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General Education Initiative at General Education Initiative at Eastern Washington UniversityEastern Washington University

General Education Review Group and the Greater Expectations Team

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Project GoalsProject Goals

ASP- Revitalize general education– inclusive for all students, rigorous, engaging and integrated throughout the students’ educational experience

Incorporate cyclical review and revision to maintain evolution of general education

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Project Goals- continuedProject Goals- continued

Ensure open, transparent communication at the forefront of our process, engaging the literature, best practices, and research in a fashion that is self-reflective and future-oriented.

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BackgroundBackground

EWU Mission: To prepare broadly educated, technologically proficient, and highly productive citizens to attain meaningful careers, to enjoy enriched lives, and to make contributions to a culturally diverse society

Academic Strategic Plan confirms our commitment to achieving this mission.

FOR MORE INFO...http://www.ewu.edu/x2248.xml

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Our StudentsOur StudentsOur campus is dedicated to

supporting all students in achieving this success.

10,000 students within six collegesMany of EWU students are “under

served”—they come from rural areas, are first-generation, and /or low-income.

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74% traditional aged (18-24)79% receiving need-based and non-

need based aid15 % Racial/ethnic diversity 55% of first-time/first year students

are first-generation 34% of first year students entering

with a 3.5 or higher GPA

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Current General Education CurriculumCurrent General Education Curriculum

University Competencies and Proficiencies

Core Requirements

University Graduation Requirements

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Current AssessmentCurrent Assessment

General Education Curriculum Committee (GECC)– Shared Learning Objectives– Three Tiers: Competencies, Core

Requirements, University Requirements– Courses assess one objective every

three years

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Current Assessment continuedCurrent Assessment continued

End of Program Assessment– Departmental Level– Assessment of Program Learning

Objectives on a three year cycle–May include student surveys, work

samples, etc.Accreditation Review– In process

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Rationale for Review and RevitalizationRationale for Review and Revitalization

“A meaningful commitment to educational excellence begins with agreement about the most important goals for student learning.”

--Greater Expectations, National Panel Report, AAC&UFOR MORE INFO...

http://www.ewu.edu/x2248.xml

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Value Key Learning OutcomesValue Key Learning Outcomes Proposed – Six Pillars of an Eastern EducationProposed – Six Pillars of an Eastern Education

Critical Thinking and Intellectual Curiosity

CommunicationDiverse PerspectivesInternationalization & GlobalizationSocial, Environmental and Ethical

ResponsibilityDisciplinary Expertise

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Enhance RetentionEnhance Retention

While 3 out of 4 first-time, full-time, Baccalaureate Degree-seeking Freshmen at EWU continue to their second year, year-to-year retention rates drop sharply after the second year (2004-2005 CSRDE Retention Survey).

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Foster Student Success to GraduationFoster Student Success to Graduation

Graduation rates for our first-time, full-time, Baccalaureate Degree-seeking Freshmen:

21% graduate after four years40.4% graduate after five years 45.4% graduate after six years

(2004-2005 CSRDE – 11/16/05)

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General Overview of ProcessGeneral Overview of Process

Foundational WorkLearning Outcomes

Campus Consensus Building

Review of Current General Education RequirementsDevelop Plan for Assessment and

Documentation

Continued Assessmentfor ContinuousImprovement

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ResourcesResources

History--Failed and Successful Attempts

Human Capital—Leadership, Diversity, Faculty Commitment

Institutional Resources—Academic Strategic Plan, Faculty Fellows Program

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ObstaclesObstacles

Leadership transitionsFunding modelNeed to integrate transfers/DTAStrength of individual programs and

their identityCynicismFear of change

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Current StatusCurrent Status General Education Review Group

– Research on Campus Climate– Research on National Models and Best Practices – Discussion of Key Learning Outcomes– Visioning Conference- Greater Expectations Team

Integration Project Proposals– Service Learning and Gen Ed– e-Portfolio Integration Project

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ScheduleSchedule

Year 05-06—Adopting key learning outcomes, “Visioning,” and Planning

FOR MORE INFO...

http://www.ewu.edu/x24094.xml for General Education Initiative Action Plan

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun July Sep Oct Nov Dec

Phase 1Phase 2

Phase 3

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Current Research/Assessment Current Research/Assessment

ETS General Education ExamGeneral Education History at EWUFaculty/Staff Survey on Gen EdEmpowering Student Voices Project University Relations Community

Survey

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ContributorsContributorsFaculty Fellow for General

Education:Sue Marie Wright

General Education Review Group Chair- tbd

Greater Expectations Team:Marti BrzoskaNick JacksonRichard Meier Esteban Rodriguez-MarekVictor Rodriguez Michelle Whittingham

General Education Review Group:

Barbara Alvin, Mark Baldwin, Marti Brzoska, Cynthia Cutler, Ray Hamel, Fred Hurand, Garrett Kenney, Linda Kieffer, Terry MacMullan, Mimi Marinucci, Robert McGinty, Ginny Mehlert, Suzanne Milton, Deacon Meier, Lisa Nappa, Dave Nelson, Toni Oertling, Robert Quinn, Edward Slack, Robert Stirling, Chris Valeo, Cami Warren, and Michelle Whittingham.