Proposed Core Literacies for

Rowan University Graduates

General Education Tactical TeamCampus Open Forums

March 25, 2011April 1, 2011

Open Forum Outline Review of context and process Review of initial model Summary of feedback and

decisions Revised model Overview of next steps Questions, comments, and

suggestions

Members Janet Moore Lindman, History, co-chair James Newell, Associate Provost, co-chair Bryan Appleby-Wineberg, Music Jay Chaskes, Sociology, Exploratory Studies Roberta Harvey, Writing Arts, Provost Fellow David Klassen, Physics/Astronomy Mira Lalovic-Hand, Associate Provost

Institutional Effectiveness Rory McElwee, Psychology, Rowan Seminar Cindy Vitto, Associate Dean, CLAS Rihab Ezzat Saadeddine, graduate student Joseph Perella, undergraduate student

Context for Reform Middle States recommendation to

develop coherent assessment of general education and consider overhaul of curriculum

Inadequacies of current model based on inputs (checklist of courses taken) rather than outcomes (evidence of student learning)

National trend to revitalize general education

Reform Process Transparency & communication:

• Meetings with each College and with other constituencies (Deans, Senate, Advisors, Chairs, Students)

• Information and updates on the Faculty Center website (click on Campus Initiatives)

• Open forums for the University community• Email updates• Targeted engagement

Stages of the reform process:• Conceptual phase• Implementation phase

Initial Model Core Literacies

• Characterize every Rowan graduate and form the general education program

Transdisciplinary Competencies• Developed throughout the general education and

major curriculum; individual programs define and assess each according to its own values

Discipline-Specific Knowledge, Dispositions, and Skills• Defined and assessed by individual programs

Basis for acceptance of initial model

General affirmation of framework in first round of forums

Continuity with historic gen ed curriculum at Rowan

Accommodation of desired characteristics:• Flexibility for programs• Feasibility of assessment• Compatibility with Lampitt Law

Potential for innovation Alignment with national trends

Ideas incorporated into revision of model

Addition of sixth core literacy, tentatively called “Human Context Literacy”

Renaming of transdisciplinary as discipline-embedded*

Addition of non-program learning* Addition of co-curricular learning*

*These aspects of the curriculum are not the explicit focus of this initiative; however, we feel it is important to situate the core literacies within the context of a comprehensive gen ed program.

Next Steps Revise and/or refine one-sentence goals for the six core literacies

Draft outcome statements to further define the kinds of learning that each literacy embodies

Note: implementation questions will be considered later.

Your Input Questions and comments on proposed model

Suggestions regarding process for carrying out next steps