General Education by Us:a Student PerspectiveAshley Oberst, Kelly Haggerty, and Connie AdamsSaint Marys CollegeMay 1, 2007

PurposeLast semester, Student Academic Council (SAC) was approached by general education administrative committee, lead by Dr. IncandelaGroup of SAC volunteers were asked to research and present the Ideal General Education Requirements from a student perspectiveThis research will be used to help decision-makers in the process of updating the General Education Requirements of Saint Marys College

MethodologyThis research did not consider general education requirements by major (did consider by degree)Two methods were used to survey students:In-person interviewsE-mail solicitation (less than 5% of surveying)Research of comparable colleges general education requirements (e.g. Calvin College), Saint Marys Purpose and Goals Statement, and Mission Statement also used to aid student committee members in forming suggestions

Methodology (continued)Two rounds of surveying:1st (informal): If you could change anything about Saint Marys General Education Requirements, what would you change? (target population: student body)2nd (formal): Students asked five approved questions (target population: juniors and seniors)Aladdin Fouad (department of college research) reviewed questions: approve as unbiased

Organization of FindingsResults reveal identity:Who we areWhat we needWhat we wantInformal survey results (1st)Formal survey questions (2nd)Formal survey resultsCommittee suggestions: the Ideal General Education Requirements

Identity

Who we areJeanne Choquehuanca

We are:21st Century Women

Intellectuals

PracticalSpiritual

Inquisitive

Leaders

Individuals

What we needSenior Beth Sands on her Pilgrimage in Mexico

We need:Intellectual ChallengeExcitement CultureKnowledge of a greater worldKnowledge of our history as women

Practical, applicable classes specific to our individual needsJoy/pride of self-enlightenment

What we wantFirst-year Ashley Williams

We want:Opportunity to take higher level courses to fulfill general education requirementInteractive learning:Is enjoyment obtained from the material? What ideas challenge us?Learning by questioningOpportunities to be immersed in other cultures, to be knowledgeable of current events, places, and ideasWomens studies course

What we want (continued)More physical education/recreation coursesMore well-being courses, such as womens healthOptions:Option to choose from a list and to study abroadMore classes to prepare for future, e.g. additional math/business course in financial literacy or GRE preparationGuidance, not hand-holding: we want to learn collectively as individualsKnowledgeable and willing advisorsArea to grow; to realize on own why learning, rather than being told why/how to learn

Results: Informal SurveyBetter advisingWomens studies course (a must)One less science class (those that require two)One less foreign language classAdditional math classPractical finance class needed (taxes, loans, etc.)Diversity and service learningMore PE classes More optionsIf you could change anything about Saint Marys General Education Requirements, what would you change?Most popular responses:

Why a formal survey?Committee members do not believe adding a class implies removing a classPopular responses to informal question needed clarification to help committee members in the processSpecific areas of interest: ScienceMathInteractive learning

Questions of Formal SurveyWhat is your major?Reflecting on your time and education at Saint Marys, do you feel an additional course in mathematics would be beneficial to your overall education? (ex. Financial literacy course)Along the same lines, do you feel the current requirements of two lecture/lab science classes is beneficial to your overall education?Do you feel a one semester lab science would be more beneficial?Would you like to see more discussion-based class time across the curriculum?

Qualified Responses Answers needed rational reasoningYes/No only answers were not consideredSurveyors did not accept the following types of reasoning: because I hate/love or like/dislikebecause that was a hard/easy classSurveyors wanted to know if something was beneficial to the individuals overall education, not whether she likes/dislikes a course

Formal Survey ResultsNumber of student respondents: 38 1. Majors (22 different majors): elementary/secondary education, history, English writing, French, economics, humanistic studies, marketing, accounting, studio art, chemistry, mathematics, English literature, political science, communications, civil engineering, psychology, Spanish, social work, religious studies, biology, and nursing

2. Reflecting on your time and education at Saint Marys, do you feel an additional course in mathematics would be beneficial to your overall education?Yes Ifs reasoning: (22)if financial literacy type course Applicable (to real life), taxes, balance checkbook, 401k, pension plans, sign on bonuses, stocks, problem solving, proofs/logic skills, practicalif taking GRE/LSAT type testsHelpful for review and logicYes reasoning: (5)Logic, will use no matter what career, helpful for grad school/job searchNo reasoning: (7)One sufficient, too many create schedule problems, not pertain to major, do not requirepublicize current one

3. Along the same lines, do you feel the current requirement of two lecture/laboratory science courses is beneficial to your overall education?Yes reasoning: (26)Science too broad cover all in one semester, too crammed in one semester, enforce logic, problem solving, and critical thinking, better rounded education Need open science by learning to all (2)No reasoning: (10) Four days/week too much, three hours of lab too much, not applicable to career, schedule conflicts because takes up so much time

4. Do you feel a one semester lecture/laboratory science requirement would be more beneficial?Yes reasoning: (10)Less time consuming, one semester sufficient, went too in-depthmake more broadNo reasoning: (28)Well-rounded education from two, not want admitbut happy to have taken for future, problem solving skills

5. Would you like to see more discussion-based class time across the curriculum? (Interactive Learning)Yes reasoning: (32)Hear other ideas and opinions, break up long lecture, easier remember because see applications, learn through debate, enforce/challenge beliefs, inquiry-based learningExample: have student present article/dayNo reasoning: (6)Some classes need more straight facts, get off-topic, takes up class timeSolution: do not requirebut suggest little more

Committee Suggestions: the Ideal General Education RequirementsAddition of 1 credit hour 1st year seminar to include:Advising, W and D processIntroduction to college life and resourcesService requirement (3 5 hours)Addition of 3 credit hour womens studies course

Committee Suggestions (continued)Language: Mission ConversationNegative feedback on language lab requirementsPropose four credit hour lecture and lab become a three credit hour lecture plus a one credit hour conversation course (Guatemalan speaker)Addition of three credit hour Geography course to additional designated courses listGeography and current eventsDegrees/majors require between one and four additional designated courses (mostly social sciences)

Committee Suggestions: ProficienciesLanguage ProficiencyStudents may test out of second semester language if pass proficiency requirement after completion of one semester languageAddition of D for DiversityMust complete D, as with WClasses must discuss at least three of eight diversity requirements to be considered D: Gender, race/ethnicity, disability, age discrimination, religion, culture, socio-economic background, sexualityTechnology ProficiencyPer departmentmust complete with Advanced W

Other Suggestions:Based on responses to the formal question on math, committee suggests a math-based (not required) financial literacy courseSuggest (not require) more math courses, e.g. GRE/LSAT preparation coursesSuggest (not require) more PE courses, e.g. kick boxing, karate, tae kwon do, golf, wrestlingNot require a tandem courseWe are individuals at different levels of developmentWe like options, self-confidence from realizing on own the purpose of the general education requirements, without being given the ways of learning document

Thank you

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