Curriculum commission seeks student input
Margaret Hooper
Issue date: 1/29/09 Section: News
Truman's Modes of Inquiry soon might become only a clever anecdote for alumni cocktail parties and the relic requirement of fifth-year seniors.
Throughout the past two years, the Commission on Undergraduate Curriculum has discussed the purpose and design of Truman's general education requirements. In November, the commission published the phase II report, which proposed five alternative curriculum models as well as general improvements, such as a greater emphasis on the first-year experience.
The committee currently is surveying students, faculty and staff as they prepare to revise and finalize the proposal.
Senior David Hayes, Student Senate academic affairs chair, said reviewing the proposals and completing the survey (which will be available until Tuesday) could be the single-most influential action students take to alter the future of the University.
"It will be a lot more effective than course evaluations or editorials because this is the time that the faculty will be looking at ways to change the curriculum, and this [survey] will be a very important consideration for them," Hayes said.
The survey seeks student opinion on the proposed models, Hayes said, as well as curricular elements that the commission would like to see improved regardless of which model is adopted.
He said the commission has focused on improving students' first-year experiences and providing more opportunities for experiential learning, which includes research, study abroad, internships and service learning.
In addition, Hayes said the commission's report is littered with ideas designed to make the curriculum more interdisciplinary, an area in which some say the current Liberal Studies Program has failed.
"A lot of students feel that the Modes of Inquiry just amount to taking several different classes that don't end up equaling or amounting to anything at the end of their education," Hayes said. "They're a disparate set of courses that really are just general education."
Throughout the past two years, the Commission on Undergraduate Curriculum has discussed the purpose and design of Truman's general education requirements. In November, the commission published the phase II report, which proposed five alternative curriculum models as well as general improvements, such as a greater emphasis on the first-year experience.
The committee currently is surveying students, faculty and staff as they prepare to revise and finalize the proposal.
Senior David Hayes, Student Senate academic affairs chair, said reviewing the proposals and completing the survey (which will be available until Tuesday) could be the single-most influential action students take to alter the future of the University.
"It will be a lot more effective than course evaluations or editorials because this is the time that the faculty will be looking at ways to change the curriculum, and this [survey] will be a very important consideration for them," Hayes said.
The survey seeks student opinion on the proposed models, Hayes said, as well as curricular elements that the commission would like to see improved regardless of which model is adopted.
He said the commission has focused on improving students' first-year experiences and providing more opportunities for experiential learning, which includes research, study abroad, internships and service learning.
In addition, Hayes said the commission's report is littered with ideas designed to make the curriculum more interdisciplinary, an area in which some say the current Liberal Studies Program has failed.
"A lot of students feel that the Modes of Inquiry just amount to taking several different classes that don't end up equaling or amounting to anything at the end of their education," Hayes said. "They're a disparate set of courses that really are just general education."
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 3
gmb737
Grant
posted 1/29/09 @ 4:54 PM CST
So where could students get a copy of this survey?
Tyler Retherford
posted 1/29/09 @ 9:43 PM CST
The Commission on Undergraduate Curriculum's page can be found here: http://ugc.truman.edu/projects/commission/index.asp.
There's a link on the right-hand column to the November draft of the phase II report, but this link should take you straight to it: http://ugc. (Continued…)
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