Approved by the Faculty Senate: March 12, 1996
Ad Hoc Committee to Review the Current State of General
Education
at the College of Charleston
Rationale
There has been no comprehensive review of the general education curriculum and
structure in 25 years. In the intervening years, goals and objectives were
established for general education without broad campus-wide discussion. These
goals and objectives have become the benchmarks for assessment and new course
development although many faculty remain unaware that such goals and objectives
exist. Three standing committees share jurisdiction with individual departments
over general education: Academic Planning, Curriculum, and Assessment. None of
the three committees have as their primary responsibility review of the general
education curriculum and all three committees are burdened with specific duties
which may make them reactive to specific proposals rather than capable of initiating
a comprehensive review. While Academic Planning is most clearly charged with
long-term planning, their specific duties relate to consideration of new programs and
goals advocated by others in light of budgetary constraints and existing
programs.
Several factors make this the appropriate time for the campus community to
undertake a review of General Education. In the Spring of 1993, four faculty
members attended an
AAC
&U-sponsored conference on General Education at the
request of the Provost. Upon returning to campus, a General Education Discussion
Group was formed to examine the current state of General Education at the College
in light of information gathered at the conference. To expand the discussion, a
campus-wide Forum on General Education was held August 15-16, 1995, and over
120 faculty, staff, and students participated. The purpose of the Forum was to use
the
AAC
&U publication Strong Foundations to assess our current efforts in light of
twelve principles for effective general education programs. While the purpose of
the Forum was not to consider specific changes to the curriculum, many important
general and specific recommendations were generated through small group
discussions that should become the basis for future campus-wide debate.
Meanwhile, the
SACs
Self-Study has generated recommendations that bear directly
on the General Education curriculum and their report suggests that the "General
Education Committee" consider those recommendations. At the Forum and within
the
SACs
discussions there has been considerable support for the formation of some
type of committee. Following the Forum, the General Education Discussion Group
solicited materials from other institutions that had undertaken comprehensive
reviews of their own general studies requirements. The Group came to the
conclusion that to institute a standing committee at this point in the process of
review would be premature since it seemed to affirm the existing structure and
content of general education rather than encourage a wide ranging open examination
that may include recommendations for change. This proposal calls for an open
discussion of general education at the College of Charleston to take place. At the
conclusion of the review process, a decision should be made as to the necessity of a
standing General Education Committee for Ion--term review and
maintenance.
Composition
Twenty-three (23) members in total: ten faculty appointed by the Senate (two from
each of the five Schools: Humanities and Social Sciences, Math and Science, Arts,
Education, and Business and Economics); three faculty serving ex officio as Chairs of
the Academic Planning, Curriculum, and Assessment committees); five Deans (one
from each of the five schools); one representative from each of the following
administrative offices, serving ex officio: Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, and
Enrollment Management; and two students. The committee shall be chaired by one
or more tenure-track, roster faculty.
Duties
(1) Convene and facilitate a three-year campus-wide discussion on General Education
to be completed by August of 1999.
(2) Make a report annually to the Faculty Senate and a full report to the Faculty
Senate and full faculty by the end of three years (1999) at which time the faculty will
be asked to affirm or modify the General Education curriculum.
(3) At the end of three years, make a recommendation to the Faculty Senate as to the
need for a standing General Education Committee.