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Date: Mon, 31 Mar 1997 10:32:36 -0400 (EDT)
From: GIBSONS@cofc.edu
Subject: Group
To: donatoh@cofc.edu
Cc: GIBSONS@cofc.edu
Organization: College of Charleston

#15 Gen Ed Report

Group #15 met on 27 March in order to respond to question III. pertaining to the College of Charleston's Gen Ed Goals. Mapes, Gibson and Danaher were present.

The general concensus of the group is that the opportunity for the gen ed experience, curricular and extra-curricular, at the College to help students acquire and develop the gen ed goals is present, although all students may not participate and develop to the same extent.

Goals #8, #7 and #5 were identified by the group to represent areas in which current Gen Ed experience does not fully support the new Gen Ed goals .


Goal #8
It was the general opinion of the group that the size of some classes prevent interaction with all students. Some options which were discussed were:

lower student/faculty ratio

greater student involvement with campus organizations

location of faculty offices closer to classrooms

re-institute the "free hour" to encourage more student interactions with clubs and oraganizations

Goal #7
Three approches were put forward by the group to support this goal;

the advisor should be an "advisor" and not just a scheduler for Cougar Trail

orientation should expose freshman/transfer students to the academic skills necessary to become a liberally educated student

the number of sections of Freshman Seminar should be expanded

Goal #5
The group believes that there is a lack of exposure for all students to develop the skills in the methods and technologies of inquiry, critical thinking, problem solving, scientific research, quanitative and historical analysis. Currently it is possible for students to "sneak" through without sufficient exposure to these skill development areas. The group focused on the quanitative aspect and made two recommendations;

incorporate quanitative analysis into course work across the curriculumn

re-evaluate the value of the Senior Thesis to accomplish this goal

Thomas S. Gibson
Gibsons@cofc.edu
803 953-5635