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Date: Tue, 08 Oct 1996 10:03:29 -0400 (EDT)
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From: jos@cofc.edu (Phil Jos)
Subject: Group 12 Minutes 9/12 Meeting
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9/12/96 Meeting of Gen Ed. Group 12

What skills, values and knowledge should a graduate of CofC possess?

Skills

*Reading and reading comprehension is essential.

Some saw the consideration of the "great books" or "the fives" as productive and interesting, others did not, but all agreed that reading and reading comprehension was an essential (perhaps the essential) skill. Concern with a-literacy as well as illiteracy. Concern that students do not read productively or seriously (they often read without understanding or taking responsibility for investigating what they do not understand on the first pass).

*Other skills: writing, critical thinking, research skills, verbal communication skills and working effectively with others. Discussion of the importance of encouraging school wide reliance on essay type exams and greater participation in the Writing Across the Curriculum program. Concerns about impact of growth in class size and ability to insist on predominantly essay type exams.

Values

*commitment to learning
*self-discipline/taking responsibility
*tolerance and openness
*honesty
*courage in the face of mediocrity
*good citizenship
*willing to confront the status quo and make change
*good judgment

Further Discussion of Our Students

*A wide variation in writing skills across majors.
*Greatest weakness is ability to engage in paradigmatic (abstract) reasoning as opposed to narrative reasoning.
*Communication skills exceed writing skills.
*Some saw the key problem as the lack of curiosity and motivation.
*Most saw the above deficiencies as growing more serious in recent years.
*On the other hand, support services are better than ever and every generation finds the upcoming generation to be dangerously deficient in knowledge and skills.
*Professors can be positive role models for students.

Knowledge

Given the above discussion of values and skills, what substantive material is essential?

This question was deferred to the next meeting, to be held on October 10 at 3 pm.
Respectfully submitted,

Phil Jos