ANNUAL REPORT OF THE GENERAL COLLEGE COMMITTEE DATE: 25 April 1988 is Faculty Senate FROM: Robert R. Christian, Chair Membership of the committee: Robert Christian, Chair Ex—oftficio Frances Daugherty Donald Bailey Bertie Fearing William Buckler Brian Harris, Vice Chair Myra Cain Marilyn Miller, Secretary Elmer Meyer Tone Ryan Patricia Terrell Pam Chambers, Student Committee meetings: Date Absent Comment 1 Sept .1787 Ryan 22 Sept. 1987 Fearing 3 Nov. ©1987 Daugherty, Harris, unofficial meeting Terrell, Meyer IG DEG sc 197 Fearing, Miller, unofficial meeting Terrell, Buckler, Cain 2 Feb. 1988 Fearing, Cain Pitas ‘aoe none Pe Mar. 41785 Daugherty, Miller DADs 28s none Date of reports to the Faculty Senate: None Specific instructions, if, given to the committee by the Faculty Senate, other than those found in the committee's Constitutional charge: None A brief statement of committee organization, subcommittees, research activities, etc. Early in the year the Committee chose two objectives to pursue in respective subcommittees: Academic Advising and Evaluation of General Education Requirements. Academic Advising Subcommittee (Ryan (chair), Harris, Miller, Bailey (ex- officio)). Ways to enhance academic advising were considered. Generally these ways were in the form of positive reinforcement for faculty to improve advising. & major outcome of the subcommittee's work with Dean Bailey was the institution of an outstanding General College Adviser Recognition Award. The subcommittee serves as a core for the establishment of a second committee through the Dean's office to administer the award. It is hoped that two awards can be given for excellence in advising for the 87-88 academic year. Evaluation of General Education Requirements Subcommittee (Cain (chair), Terrell, Fearing, Christian). The subcommittee developed and distributed a survey of faculty opinion of general education requirements in Fall 1987 (copy attached is Appendix I). Overall the majority of the faculty were satisfied with all aspects of general education. The two areas which were considered with least satisfaction were the English 1100/1200 and Mathematics requirements (details attached as Appendix II). Other major activities. 1) With the Committee's aid, the first student evaluation of General College advisers was instituted in Spring 1988. The Committee supported efforts to establish a pilot program for EDUC 1000 - The Freshman and the University, a student orientation course to aid retention. The Committee met with and worked with the Student Recruitment and Retention Committee. It was instrumental in submitting two resolutions to the Faculty Senate through the Student Recruitment and Retention Committee: one on student work load/course load and one on availability of courses to transfer and other students who register after the normal period in the previous semester. The Committee responded to a request from Deans Coble and Ryan to advise on general education requirements of education majors. The Committee responded to a request from Vice Chancellor Bloodworth to advise on the use of general education courses for credit toward a second major. Details of all of these items may be found in Committee minutes. List of committee accomplishments including recommendations made to agencies other than the Faculty Senate. This has been largely covered in VI. The Committee: 1) helped establish a General College Adviser Recognition Award and considered other ways to improve advising surveyed faculty for general education requirements helped institute the student evaluation of advisers helped establish the EDUC 1000 program aided in resolutions on student work load/course load and availability of courses advised Deans Coble and Ryan that education majors have general education requirements comparable to other students advised Vice Chancellor Bloodworth that it 15 appropriate that courses may be counted for both general education and a second major Citation of the resolution numbers of Senate resolutions that originated with the committee. None Proposals and/or business to be carried over to next year. 1) The subcommittee on Academic Advising will continue to pursue ways to improve advising. The Committee has received a positive reply from the Chancellor to a letter requesting that he meet with the Committee to discuss administrative committment and policy toward advising. This meeting will be held next year. The subcommittee on Evaluation of General Education Requirememts will make recommendations toward improvement based on the survey. The Committee expects to receive proposals on SCIE 1270, 1271, 1280, 1281 and MATH 2127, 2129 as to the appropriateness as general education requirements. Evaluation of the Committee: Structure. The Committee structure is appropriate. Duties. The Committee continues to be concerned over its role relative to general education requirements and the University Curriculum Committee. Functions. As with duties. Personnel. Personnel is appropriate. Suggestions for improving the effectiveness of the committee: A decision should be made involving the General College Committee, the University Curriculum Committee, and ultimately the Faculty Senate as to the destinctions between general education policy and requirements that determine the pathways of reporting for the General College Committee. Signed: Chairperson Secretary APPENDIX I MEMORANDUM T @ All Faculty FROM: The General College Committee DATE: September 25, 1987 SUBJECT: Survey of Faculty Opinion of General Education Requirements The general College Committee solicits your opinion concerning how well ECU's current general education requirements (1) provide a core of common knowledge valuable for the intellectual development of the student, and (2) prepare students for specialized study in the major in accord with the Philosophy and Practical.Considerations of General Education at ‘Kast Carolina University, approved by the Faculty Senate, 1977. (See pp. 75-76, Undergraduate Catalogue for general education requirements for all baccalaureate degree programs. ) I.. In your opinion, how well do the following general education requirements prepare students for your program? (Circle the appropriate response. ) Not No Basis Requirements Fully Satisfactorily Unsatisfactorily at Ada for Opinion A. English 1100/ 1200 (6 s.h.) B ibrary Science 00.0 sii) C. Sciences (8 s.h.) . Social Sciences (13s he) . Mathematics Gaasthe) i . Humanities & Fine Arts (10 s.h.) 1 2 3 4 5 . Health & Phys. Education (3 s.h.) 1 2 3 4 5 If you have circled “Unsatisfactorily" or "Not at All", please provide a-brief explanation on the back of this sheet. II. -In your. opinion, how well does the current general education curriculum provide a core of knowledge valuable for the intellectual development of the student? Not No Basis Fully Satisfactorily Unsatisfactorily at All for Opinion 1 a 3 4 5 On the back of this sheet, please share with the Committee your. suggestions for improvements. @.. identify your department or school and return ‘ this sheet to the Faculty Senate Office, 140 Rawl Annex by October 9, 1987. Approved by: William A. Bloodworth, Acting Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs SUMMAFY OF 1987-88 SURVEY OF GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS Satisfied+ Unsatisfied- Health/PE alae hai SiGe 3 Humanities/Fine Arts 165 (863%) Social Sciences 163 Sciences Library Science Mathematics Bec sie 100/12 0.0 (38%) who respon wunsatiSiacto heir program, <> 20 (11%) recommended additional required courses in math or computers. The most vocal were Science, Mathematics, and Allied Heaith faculty. 24 (13%) said that--for whatever reason--students were delaucrentean iwbas ics Computari onal skids: (erg. , addacon, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions, percents, ratios). The most vocal were Nursing, Science, and Psychology faculty. Of the 80 (38%) who responded that the English 11 prepared students: tunsatisfactorily* (73. or 353) (7 or 3%) for their program, 0 Ox e a0 0/1200 requirement ‘not at aka” 23 (28%) said that the basic writing skills were needed. The most vocal were the School of Technology and Nursing. <> 9 (11%) Said that the English Dept. needed to raise the stand- ards in freshmen composition, add oral communication,and speed reading exercises. The most vocal were HPERS, Sociology, Politica Science and English.