Committee proposes changes to General Education program

The General Education Committee has proposed two broad changes to the current GE program that better align it with the national conversation on liberal education and address concerns about the upper-level component.

The proposed changes are to add three new general education goals (teamwork, problem-solving and civic responsibility) and reduce the number of goals per each GE course; and eliminate the 22 theme categories, create a new upper-level “Global Issues” requirement, and reduce the requirement from three courses to two.

Carol “Griff” Griffin, director of General Education, said she and the committee think that the proposal more closely aligns with the university mission.

Four campus-wide forums will be held to discuss the proposed changes:

• February 22, 1:30-3:30 p.m., Kirkhof Center, room 2204;
• February 24, 1:30-3:30 p.m., DeVos Center, Loosemore Auditorium;
• February 28, 2-4 p.m., DeVos Center, Loosemore Auditorium;
• March 2, 9-11 a.m., Kirkhof Center, room 2204.

Griffin said unit- and college-level discussions are also scheduled.

The full proposal draft and supporting documentation is online at www.gvsu.edu/gened. Students, faculty and staff members can comment on any aspect of the proposal by logging on to the discussion board on the website. The final proposal is scheduled to be presented to University Academic Senate in April.