This is a report from the group formulating a new general education program for Webster University undergraduate students. It summarizes some University history, including the origins of general education and the language of global citizenship. It reviews some of what the Task Force has learned about current best practices in undergraduate education, recommends program learning outcomes, and sketches the Task Force's intentions going forward.
4. 1967 1962 1924 1915 1972 KC 2011 Loretto College Webster College Men admitted Secular 1931 Study abroad
5. 2003 1983 1978 1992: Gen Ed 2004 Geneva Webster University London Strategic Plan 1986 Leiden 1981 Vienna World Traveler
6. General Education Prior to 1994: 128 hours and a major -- no general degree requirements Sept. 11, 1990 FCA Meeting. Sr. Mary Mangan, Anna Barbra Sakurai, Jim Staley, Maggie Droste, "General Degree Requirements” Fall Faculty Institute, Sept. 14-5, 1990. President Perlman: "While I want to be a participant and leader in these deliberations, I defer to the faculty's wisdom and judgment in the matter of general education and am prepared to be your enthusiastic spokesperson regardless of the outcome. "Indeed, I agree with Derek Bok, the President of Harvard, when he said that there is no single best curriculum, and the primary value of reconsidering or changing the curriculum is to engender support and enthusiasm for the new curriculum.” Task Forces formed: student development and skill areas, breadth, commonality.
7. October 9, 1990 FCA Meeting: Proposal for Freshman Seminar. Oct. 30, 1990 "Core Curriculum Forum" organized by Students for Social Action and Council for Student Affairs April 10, 1992 Spring Institute with Richard Light, organized by Susan Hacker, Brenda Boyce, Sharon Lee, Susan Heady, and Mustapha Pasha Oct. 13, 1992 FCA Meeting Curriculum Committee moved the General Education proposal, which carried by an overwhelming margin. BA students need 3 hours in each of nine areas; others need 3 hours in each of four of the nine areas. Curriculum Committee can exempt programs. Departments code courses.
8. Oct. 22, "FCA Approves New Education Model," by April Howell (Journal, p. 1) notes that the faculty has been discussing general degree requirements since 1985. FEC Chair Dottie Marshall notes that Curriculum Committee will "clean up language" of the goals. Fred Stopsky is quoted calling the new program a bureaucratic endeavor that doesn't improve teaching. Dec. 7, 1993 FCA votes that BS shall have same General Education Requirements as BA.
11. (Old) Mission Statement Mission & Values Although the Sisters of Loretto no longer oversee the day-to-day operation of Webster University, the general mission they established when they founded the university remains unchanged — to satisfy unmet educational needs. Webster today operates as an independent, comprehensive, non-demominational university with campus locations around the world. It offers undergraduate and graduate programs in a wide array of disciplines, including the liberal arts, fine and performing arts, teacher education, business and management. In striving to fulfill educational needs that may be underserved, Webster University: * Creates a student-centered environment accessible to individuals of diverse ages, cultures and socioeconomic backgrounds. * Sustains a personalized approach to education through small classes and close relationships among faculty and students. * Develops educational programs that join theory and practice, and instill in students the spirit of systematic inquiry. * Encourages creativity, scholarship and individual enterprise in its students and faculty. * Promotes international perspectives in the curriculum and among students and faculty. * Encourages in its students a critical perspective, a respect for diversity and an understanding of their own and others’ values. * Fosters in its students a lifelong desire to learn and a commitment to contribute actively to their communities and the world. * Educates diverse populations locally, regionally, nationally and internationally. * Strengthens the communities it serves through support of civic, cultural, corporate and educational organizations.
12. 2000-2002 Strategic Planning New Strategic Plan Art Sandler, Faculty President James Brasfield and Bruce Umbaugh, faculty representatives John Robinson, facilitator
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15. 2007 Strategic Planning Faculty representatives: Bill Lynch, Steve Hinson, Gwyneth Williams Mission Statement Strategic Plan Planning Process and Institutional Planning Committee
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18. 2008: Self-study process for reaccreditation completed Higher Learning Commission Visit Higher Learning Commission -- 10-year reaccreditation
19. Spring 2009: Webster submits proposal to AAC&U for a team to attend the Institute on General Education and Assessment
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22. Distribution requirements only is now unusual in General Education: Source: “Trends and Emerging Practices in General Education,” Hart Research Associates for AAC&U, May, 2009
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24. Impact of Educationally Purposeful Practices on First Academic Year GPA by Pre-College Achievement Level *Source: George Kuh , High Impact Educational Practices: What They Are, Who Has Access to Them, and Why They Matter (AAC&U, 2008) and Carol Geary Schneider, “Helping Students Connect”
25. Impact of Educationally Purposeful Practices on First Academic Year GPA by Race/Ethnicity *Source: George Kuh , High Impact Educational Practices: What They Are, Who Has Access to Them, and Why They Matter (AAC&U, 2008) and Carol Geary Schneider, “Helping Students Connect”
26. Impact of Educationally Purposeful Practices on the Probability of Returning for the Second Year of College by Race *Source: George Kuh , High Impact Educational Practices: What They Are, Who Has Access to Them, and Why They Matter (AAC&U, 2008) and Carol Geary Schneider, “Helping Students Connect”
27. Arrow Process Why use graphics from PowerPointing.com? Program Design; Assessment Plan “ transform students for global citizenship and individual excellence” What do we want for students? What students experience “ core competencies for responsible global citizenship in the 21st century” Purposeful pathways and a plan for telling whether they work Learning Goals & Outcomes Program Content Program Mission University Mission The General Education Reform Process
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29. Mission, charge The mission of the Global Citizenship Program is to ensure that every undergraduate student emerge from Webster University with the core competencies required for responsible global citizenship in the 21st Century. The Global Citizenship Project Task Force is charged with making recommendations to the Senate for the creation and implementation of the Global Citizenship Program.
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33. Large, varied array of courses Limited number of carefully constructed courses Any course at any time Developmental model Academic class experience only Involve complete undergraduate experience How should learning be organized to achieve the outcomes? Basic design choices:
34. Large, varied array of courses Limited number of carefully constructed courses Any course at any time Developmental model Academic class experience only Involve complete undergraduate experience Basic design choices:
35. Large, varied array of courses Limited number of carefully constructed courses Any course at any time Developmental model Academic class experience only Involve complete undergraduate experience How should learning be organized to achieve the outcomes? ? ? ?
40. Arrow Process Why use graphics from PowerPointing.com? Program Design; Assessment Plan “ transform students for global citizenship and individual excellence” You are here. What students experience “ core competencies for responsible global citizenship in the 21st century” Purposeful pathways and a plan for telling whether they work Learning Goals & Outcomes Program Content Program Mission University Mission The General Education Reform Process
41. Content/Structure recommendations The Task Force has concluded that the "core competencies required for responsible global citizenship in the 21st century" are reflected in the AAC&U/LEAP Essential Learning Outcomes. We take seriously concerns that have been voiced about the need to have a sufficiently simple programmatic structure that administering and assessing the program are not hindered.
42. The Task Force, therefore, recommends that, so long as an adequate assessment plan can be formulated, Webster University adopt the following goals for all undergraduate students, and proposes to move forward to develop an educational program to achieve such outcomes, along with a means of assessing that program:
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44. As the assessment plan takes shape, the Task Force may suggest the addition of a specific outcome in the area of international understanding or global awareness, beyond what is already referenced above. Our intention is that the same set of goals should apply to all undergraduate, degree-seeking students. We further intend that no undergraduate program be compromised or disadvantaged by the Global Citizenship Program. To promote achieving the objectives of integration and application, we intend for the new program be interdisciplinary from the first year of study. We further intend to build upon those practices identified in research as being "high-impact" in structuring the program.