Core Curriculum and Liberal Core Curriculum and Liberal EducationEducation

Yueh-Ting LeeYueh-Ting LeeCollege of Arts and Sciences at UTCollege of Arts and Sciences at UT

September, 2007September, 2007

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Why do I Use Power Point? Why do I Use Power Point?

OverviewOverview

My introduction to you My introduction to you Experience of sharing governance Experience of sharing governance Challenges and Opportunities in Challenges and Opportunities in American Higher EducationAmerican Higher EducationServing as a C-E for NCA-HLC Serving as a C-E for NCA-HLC Conclusions and Q’s & A’s Conclusions and Q’s & A’s

Born in ChinaBorn in China

Lee: been given many nicknames but Lee: been given many nicknames but Yueh-Ting (pronounced as “your-Yueh-Ting (pronounced as “your-ting”)=Your Team ting”)=Your Team In the Central Part of China near the In the Central Part of China near the Yangtze River where people cannot Yangtze River where people cannot differentiate between L and Ndifferentiate between L and N

Along the Yongtze RiverAlong the Yongtze River

L vs. NL vs. N

Life vs. KnifeLife vs. KnifeBe alert vs. Be a nerdBe alert vs. Be a nerd

Education in ChinaEducation in China

1980-1984, BA, English Language and 1980-1984, BA, English Language and American Literature at Changcha Railway American Literature at Changcha Railway University (aka: South Central U. China)University (aka: South Central U. China)1984-1986, MA, Psychology, Beijing 1984-1986, MA, Psychology, Beijing Normal University (North China)Normal University (North China)

Immigration and Education in Immigration and Education in the USAthe USA

Immigrated to the USA in 1986Immigrated to the USA in 1986Graduate School and Ph.D. (1986-1991) Graduate School and Ph.D. (1986-1991) in Personality and Social Psychology at in Personality and Social Psychology at State University of New York Stony Brook State University of New York Stony Brook

MAMA MN MNNDNDOH.OH.1994-2000 Psychology Faculty at Westfield 1994-2000 Psychology Faculty at Westfield State College of Massachusetts and Founding State College of Massachusetts and Founding Director of Multicultural and Ethnic Studies Director of Multicultural and Ethnic Studies ProgramProgram2000-2005, Chair and Professor, Dept. of Ethnic 2000-2005, Chair and Professor, Dept. of Ethnic and Cross-Cultural Studies, Minnesota State and Cross-Cultural Studies, Minnesota State University, Mankato University, Mankato 2005-2007 Dean and Professor, College of Arts 2005-2007 Dean and Professor, College of Arts and Sciences at Minot State U, NDand Sciences at Minot State U, ND20072007 Plan to serve at UT in OH for a long Plan to serve at UT in OH for a long time.time.

Teaching, Research, Grants, and Teaching, Research, Grants, and Administrative ServiceAdministrative Service

Taught a variety of courses for about 16 years.Taught a variety of courses for about 16 years.Research 7 scholarly books and about 70 Research 7 scholarly books and about 70 journal articles and other publications on person journal articles and other publications on person perception, stereotypes, social identity etc. from perception, stereotypes, social identity etc. from the perspective of mind, culture and evolution the perspective of mind, culture and evolution About $6 million (external grants for faculty About $6 million (external grants for faculty research and student learning) research and student learning) Being a servant in Higher Education. Being a servant in Higher Education.

Sharing GovernanceSharing Governance

MTA (Massachusetts Teachers MTA (Massachusetts Teachers Association)Association)IFO in MN (Inter-Faculty Organization)IFO in MN (Inter-Faculty Organization)ND-Minot State U’s Faculty Senate ND-Minot State U’s Faculty Senate Look forward to working with you (e.g., Look forward to working with you (e.g., sharing governance and faculty’s sharing governance and faculty’s ownership of curriculum) ownership of curriculum)

Challenges and Opportunities in Challenges and Opportunities in American Higher EducationAmerican Higher Education

The Spelling ReportsThe Spelling ReportsAAA (Accountability, Affordability and AAA (Accountability, Affordability and Accessibility) Accessibility) Differences and relations between Differences and relations between liberal education, liberal arts education, liberal education, liberal arts education, and general educationand general education

The Spellings Report The Spellings Report A TEST OF A TEST OF LEADERSHIPLEADERSHIPCharting the Future of Charting the Future of U.S. Higher EducationU.S. Higher EducationA Report of the A Report of the Commission Appointed Commission Appointed bybySecretary of Education Secretary of Education Margaret SpellingsMargaret Spellings

Our higher education faces many Our higher education faces many global challenges and opportunitiesglobal challenges and opportunities

American higher education faces many challenges and American higher education faces many challenges and opportunities. A recent report of the Commission opportunities. A recent report of the Commission appointed by Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings, appointed by Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings, A test of leadership: A test of leadership: Charting the future of U. S. Charting the future of U. S. Higher educationHigher education, states, “, states, “as other nations rapidly as other nations rapidly improve their higher education systems, we are improve their higher education systems, we are disturbed by evidence that the quality of student disturbed by evidence that the quality of student learning at U.S. colleges and universities is learning at U.S. colleges and universities is inadequate and, in some cases, declininginadequate and, in some cases, declining” (see U.S. ” (see U.S. Department of Education, p. 3. Department of Education, p. 3. http://www.ed.gov/about/bdscomm/list/hiedfuture/reports.http://www.ed.gov/about/bdscomm/list/hiedfuture/reports.htmlhtml). ).

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Accountability (e.g., quality and Accountability (e.g., quality and excellence)excellence)Accessibility (e.g., to diverse people)Accessibility (e.g., to diverse people)Affordability (e.g., cost-efficiency) Affordability (e.g., cost-efficiency)

e.g., e.g., Quality is going down. Quality is going down. Cost is going up. Cost is going up.

Accountability and Transparency Accountability and Transparency ExcellenceExcellence

Scholars and higher education leaders also Scholars and higher education leaders also obtained similar findings (see Bok, 2006; Hersh obtained similar findings (see Bok, 2006; Hersh & Merrow, 2005; Kuh et al, 2006; Schneider, & Merrow, 2005; Kuh et al, 2006; Schneider, 2005). Educational transparency and 2005). Educational transparency and accountability via assessment may help to accountability via assessment may help to assure academic quality and excellence (see assure academic quality and excellence (see Walvoord, 2004). Academic leaders (including Walvoord, 2004). Academic leaders (including CAS deans) in higher education perhaps play a CAS deans) in higher education perhaps play a role in this educational process. role in this educational process.

Concerns which business and community Concerns which business and community Leaders or other professionals have about Leaders or other professionals have about

college graduates—e.g.college graduates—e.g. Critical thinking?Critical thinking?Communication skills (written & oral)?Communication skills (written & oral)?Computational and math skills?Computational and math skills?Collaborative skills and team work? Collaborative skills and team work? Diversity? Diversity? Character Building? Civic Engagement?Character Building? Civic Engagement?Citizenship? Well-rounded and globalCitizenship? Well-rounded and globalBroad inquiry into knowledge?Broad inquiry into knowledge?

Derek Bok: President and Derek Bok: President and Professor Emeritus at Harvard Professor Emeritus at Harvard

Our Underachieving Colleges:Our Underachieving Colleges:A Candid Look at How Much Students A Candid Look at How Much Students Learn and Why They Should Be Learn and Why They Should Be Learning More (2006, Princeton Learning More (2006, Princeton University Press) University Press)

Liberal Education and American Liberal Education and American Promise (LEAP) by AAC&UPromise (LEAP) by AAC&U

AAC&U: Association of American AAC&U: Association of American Colleges and UniversitiesColleges and Universities ( (http://www.aacu.org/http://www.aacu.org/))

Liberal Education and America's Liberal Education and America's Promise (LEAP) Promise (LEAP) http://www.aacu.org/advocacy/leap/index.chttp://www.aacu.org/advocacy/leap/index.cfmfm

Liberal Education is not equal to Liberal Education is not equal to liberal arts or general educationliberal arts or general education

Liberal artsLiberal artsSpecific disciplines (the arts, humanities, Specific disciplines (the arts, humanities, social sciences, and sciences).social sciences, and sciences).

General Education is General Education is the part of a liberal education (LE) curriculum the part of a liberal education (LE) curriculum shared by all studentsshared by all students.. It provides broad It provides broad exposure to multiple disciplines and forms exposure to multiple disciplines and forms the basis for developing important the basis for developing important intellectual and civic capacities.intellectual and civic capacities. e.g., CAS offers most basic courses for almost e.g., CAS offers most basic courses for almost all students on UT campusall students on UT campus

What is Liberal Education? What is Liberal Education? A philosophy of education that empowers individuals with A philosophy of education that empowers individuals with broad knowledge and transferable skills, and a strong sense of broad knowledge and transferable skills, and a strong sense of values, ethics, and civic engagementvalues, ethics, and civic engagement.. Characterized by Characterized by challenging encounters with important issues, and more a way challenging encounters with important issues, and more a way of studying than specific content, liberal education can occur of studying than specific content, liberal education can occur at all types of colleges and universities. "General Education" at all types of colleges and universities. "General Education" and an expectation of in-depth study in at least one field and an expectation of in-depth study in at least one field normally comprise liberal education. By its nature, normally comprise liberal education. By its nature, liberal liberal education is global and pluralistic. It embraces the diversity of education is global and pluralistic. It embraces the diversity of ideas and experiences that characterize the social, natural, and ideas and experiences that characterize the social, natural, and intellectual world.intellectual world. To acknowledge such diversity in all its To acknowledge such diversity in all its forms is both an intellectual commitment and a social forms is both an intellectual commitment and a social responsibility, for nothing less will equip us to understand our responsibility, for nothing less will equip us to understand our world and to pursue fruitful livesworld and to pursue fruitful lives..

Surveys and Focus Group Study by Surveys and Focus Group Study by Peter D. Hart Associates Inc and Peter D. Hart Associates Inc and

AAC&UAAC&U

Proportion of employers who say colleges and Proportion of employers who say colleges and universities should place more emphasis than universities should place more emphasis than they do today on selected learning outcomes they do today on selected learning outcomes (http://www.aacu.org/advocacy/leap/index.cfm)(http://www.aacu.org/advocacy/leap/index.cfm)

e.g., 82% e.g., 82% Concepts and new developments Concepts and new developments in science and technologyin science and technology76% 76% Teamwork skills and the ability to Teamwork skills and the ability to collaborate with others in diverse group collaborate with others in diverse group settingssettings

Basic Findings Basic Findings

1. Knowledge of Human Cultures and 1. Knowledge of Human Cultures and the Physical and Natural Worldthe Physical and Natural World2. Intellectual and Practical Skills2. Intellectual and Practical Skills3. Personal and Social Responsibility3. Personal and Social Responsibility4. Integrative Learning4. Integrative Learning

Liberal Education supports the UT’s Liberal Education supports the UT’s MissionMission

The mission of The The mission of The University of Toledo is University of Toledo is to improve the human to improve the human condition; to advance condition; to advance knowledge through knowledge through excellence in learning, excellence in learning, discovery and discovery and engagement; and to engagement; and to serve as a diverse, serve as a diverse, student-centered public student-centered public metropolitan research metropolitan research university. university.

Higher Learning Commission (HLC) Higher Learning Commission (HLC) of North Central Associationof North Central Association

Being a consulting evaluator; core Being a consulting evaluator; core curriculum is a very significant part of curriculum is a very significant part of evaluation of any institution evaluation of any institution accreditation. accreditation. Five Criteria for an Institutional Five Criteria for an Institutional Accreditation (Mission & Integrity, Accreditation (Mission & Integrity, Preparing for the Future, Student Preparing for the Future, Student Learning and Effective Teaching, Learning and Effective Teaching, Knowledge, Engagement and Service)Knowledge, Engagement and Service)

The Four ThemesThe Four Themes

Teaching Teaching Learning Outcomes Learning OutcomesFour Themes of organizations Four Themes of organizations – Future-orientedFuture-oriented– Learning-FocusedLearning-Focused– ConnectedConnected– Distinctive Distinctive

Conclusions and SummaryConclusions and Summary

Be Part of the Faculty at UT which is part Be Part of the Faculty at UT which is part of American Higher Educationof American Higher EducationAAAAAA Challenges and Opportunities Challenges and OpportunitiesWhat can we do to improve our core What can we do to improve our core curriculum philosophically and practically? curriculum philosophically and practically? Q’s and A’s Q’s and A’s

Comments and questionsComments and questions

Thank you. Thank you. Yueh-Ting=Your TeamYueh-Ting=Your Team