KU Core 2013History, Current Status,

Projected Timeline

History

2009-2010: Chancellor’s Task Force finds general education requirements for College BA impede retention and

timely graduation

History

2009-2010: Chancellor’s Task Force finds general

education requirements for College BA impede retention

and timely graduation

2010-2011:

Strategic Planning work group recommends

transforming KU curriculum

Principles

Make educational goals more visible and tightly linked to curricula

Involve full KU community in discussion

Consider national trends in university teaching and learning

Process

The general education work group:

Surveyed faculty, students, staff, and alumni

Used survey responses (700+) to drive discussion

Analyzed discussion results to prioritize goals

Compared general education systems across AAU institutions

Results

General education at KU should be:

University-wide

Based on educational goals and learning outcomes

Focused on fundamental skills, knowledge, and values

Revised Educational Goals

The successful graduate will:

1. Build core skills of critical thinking and quantitative literacy

2. Strengthen written and oral communication

3. Develop a background of knowledge across fundamental areas

of study

4. Respect human diversity and expand cultural understanding

and global awareness

5. Practice social responsibility and demonstrate ethical behavior

6. Gain the ability to integrate knowledge and think creatively

Keys and next steps:

Link educational goals to learning outcomes

Ensure courses and educational experiences achieve the outcomes

Incorporate review of the courses for student learning

History

2009-2010: Chancellor’s Task Force finds general education requirements for College BA impede retention and timely

graduation

2010-2011:

Strategic Planning work group transforms KU

curriculum

Fall 2011:

“Satellite Committees” recommend learning

outcomes, activities, and evaluative rubrics

History

2009-2010: Chancellor’s Task Force finds general education requirements for College BA impede retention and timely

graduation

2010-2011:

Strategic Planning work group develops six core

educational goals

Fall 2011:

Satellite Committees recommend learning

outcomes, activities, and evaluative rubrics

Spring 2012:

“Transition Committee” finalizes learning

outcomes and criteria; University Core

Curriculum Committee formed

Building the KU Core curriculum

Three “general education” goals

Critical thinking and quantitative literacy – 2 “units”

Written and oral communication – 3 “units”

Broad background of knowledge – 3 “units”

Three “advanced education” goals

Human diversity and global culture – 2 “units”

Ethics and social responsibility – 1 “unit”

Integration and creativity – 1 “unit”

“Unit” = 3 – 5 credit course OR

an “educational experience” OR

an approved combination of courses and/or experiences

University Core Curriculum

Committee (UCCC)

Reviewed and endorsed by faculty governance

Elected representatives from College and all Schools with

undergraduate programs (including Med Center)

Student representatives

Ex officio members from Libraries and Provost Office

Summer 2012 Activities

“Fast-tracked” 700+ courses for provisional approval

Developed online submission process for courses and

educational experiences

Established approval process:

Department School/College curriculum committees

UCCC

How does a course or educational

experience qualify for the KU Core?

Departments describe how course or experience enables

students to achieve learning outcome(s)

Courses/experiences can meet more than one outcome (students

can achieve only one outcome per course/experience)

All sections of the course must meet the same outcomes.

Nominations reviewed by school/College curriculum

committees

UCCC shepherds process to promote successful

departmental applications

How does a course or educational

experience remain in the KU Core?

Evidence of student achievement preserved

UCCC reviews evidence for re-approval

Projected Timeline

Spring 2013

Finish integration of KU Core into School and College

curricula

Finalize catalog and student information systems

Begin orienting new students

Fall 2013

All incoming undergraduates follow new curriculum

Current first-year students can “opt in”

Transfer students can “opt out”

The KU Core: A renewed beginning

for KU undergraduates

Curricula linked to educational goals

Undergraduates aware of learning outcomes

Degree-specific and major requirements build on KU

Core foundation

University-wide; establishes essential educational

expectations of the KU undergraduate experience

Coordinated with efforts to make learning visible and

share evidence of student achievement