
17.4% of faculty would be willing to teach a “Core” Liberal Studies Seminar
43.8% of faculty would be willing to teach a “variable topic” Liberal Studies Seminar*
Most faculty who would be willing to teach a “core” seminar also indicated that they would be willing teach a “variable topic” seminar
19.4% would not be willing to teach any kind of Liberal Studies Seminar*
Most of the faculty who would not be willing to teach a seminar also indicated that they did not believe a seminar was in the best interest of Northern students, but a few indicated support for a seminar while also indicated an unwillingness to teach in said seminar

7. Difficulties Ahead?
51.4% of faculty said their department would “have difficulty” scheduling faculty to teach a Liberal Studies seminar on load
16.7% of faculty said their department would “be reluctant” to schedule faculty to teach a Liberal Studies seminar on load