UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The University Faculty Senate took action on a number of fronts in the 2014-15 academic year, including approving changes to the general education curriculum, outgoing Senate Chair Jonna M. Kulikowich told the Board of Trustees today (May 8).
The actions taken by the Senate include forensic reports, legislative reports, advisory and consultative reports, and informational reports. The topics of the reports were many and included revisions to admissions, records, scheduling and student aid and class attendance; advisory/consultative recommendations about healthcare benefits; and a forensic discussion about the importance of 21st-century student life skills, such as financial literacy.
“I would like to thank the leadership and membership of the 15 University Faculty Senate standing committees and two task forces for a very productive year,” Kulikowich said.
The Faculty Senate approved the revisions to the general education curriculum, made up of six separate recommendations, at the April 28 meeting. Kulikowich, a professor of education, explained that the changes came from an in-depth review of the curriculum by a task force that met and received feedback from faculty, staff and students from the colleges and campuses.
The changes, which will be implemented, fall into six categories, and include the following:
— Including updated learning objectives in a revised statement on general education. In particular, the new learning goals are: effective communication; key literacies; critical and analytic thinking; integrative thinking; creative thinking; global learning and social responsibility and ethical reasoning.
— Developing a regular and ongoing assessment plan for general education.
— Requiring a grade of C or better in writing and speaking courses as well as a C or better in the quantification courses for the general education programs courses.
— Requiring six credits of integrative studies as part of the general education baccalaureate requirements and creating courses that students can take to meet those requirements.
The Faculty Senate will hold its first meeting of the 2015-16 academic year on Sept. 15. Mohamad A. Ansari, associate professor of mathematics at Penn State Berks, will serve as chair in the upcoming academic year.
For additional information about the Faculty Senate, including instructions on how to watch the meetings via Mediasite, visit the website www.senate.psu.edu.