2005

An Evaluation of a Required Upper-Division Liberal Studies

Core Curriculum

Florida Gulf Coast University

College of Arts & Sciences

Nora Egan Demers

2005

2005

Acknowledgements

Office of Academic Affairs

College of Arts & Sciences

Whitaker CenterOffice of Planning and

EvaluationOffice of Research and

Sponsored Programs

Sam Miranda

Lenore Benefield

Cid Conley

Andy Tirado

Rich Coughlin

many other colleagues and students

2005 2005

2005

FGCU- 10th in Florida SUS• Opened fall,

1997- 5 colleges• 2nd President

began fall 1999• Provost Yegidis

arrived on campus Fall, 2004

• College Dean Search again underway

2005

2005

2005

2005

Student profile- demographicsFemale/Male ratio1997: 1943:834 (2.33 to 1)

1999: 2111:1049 (2.01 to 1)

2000: 2375:1283 (1.85:1)

2004: 3916:2265 (1.73:1)

FTIC1997: 175 (entire year)

1999: 302 (fall)

2000: 465 (fall)

2004: 975 (fall)

Average age 1997: 331999: 282000: 292005: 25.5

2005

Student profile Age

17-25:

1999: 1591

2000: 1888

2004: 4096

26-50:

1999: 1706

2000: 1650

2004: 1155

(to 40)

over 50:

1999: 58

2000: 163

2004: 630

(over 40)

2005

2005

Arts & Sciences “Majors” degrees awarded since 1999

Liberal Studies 74Art 35Biology 24English 76Environ. Studies 88History 66

Earth Systems Science/Marine Science 6Math 18Psychology 82Spanish 39Theatre 10Communication 76 (since 2001)Biotechnology 1 (since 2004)

2005

Collegium of Integrated Learning

Arts & Sciences Strategy to Address the Student Learning Outcomes at FGCU- 5 Upper Division

and a “Capstone” Course (24 credit hours- reduced to 18 in 2000)

2005

Student Learning Outcomes Mapped to Specific IDS Courses

Course: Marquee outcomes3300 Foundations of civic engagement: community awareness

& ethical responsibility Issues in:(3301) Culture and society: culturally diverse perspective (3302) Politics and economics: community awareness and

involvement(3303) Science and technology: problem solving, information

literacy, technological literacy(3304) Ecology and environment: ecological perspective(3305) Arts, media and literature: aesthetic sensibility

2005

Frequency of course and faculty teaching, GPA and evaluations

2005

Average GPA vs. Ave. Evaluation score

y = 0.8585x + 1.287

R2 = 0.63333.6

3.8

4

4.2

4.4

4.6

2.8 3 3.2 3.4 3.6

average GPA

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era

ll s

tud

en

t e

va

lua

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2005

Alumni Survey • Over 500 surveys mailed to entire College

Alumni list in Jan 2005, with follow up postcard approximately 2 weeks later.

• Forty-two responses received to date.

• 37 of 42 respondents were female

• 37 of 42 were white

• 30 were employed full-time, 7 part time, 5 enrolled in school.

2005

More Respondents Demographics

High school graduation date:– Pre-1980: 12

– 1980-1990: 11

– 1990-2000: 20 • 12 in ’97 or ’98

Location of high school:5 county Service area: 18

Other area of Florida: 10

Out of State: 16

College Graduation date:• ’98: 1• ’99: 1• ’00*: 4• ’01: 4• ’02: 12• ’03: 17• ’04: 7• * requirements reduced to

18 hours instead of 24

2005

Highlights of Survey ResponsesEmployment:• related or closely related to degree: 27• Unrelated to degree- by their choice: 11• Unrelated to degree-not by choice: 5

2005

“Majors” of respondentsArt 2 Biology 1 Communication 2 English 3 Environmental Studies 10 Marine Science 0History 6Mathematics 2 Psychology 10 Social Sciences 4 Spanish 0 Individualized program 5

2005

How well did IDS help prepare you for present employment?

• Very well: 10• Adequately: 19• Poorly: 15

2005

How helpful was Issues in Culture and Society in

improving your ability in Culturally Diverse Perspective?

Very helpful 10

Somewhat helpful 10

Not helpful 12

Did not take 9

2005

 How helpful was

Issues in Politics and Economics in

improving your ability in Community Awareness and Involvement? Very helpful 9

Somewhat helpful 11

Not helpful 10

Did not take 12

2005

 How helpful was Issues in Arts

Media and Literature in improving your ability in Aesthetic

Sensibility?

Very helpful 10

Somewhat helpful 9

Not helpful 10

Did not take 13

2005

How helpful was Issues in Ecology and the Environment in improving your ability in Ecological Perspective?

Very helpful 12 Somewhat helpful 10 Not helpful 10 Did not take 11

2005

How helpful was Issues in Science and Technology in improving your

ability…in Information Literacy?

Very helpful 14

Somewhat helpful 12

Not helpful 17

Did not take 0

in Technological Literacy?Very helpful 11

Somewhat helpful 17

Not helpful 15

in Problem Solving Abilities?Very helpful 8Somewhat helpful 15 Not helpful 19

2005

How helpful was Senior Capstone In Interdisciplinary Studies in improving your ability in…

Ethical Responsibility?Very helpful 15Somewhat helpful 12 Not helpful 13

Did not take 1

Problem Solving Abilities?

Very helpful 10

Somewhat helpful 14

Not helpful 16

Did not take 1

Community Awareness and Involvement?Very helpful 10Somewhat helpful 13 Not helpful 17 Did not take 1

2005

During the IDS courses, my instructor(s) encouraged me to challenge my ideas and

the ideas of others.

Strongly Agree 13

Agree 26

Disagree 3

Strongly Disagree 3

2005

During the IDS courses, my instructor(s) encouraged my and

other students’ questions and discussions in class.

Strongly Agree 18

Agree 24

Disagree 1

Strongly Disagree 2

2005

Conclusions• The Collegium appears to

be most effective in encouraging discussions and challenging students ideas.

• Perception of helpfulness is mixed on all points with almost 1/3 responding negatively.

• Much remains to be examined to determine effectiveness and suitability of a required core.