General Education Council Minutes - May 3, 2004

Council Members Present:

Bryon Clark (chair), Betty Clay, Jim Cunningham, Steve McKim, Jack Ousey, Cherrie Wilmoth, Richard Hackett, Brad Ludrick, Linda Kallam, Jan Dill, John Mischo, Steven Emgee, Chip Weiner

Meeting called to order at 2:00 pm

Welcome and introductions.

Approval of minutes form 12 April 2004 meeting

Council members discussed the revised proposed outcomes (goals) for general education; several suggestions/modifications were made by departmental faculty. It was discussed that departments may still have a hard time assessing the outcomes; this was followed by considerable discussion.

The Chair then distributed a copy of the revised proposed outcomes with the Science Reasoning section expanded; this version contained six specific student learning outcomes (see below).

Science Reasoning:

Students will be able to demonstrate an understanding of scientific methods and inquiry.

  • Students will design an experiment to test a scientific hypothesis and interpret the results in a laboratory.
  • Students will be able to use the basic language of science.
  • Students will be able to identify the unifying principles of science and apply them to issues of science.
  • Students will be able to identify topics suitable for scientific investigation.
  • Students will be able to differentiate between scientific and non-scientific explanations.
  • Students will be able to discuss the interaction between advances in science and societal change.

Discussion followed the presentation and there was general consensus that the specific student learning outcomes would be easier to assess than the overall goal. The Chair volunteered to develop similar specific student learning outcomes for each of the proposed goals during summer 2004. The Chair indicated that these would serve as the starting place for individual departments to then modify, add, and/or delete outcomes. Brad Ludrick moved that the Chair develop similar specific student learning outcomes for each goal to serve as a working document for departments to modify. Richard Hackett seconded the motion.

After discussion, the motion passed unanimously.

The Chair thanked members of the Council for all their hard work and wished them a good intersession and summer.

The next meeting will be held at the beginning of Fall Semester 2004.

Adjourned at 3:10 pm