Hoops, Hopscotch and Obstacle Courses:

Exploring How Students “Make Sense” of General Education in a Completion

Age

D. Kent Johnson, PhDDirector of General Education and the QEP

Northern Kentucky University

Shapiro, Dundar (2012)“Completing College”

National Student Clearinghouse Research Center

In Six Years, Students are Likely:

Yes, students “swirl”, butwhy and how much?

Hossler, Shapiro, Dundar (2012)

Transfer and MobilityNational Student

Clearinghouse Research Center

“I feel like the courses are required because they want us to learn as much as we can because knowledge is power. The value of general education is learning about all different ideas to possibly steer you to a profession you want to study in. I kind of feel like general education courses are needed, but not to the extent that NKU is doing. Thirty-seven credit hours is a lot. I feel like they should lower it so that students can get a fast education in the career they choose so they can get into the field of work quickly.”

“I think that general education courses serve to make college students well-rounded, knowledgeable citizens. They teach us basic skills, such as reading, writing, arithmetic, and speaking. They also serve to make us more aware of the world we live in. In order to be responsible people, we have to be informed and educated, not just in our own field, but in a variety disciplines so that we may make responsible decisions for ourselves and maybe someday our family.”

I do not think that general education classes are important. I believe they are a waste of money for students who already know what they want to do. They are a good option for "undeclared" students, but we should not be forced into them. Biology-120, learning about genetic mutations of cats and dogs, does not correlate with my expected Psychology and Criminal Justice degree, when I'm pursuing a doctoral degree in criminology. It was irrelevant and a waste of time and tuition dollars.

Completion Only Approach

“So I’m going to adjust my education curriculum to what business and commerce

needs to get our kids jobs as opposed to moving back in with their parents after they

graduate with debt," ----- said, adding “Why are we teaching these courses if they're not going to help get a job?”

Quote from –Unnamed Southeastern Governor

Of Course, What should we expect when State Governors Say

Something Like:

Father Guido Sarducci, Dean

The Five Minute University

“Teaching what students will remember five years after

graduation”

Spanish:

How are you?

¿Cómo estás?

Muy bien, gracias — Very

well, thank you

Economics:

Supply and Demand

Business:

You buy something

and sell it for more

“Completion Only” as Hopscotch

• Focus on structure to facilitate articulation

• Assumption: Completion Equals Success

• Conceptual Flaw: A degree is simply a collection of somewhat equivalent but discreet credits

• Completion as Hopscotch provides appearance of coherence while creating challenges to integration (Stark and Lattuca, 1996)

Start – Univ 101

Written Communicati

on

Oral Communicati

on

Arts/Humanities

Science Social Science

Cultural/Global

Major/Minor/Etc. - Finish

COMPLETION

HOPSCOTCH

Completion Obstacle Course

A Conspiracy Theory for Completion Plus

Thank You Our Mission Should We Choose to Accept

Completion

Plus

Quality Learning

Co-Conspiracy

(this message will self destruct)

Contact Information:

D. Kent Johnson

NorthernKentuckyUniversity

859-572-1992johnsond21@nku.ed

u