August 23, 2010Faculty Senate

Core Curriculum Task Force Members*Tina Butcher, Co-chair,

Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education

Ellen Roberts, Co-chair, Interim Dean, College of Education and Health Professions

Chris Whitehead, Assistant Professor, TSYS School of Computer Science

Glenn Stokes, Interim Dean, College of Letters and Sciences

*Tom Dolan, Professor, Political Science

Neal McCrillis, Director, Center for International Education

*Brian Schwartz, Professor, Biology

Vicky Langston, Department Chair, Accounting and Finance

Orion Wertz, Associate Professor, Art

Pat McHenry, Associate Dean, College of Letters and Sciences

*Ron Wirt, Associate Dean, College of the Arts

*Alice Pate, Department Chair, History and Geography

Fred Cohen, Director, Schwob School of Music

Overview of Process1. A minimum of one student learning outcome should

be identified for each of the following areas within the core: A1, A2, B, C, D, E, F, US Perspectives, Global Perspectives, Critical Thinking;

2. Outcomes should be approved through the appropriate campus curriculum committees;

3. Academic Advisory Committees will specify learning outcomes for each Area F and submit them to the Council on General Education for approval;

4. Upon approval of the institutional student learning outcomes, each institution must develop and implement the assessment of ALL Core learning outcomes;

5. New Core requirements will be implemented Fall 2011.

Timeline for CompletionStudent learning outcomes will be submitted

to the USG Council on General Education for approval (Submit October 4 for October 25-26 meeting);

Courses will be identified which meet outcomes for each area;

New courses considered for inclusion in the core must be submitted for approval by the USG Council on General Education;

All programs must go through the CSU curriculum approval process prior to implementation of the new core.

Specifically, we have tried to:Develop consistent and measurable learning

outcomes that could be measured by a range of courses in each area;

Develop consistent and measurable learning outcomes for the three overlay requirements in US Perspectives, Global Perspectives, and Critical Thinking; and

Consider a focus for Area B: Institutional Options.

Task Force Actions….Drafted learning outcomes for each area of the

coreObtained input from and approval of departmentsProvided periodic updates to the Faculty Senate

and the ProvostHeld faculty forums on campus and downtown to

discuss and obtain input (reactions were very positive)

Had preliminary discussions about existing courses that might fit into some areas of the core

Recent conversations have focused on:Number of learning outcomes in each area

(because of direction from the USG Core Implementation Committee)

Number of hours in each area (because of transferability)

Focus of Area B

Core Curriculum ConsiderationsCurrent Version Draft Version

Area A-1 (6 hours)Area A-2 (3 hours)Area B (4-5 hours)Area C (6 hours)Area D (10-11 hours)Area E (12 hours)

Area A-1 (9 hours)Area A-2 (3 hours)Area B (4-5 hours)Area C (6 hours)Area D (10-11 hours)Area E (9 hours)

Next Steps…Combined meeting of the Core Curriculum Task Force

and General Education Committee on August 26 to discuss the identified issues

Tina Butcher and Ellen Roberts will attend a Core Curriculum Workshop on September 17

Additional approvals on campus prior to submission of learning outcomes

Decision-making by the committee and approval on campus of using existing courses in the core

Development and approval on and off campus of new courses for the core

Approval of undergraduate programs of study – departments, colleges, and University Curriculum Committee

Additional ResourcesUSG Core Curriculum   http://core.usg.edu/American Association of Colleges and

Universities General Education Resourceshttp://www.aacu.org/resources/generaleducation/index.cfm

SACS Information on General Education (See principles 3.5.1 and 3.5.3.)http://www.sacscoc.org/pdf/2010principlesofacreditation.pdf