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GENERAL EDUCATION:

THE CORE

Florida A&M UniversityFaculty Planning ConferenceThursday, 18 August 2005

Valencia E. Matthews, Ph.D., PresenterAssociate Professor of Theatre & Assistant Dean,

College of Arts and Sciences

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Table of Contents

1. Introduction

2. General Education Assessment Committee: The Charge

3. SACS Requirements Related to General Education

4. State Requirements for General Education

5. General Education Sequence

6. General Education Sequence for Education Majors

7. FAMU’s General Education Philosophy Statement

8. FAMU’s General Education Mission Statement

9. Definitions of General Education Expected Learning Outcomes

10. General Education Outcome Statements and Competencies

11. GEAC Committee Members 2004-2005

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General Education Assessment Committee

AUGUST 2004

GEAC Established With representatives from the following programs and areas:

Arts and Sciences (Biology, English, Math, Philosophy)

General StudiesBusiness; JournalismNursing; Pharmacy

Faculty SenateUndergraduate Students (2)

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FEEDBACK/INPUT: FACULTY, STAFF, ADMINISTRATORS

12 August 2004“Faculty Discussion: The Role of General Education at FAMU”

(“Faculty Questionnaire on the Expected Learning Outcomes of Gen Ed” distributed)

Faculty Planning Conference, August 11 -13, 2004

8 September 20041st GEAC Meeting

29 September 2004Faculty Discussion and Work Session

“The Role of General Education at Florida A&M University”Worksheets distributed and collected

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General Education

Assessment Committee:

-- THE CHARGE --(Provide direction to and leadership in the planning and implementation of the University’s Gen Ed Assessment

Procedures)

• Develop a Mission Statement• Identify Five (5) to Eight (8)

Expected Learning Outcomes• Develop a Plan for Assessment of

General Education

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SACS Requirements Related to General Education• “The institution defines and publishes general

education and major program requirements for all its programs.” (Educational Programs Standard 10, SACS Principles of Accreditation)

• “The institution identifies competencies within the general education core and provides evidence that graduates have attained those college-level competencies.” (Standards Specific to Undergraduate Programs, #15, SACS Principles of Accreditation)

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By state statute (FS 1007.25), all Baccalaureate and Associate in Arts students are required to complete THIRTY-SIX (36) hours of general education.If a student transfers after completing the 36 hours, the entire general education program is guaranteed to transfer.

• State Requirements for General Education

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General Education Sequence (must consist of courses in):

• Communication (6 hours)• Mathematics (6 hours)• Social Sciences (6 hours)• Humanities (6 hours)• Natural Sciences (8 hours)

Remaining (4 hours): • SPC 2600 (Public Speaking)• HSC 1100 (Health for Modern Living) OR any of the approved general education

courses

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General Education Sequence for Education Majors• By admin. code (6A-5.066 (3)(b) (1) a-e), Education

major program requirements for students entering their freshman year of college in or after the 2001-2002 academic year shall include the following:

• Communication (9 hrs) -- Writing, literature & speech• Mathematics (9 hrs) – College algebra or above &

geometry • Social Sciences (12 hrs) – American history & general

psychology• Humanities (6 hrs) – Philosophy and fine arts• Natural Sciences (10 hrs) – Earth science, life science, &

physical science w/a minimum of one associated lab

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General Education Philosophy Statement

• The Philosophy of FAMU’s general education core is that a comprehensive education provides students the requisite skills needed to function as responsible citizens.

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General Education Mission Statement (approved by ILAC 15 Dec. 2004)

• The Mission of General Education at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University is to provide a broad liberal arts foundation that supports learning in the respective majors. The students will acquire knowledge and skills that will equip them to participate as productive and responsible citizens in a global society and prepare them to become reflective thinkers and life-long learners.

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DEFINITIONS of General Education Expected Learning Outcomes • Communication – the ability to understand

and convey ideas, feelings and attitudes in speech and writing.

• Critical Thinking – the ability to understand, apply knowledge, analyze and solve problems, develop new knowledge and think creatively.

• Technology Literacy -- the ability to use technology to support classroom learning.

• Collaboration – the ability to work cooperatively to accomplish common tasks.

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DEFINITIONS of General Education Expected Learning Outcomes Cont … • Ethical Values – the ability to adhere to a set of

principles as defined by the standards of academic integrity and conduct.

• Life Long Learning – to engage in the perpetual pursuit of knowledge.

• Cultural Diversity – the ability to show consideration for differences (race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, religion, disability, economics, age, etc.) among peoples.

• Quantitative Reasoning – the ability to apply numerical concepts to resolve real-world problems.

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General Education Outcome Statements with

Competencies

Students at Florida A&M University

will be able to demonstrate competence

in each of the following learning outcomes:

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COMMUNICATION: Demonstrate competence in writing, reading and speaking.

• Write in a variety of modes (e.g., essays, reports, editorials, case studies and research)

• Transmit ideas and information which conform to conventional standards of written English

• Apply critical reading skills to a wide range of materials

• Critically evaluate other’s messages • Compose spoken message suitable for

audience• Deliver a message or presentation suitable

for a particular audience• Use effective delivery techniques to reach an

audience

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Communication: Courses Where Taught• ENC 1101 Freshman Communicative

Skills I• ENC 1102 Freshman Communicative

Skills II• ENC 1121 Honors English I• ENC 1122 Honors English II• SPC 1050 Foundations of Speech• SPC 2600 Public Speaking

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CRITICAL THINKING: Apply critical thinking to learning and real-world situations.

• Draw conclusions after weighing evidence, facts and ideas

• Clarify issues to resolve problems• Assess unsupported claims using standards of

credibility and expertise• Utilize available information to evaluate the credibility

of a source, formulate an opinion and defend it• Apply logical operations• Neutralize fallacious reasoning and rhetoric• Distinguish between valid and invalid patterns of

reasoning• Analyze the logical structure of arguments• Perform basic analytic tasks -- categorizing

information, distinguishing between relevant and irrelevant data and predicting outcomes

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Critical Thinking:Courses Where Taught• MAC 1105• MGF 1106• MGF 1107• PSC 1121• BSC 1005L• BSC 1010L• BSC 1011L• CHM 1045L• CHM 1046L• ENC 1101, 1102, 1121, 1122• AMH 2091

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TECHNOLOGY LITERACY: Apply technology to achieve educational success.

• Use technology when appropriate to communicate with others

• Use technology to assess and retrieve information

• Use technology to manage (organize, analyze, present) information/data.

• Exhibit functional mastery of one computer operating system (Windows, DOS, UNIX, MAC, etc.)

• Use document preparation programs such as word- processors

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COLLABORATION: Work in groups to complete tasks.

• Exhibit collective decision-making skills• Negotiate roles and responsibilities in

the group• Employ appropriate interpersonal skills

among group members• Communicate effectively to complete a

team project• Exhibit support for group

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ETHICAL VALUES: Demonstrate personal responsibility and integrity in academic and personal situations.

• Exhibit respect for people, ideas and points of view

• Know laws, regulations and institutional policies related to academic growth and development

• Demonstrate awareness of consequences of dishonesty

• Submit written work free of plagiarism• Identify situations that could result in

conflict

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Ethical Values:Courses Where Taught• Gordon Rule Approved Humanities Courses• PHI 1100 & 2010• ENC1101 & 1102• AMH 2010 & 2020• AMH 2091• SYG 2000• PSY 2012• PSC 1121• BSC 1005• ENC 1102• ANT 2000• SLS 1101 & 1501

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LIFE LONG LEARNING: Demonstrate an appreciation for further education and self-

improvement.• Identify opportunities for personal and

professional development• Participate in professional development

activities

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CULTURAL DIVERSITY: Demonstrate an appreciation for differences

among peoples. • Use appropriate social skills to enhance

positive interpersonal relationships• Function effectively as a member of a diverse

group• Exhibit respect for people and the diverse

perspectives they bring to the group• Demonstrate an understanding of the

relationships among diversity, culture, and the impact they play on society

• Demonstrate the ability to evaluate how culture has shaped and continues to shape history

• Express oneself in a language other than English

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QUANTITATIVE REASONING: Demonstrate competence in using quantitative information to solve real-world problems.• Perform basic mathematical operations with or

without a calculator• Apply mathematical concepts • Use statistical reasoning• Solve real-world problems using accepted math

processes• Calculate fractions, percentages, decimals and

proportions or ratios with or without a calculator• Solve real-world problems involving functions that are

constructed as models• Interpret data accurately from tables, charts and

graphs• Draw logical conclusions when facts warrant

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Quantitative ReasoningCourses where Taught• All Mathematics Courses• MAC 1105 College Algebra• MGF 1106 Liberals Arts Math I• MGF 1107 Liberal Arts Math II• STA 2023 Intro to Probability and Statistics• MGF 2212 Finite Mathematics• MAC 2233 Business Calculus• ECO 2013 Principles of Economics I• ECO 2023 Principles of Economics II• BSC 1005 General Biology• BSC 1010 General Biology• PSC 1121 Physical Science• PHY 2053 College Physics I

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GEAC Committee Members

2004 -- 2005• Dr. Anna Green Business and Industry• Ms. Chinover Green Nursing (Student)• Dr. Janet Guyden (Ex-O) Teachers for a New Era (TNE)• Ms. Diane Hall Journalism and Graphic Comm.• Dr. Dorothy Henderson General Studies

(Co-Chair)• Dr. Michael LaBossiere Arts and Sciences

(Philosophy)• Dr. Lekan Latinwo Arts and Sciences (Biology)• Dr. Valencia E. Matthews Arts and Sciences

(Co-Chair)• Ms. Jessica Mukes Arts and Sciences (Student)

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GEAC Committee Members2004 – 2005 Continued …• Dr. Mitwe Musingo CESTA (Faculty Senator)• Dr. Ruena Norman Nursing• Dr. Uche Ohia Office of Assessment• Dr. Larry E. Rivers (Ex-O) Arts and Sciences• Dr. Serena Roberts Teachers for a New Era• Dr. Leesther Thomas Arts and Sciences (English)• Dr. Robert Thomas Pharmacy• Ms. Linda Williams General Studies (Faculty

Senator)• Dr. Roselyn Williams Arts and Sciences (Mathematics)• Dr. Alexis Brooks-Walter Arts and Sciences (Biology)

(Ad hoc member)

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Thank You GEAC Committee Members

THANK YOU

ALL !!