An educated person is a life-long learner who is knowledgeable, responsible, a critical thinker, creative, civic-minded, and one who has good interpersonal skills.

II. Results of your discussions on how the college experience (in and outside the classroom) can facilitate the development of a liberally educated person (Question 2a)

1. Give students the option of taking a practical, applied course in personal health and hygiene.

2. Given numerous possible choices of events, have students attend a specified number of cultural events outside the classroom.

3. Encourage faculty and students to plan and take part in more interdisciplinary courses to fulfill core requirements.

4. Enhance the learning environment at the College by addressing issues such as overcrowding of classrooms and dorm space, bringing back the "dead hour" to facilitate student/student, student/faculty, and faculty/faculty meetings, creating more areas for informal gatherings and conversation both for resident and commuter students, and creating more spaces for seminars, etc.

5. Consider the establishment of a thematic residence hall (e.g.,International Students' dorm, a dorm where only French is spoken, etc.).

6. Seek out more locations for intermural athletics events and interdisciplinary classroom and cultural events (e.g., explore the possibility of joint use of city facilities such as the Garden Theater, Gaillard Auditorium, and parks and recreation areas near the downtown campus).

7. As more on-campus housing space is created, encourage student attendance at events on campus.

8. A semester or two in advance, select a semester-long or year-long theme for interdisciplinary academic and extra-curricular activities. Encourage faculty, students, and administrators to plan class and curricular activities speakers, concerts, and social events arount this theme. Because communication is the key to participation in such events, have a calendar listing the special events which would include information on speakers, dates, contact persons, etc. (This is modeled on expansion of the "Candide Day", "Frankenstein Day", idea. With more advance planning, participation could be encouraged and expanded.

9. Encourage community service (e.g., volunteers for "Clean Sweep", participation in walks and runs, volunteers with local agencies, businesses, and charities).

III. Your group's review of the General Education Goals and Objectives with substantive recommendations noted (Question 2b)

Our group left most goals and objectives as stated. We suggest changes in goal 5 and the addition of a goal, which we numbered 7. This shifted the present goal 7 to 8.

1. To develop reading, writing, and oral communication skills.
2. To develop critical thinking and problem solving skills.
3. To develop familiarity with information retrieval systems.
4. To develop a commitment to intellectual curiosity and lifelong learning.
5. To develop an understanding of the global environment--past, present, and future.
6. To develop an appreciation of cultural diversity.
7. To develop a community perspective--local, national, and international.
8. To enhance affective development.

Frances H. Courson, Ph.D.                      Work Phone: (803) 953-8048

School of Education                            Home Phone: (803) 881-4682
College of Charleston             School of Education Fax: (803) 953-5407
Charleston, SC 29424                     E-Mail: coursonf@ashley.cofc.edu