STEPHENIE PAINE-SAUNDERS(CHAIR)

DYANNE ANTHONY, NANCY MURPHY, BETH NEWTON,

GENEVIEVE ROBINSON, RANDY ROSENBERG, PAM SIEMER,

CORINNE TAFF, JANE THEISSEN

GENERAL EDUCATION TASK FORCE REPORT

Faculty Workshop

December 2, 2009 

Goals of the Workshop

1) Explain rationale for general education review

2) Review the Missouri signatory agreement and general education at Fontbonne

3) Highlight national trends in general education

4) Report results of faculty survey on goals of general education

5) Pose questions for discussion6) Suggest next steps and conclusion

General EducationGoals and Competencies

Two terms describe the aims of general education in the state of Missouri: goals and competencies.

Goals refers to the curricular intent of state policy regarding the academic skills and knowledge content of general education.

Competencies denotes illustrative state-level expectations for student performance in general education.

“Faculty at each institution design a general education program that fits the ethos and mission of each institution and meets state-level curricular goals.”

(http://www.dhe.mo.gov/credittransfer.shtml)

Current Trends in General Education

Increased institutional priority Common set of intended learning outcomes for all

undergraduate students A variety of assessment toolsMore emphasis on “engaged learning practices” Transcending the “cafeteria-style” approachMission orientationInterdisciplinarityGlobal diversityUpper-level as well as introductory courses

Source: Trends and Emerging Practices in General Education (May 2009), Based on a Survey Among Members of the Association of American Colleges and Universities, Conducted by Hart Research Associates

Feedback from the Faculty (September-November 2009)

The Fontbonne graduate should be able to: Use quantitative measures Communicate effectively Find, discriminate, and use information Take interdisciplinary approaches to problem solving Advocate for social justice Serve the disenfranchised Participate as a world citizen Understand history in context of the present Use logic to make an argument Act ethically Exhibit leadership Embrace and explore diversity Reflect on their intellectual growth

Priorities

KNOWLEDGE:

Disciplinary content, traditions

SKILLS:

Framing problems, critical thinking, logical reasoning, literacy, interpretation, integration, expression, information management

EXPERIENCE:

Lived values, engaged learning practices, service, activism, leadership

 ATTITUDES:

Intellectual hospitality, empathy, diversity, spirituality, remembrance, creativity, self-awareness

Discussion Questions

What feedback would you offer about the list of goals we have summarized above?

Disregarding for now our current structure, what kinds of courses would energize faculty and students and give our collective experiences at Fontbonne more meaning and relevance? Could you envision, for instance, general education courses

in your department being offered at the 300- or 400-level? Could service learning or other immersion experiences be

incorporated into your department’s general education courses?

Discussion Questions (cont.)

What interdisciplinary collaborations might your department envision? What creative partnerships between departments might flourish in Fontbonne’s general education?

How could general education courses in your department better engage with Fontbonne’s mission, vision, values, commitments, and Catholic identity?

 

Group Assignments

Behavioral Sciences—Interdisciplinary Studies(Facilitators: Taff & Theissen) Biological and Physical Sciences—English and Communications(Facilitator: Paine-Saunders) Business and Professional Studies—History, Philosophy & Religion(Facilitator: Rosenberg) Communication Disorders and Deaf Education—OPTIONS(Facilitators: Murphy & Siemer) Education/Special Education—Human Environmental Sciences(Facilitator: Anthony) Fine Arts—Math and Computer Sciences(Facilitator: Newton)