Nicole DiVittore, a junior in life sciences, works in Robert Minard's
Chem 35 Lab in Whitmore Laboratory on the University Park campus.
DiVittore is using a U.V. visable spectrum station for chemical dyes.
The University's General Education Implementation Committee's plan
is intended to ensure students gain a broad understanding
of scientific, cultural and artistic events and accomplishments.
Photo: Greg Grieco
By Alan Janesch
Public Information
Starting this summer, Penn State students will probably start to notice the first of four waves of upcoming changes in general education -- the recently overhauled program that helps students build a core of knowledge and a breadth of experience by requiring them to take courses in a wide range of subject areas that may often fall outside their majors.
Overall, they're going to find much less emphasis on getting through a rigid, complicated list of approved courses and more emphasis on being able to take courses in areas that interest them, help them make sense of the world at large and enrich their lives.
"Where there once was a checklist and the implicit message was, 'You better stick with this checklist,' now students will find greater flexibility and greater opportunities to explore and to experiment," said John Moore, an associate professor of English and comparative literature and vice chair of the University's General Education Implementation Committee (GEIC). "There's a spirit of innovation in this, and I think that's why general education will feel different to the students."
In addition to the increased sense of flexibility, things that will be and feel different in general education include:
* A special seminar for all first-year students which will acquaint them with key concepts in their prospective majors, introduce them to full-time faculty in their colleges and help them build the skills needed at a major research university;
* Greater use of active and collaborative teaching and learning techniques;
* The new ability of students to substitute, under certain conditions and in consultation with their advisers, three credits of foreign-language study for another three credits of general education;
* A greater emphasis on writing, speaking and the effective use of information technology and knowledge-seeking skills; and
* A higher level of international and/or intercultural perspectives.
In December 1997, shortly after the new general education plan was adopted by the Faculty Senate, the University administration authorized permanent funding in the amount of $1 million to help support implementation of the general education program. Related to that was a further allocation of $1.5 million to support new faculty positions. In addition, $600,000 in special, one-time funds has been allocated to help faculty develop new and better approaches to teaching and learning.
In February 1998 the General Education Implementation Committee was appointed by Lewis Geschwindner, former chair of the University Faculty Senate. The committee's charge was to take the outline for a new general education program adopted by the Faculty Senate in December 1997 and develop ways to implement the special committee's recommendations.
Over the past year, the committee has put into place a four-year transition period during which colleges and other units need to review old general education courses, assess how they will meet the new guidelines, and revise them or as necessary develop new courses to replace the old ones. The committee has also reported on its progress more than half a dozen times to the Faculty Senate.
During the first semester of the four-year period, the Senate's curricular affairs committee also has put a lot of work into general education implementation -- including reviewing and signing off on about 50 course proposals. Overall, there are roughly 700 general education courses that will need to be reviewed or revised.
Peter Deines, a professor of geochemistry and chair of the curricular affairs committee, said that some 80 courses are set up for review in the fall semester and he anticipates that the pace of the committee's work will pick up as the process goes on. John W. Bagby, a professor of business law and chair of GEIC, said the curricular affairs committee has invested hundreds of hours in the review process.
The process of reinventing Penn State's general education plan began in early 1996, when a special committee created by the Faculty Senate, along with the president, began taking a hard look at undergraduate education at Penn State. The special committee created a plan that included 10 recommendations intended to ensure that students get both the skills they'll need and a broad understanding of scientific, cultural and artistic events and accomplishments.
At last month's Senate meeting, GEIC leaders Bagby and Moore made their final presentations on the general education plan and also proposed that the Senate establish a single body that has "clear ongoing responsibility" for overseeing and coordinating the general education program.
Bagby and Moore are pleased with the committee's work and confident about the future of general education at Penn State, even as they recognize that a lot of work remains ahead.
The "unfinished business" of general education, Moore said, is "making sure that by the end of the four-year transition period, all of the courses on the general education list are being taught with attention to the active learning elements. Everybody buys the goal. It's just going to take some time."