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Please post preliminary comments here.

From Jennifer: On the Gen Ed thing, see comments below. The suggestion for the committee that I agree with are in BOLD and then my comments below.

FIRST YEAR EXPERIENCE COMPONENT

One Freshman Seminar required for all first-year "non transfer' students.

I believe that the freshman seminar is enough. The students get 5 writing intensive I do not think they have to have one in freshman year. Most freshman take ENGL 101 in their freshman year anyway (IMO)

INDIVIDUAL LEARNING EXPERIENCE COMPONENT

No stated requirement. Rather, the goal of pursuing individual experience is to be encouraged by all faculty through the use of URES 197, upper-level independent study courses, research methods courses, and so forth. Major programs would determine how these options might work within their major requirements.

I think this should be left to the department and not a university wide policy. Each department has different opportunities.

FOREIGN LANGUAGE COMPETENCE COMPONENT

Foreign language competence is not a universal requirement. Rather, programs are expected to see the value of knowledge of a foreign language to their area of study, and to include a requirement in an appropriate foreign language as part of the definition of the major. Departments who can successfully argue that requirement of foreign language study is unnecessary to the major (or a hindrance to their students) would make their argument to the Curriculum Committee. The assumption, otherwise, is that students will be expected to achieve a level of foreign language knowledge deemed appropriate by the major department. If delivery of foreign language instruction can be intensified, this may be achievable in one or one and a half years. If study abroad expectations can be heightened, and if support is there to make it a realistic expectation for something like the majority of students, this might shift in the direction of foreign language competency. The Department of Modern Foreign Languages could offer leadership in such a direction.

I don't believe we are currently serving our students well by making them take intermediate level. Many of our students are going to the community college to take these courses anyway. I would favor on have the first two course and not all four. In addition I think giving credit for studying abroad at non-native english countries should count for the language component

PHYSICAL EDUCATION COMPONENT

Two courses required – any two physical education or dance courses (in other words, the same requirement as now) We have to many overweight indivduals in our society....

Natural Science -- a two-semester sequence in the same natural science discipline (biology, chemistry, geology, physical geography, physics). At least one laboratory course must be taken (lab must be part of the first course in the sequence). The second course could be either a science issues/applications course (without a lab), or the student could take the second half of the introductory, lab-based science course (as present).

OK

Arts and Literature -- any two courses in: studio art, art history, classics, music composition, music history, literature, philosophy, religion, theatre)

Human Behavior and Society DON'T LIKE-- any three courses in: anthropology, sociology, business administration, economics, history, historic preservation, linguistics, political science, psychology, speech, social or political geography. One course must have a strong historical perspective; course-specific, not discipline-specific)

I do not think we need three courses in this, people who major in these areas easily get them while people outside of these majors have to take an additional 3 course. How does business administration fit into this category....We can argue that computer ethics, CPSC 103, 104 talk about society

Seven courses required, with at least one taken in each of the following areas:

Analyzing Nature NO – at least one course employing the scientific method, quantitative analysis, and technology to understand the natural world. Any lab-based science class fulfills this requirement.

If you want to have an analyzing experience outside of the sciences then I do not believe a lab based science should be included and if it is included then this section is obsolete because everyone has to take a natural science with at least one lab

Global Inquiry – at least one course exploring and understanding past and present interconnections and differences in our world. An approved study abroad program could be used to fulfill this requirement. Includes courses in any department that deal with international affairs, international development, comparative studies, globalization (cultural, economic, political), or global environmental issues.

OK

Cultural Expressions – at least one course focusing on appreciating human culture through artistic achievements, works, and processes. Includes but is not limited to current general education courses in art, art history, music, literature (all languages), theater, etc

OK

Social Forces – at least one course focusing on understanding the structures, relations, and institutions, both past and present, that affect human behavior and communication. Includes but is not limited to current Gen. Ed. courses in psychology, political science, history, human geography, anthropology, classics, religion, philosophy, economics, etc.

OK

WRITING COMPONENT

Maintain a four course Writing Intensive requirement (delivered as it currently is via courses designated across the curriculum)

I think the students should be force to take as many as possible, one of the number criteria for graduating seniors is communication skills.

SPEAKING COMPONENT

Maintain a two course Speaking Intensive requirement (delivered as it currently is via courses designated across the curriculum)

I think the students should ve force to take as many as possible, one of the number criteria for graduating seniors is communication skills.

QUANTITATIVE COMPETENCE COMPONENT Two courses required – Any two courses with strong quantitative content in disciplines such as computer science, mathematics, music theory, natural science, business administration, philosophy, and psychology.

Once again this seems kind of obsolete, with the other requirements laid out the way they are students would naturally get this. </p>