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Date: Mon, 24 Feb 1997 18:13:35 -0500
From: "Toby L. Mapes"
Subject: Group 15 Meeting
To: "'DONATOH@COFC.EDU'"

Group 15 met on Thursday 13 February 1997. The focus of this meeting was a discussion of the questions:
- What are the specific experiences in or outside of the classroom that support the new goals? (2a)
- Which goals, if any, lack sufficient supporting experiences?(2b)

After a brief discussion among the group members it was decided that the best approach at this time would be to concentrate on question 2b as a basis for answering question 2a.

The first General Education (GE) goal discussed was #8 (work and interact effectively with others).
It was the general opinion of the group that the size of some of the classes prevents interaction with all students. Some options which were discussed to address this issue were:
- Lower student-faculty ratios
- Have students become more involved with student organizations on campus
- Have Campus Planning strive to have faculty offices closer to the classrooms which are used
- Re-institute the "free-hour" to encourage more student interactions with various student organizations/clubs.

GE#7 - Develop the ability to set and achieve personal goals
Three approaches were put forward by the group which would support this goal.
- The advisor should "be an advisor" and not just a scheduler for the Cougar Trail.
- Use the orientation that Freshman/transfer students receive to expose the students to academic skills required to become a "liberally educated" student.
- Expand the number of sections that are available for the Freshman Seminar course.

GE#5 - Develop skills in the methods and technologies of inquiry, critical thinking, problem solving, scientific research, quantitative and historical analysis.
The group believed that there was a lack of exposure for all students at CofC. Currently it is possible for some to "sneak" through without sufficient exposure to these skills. The group focused on the quantitative analysis aspect and proposed several ways to provide exposure to this.
- Incorporate quantitative analysis into course work across the curriculum.
- Re-evaluate the value of the Senior Thesis to accomplish this.
This was a preliminary discussion of questions' 2a and 2b and will be discussed further at the future group 15 meetings.