Present: Faculty—Bruce, Dohse, Friedenberg, Konz, Krumpe, Lee, McKnight, Moseley, Pons, Nelms, White-Carter, Katz; Students—Clere, Spencer, Wilde-Ramsing; Alumni—Proctor. [Members on off-campus scholarly assignment/leave: Mike Ruiz, Tracey Rizzo]
Some committee members observed that at this point, when we are in the midst of a SACS review, we are probably not likely to have much campus-wide interest in an additional accreditation process. We discussed whether there might be benefits to participating in this accreditation initiative. Dr. Pons thought that there might be enhanced opportunities for grants, but noted that this was not a certainty. She also noted that we would be able to consult with professionals who have expertise in general education. It was suggested that Dr. Pons gather more information, particularly a list of AALE consultants and on-site visitors and an example of an AALE accreditation report.
2. Listening Projects in departments, programs, offices—Dr. Katz reported that he had begun to talk with department chairs in order to schedule a preliminary set of listening projects on General Education, but that he thought at this point in the semester chairs and their faculties are working under institutional deadline pressures, finishing up the SACS review, and are heading into the final weeks of the academic year. He felt that most of us are fatigued at this point and perhaps are not fully inclined to think extensively about General Education. Katz suggested that it would not be in our best interest to pursue the listening projects if it meant increasing the stress faculty are already experiencing or might create negativity toward the process. Katz proposed that we begin these projects in the fall and the committee agreed. Katz will work on scheduling them.
3. A proposal—Given that our SACS report is finished and that there will be no listening projects this semester and given that GERTF as a whole has met 13 times this year (not including work outside the committee), Katz suggested that this be our last meeting of the academic year. The committee heartily agreed and then set to work winding up this meeting’s business.
Katz reported briefly on his meeting with Dr. Cathy Mitchell, Chair of APC. They also discussed the APC draft of on-going concerns and GERTF’s wrapping up its work on the SACS effort. Katz said that he would continue to meet with Dr. Mitchell and future APC chairs.
6. Surveying students and alumni—We discussed the best way to gather information from students about their experience in the General Education program. Sarah Clere suggested that it might not be a good idea to survey students who are finishing Hum 414, as we discussed in our last meeting; she thought that this might result in a lot of comments about Humanities, but not much about other components of the curriculum. It was suggested that we might use the senior exit survey next year (this year’s has already gone out) to gather responses to specific questions that we are interested in posing. Joseph Wilde-Ramsing and Dr. Merritt Moseley both suggested that we might try to get some qualitative feedback as well, perhaps through open forums in the fall and spring of next year.
Katz suggested we should gather information from alumni who graduated 5 or more years ago, on the assumption that what matters to people on the verge of graduation differs from what matters to those who have been away for some time. We might also find out more about how General Education at UNCA bears upon life-long learning. Katz will as Institutional Research for the data it collects through its surveys of graduating seniors and alumni. Tracy Proctor thought that the Alumni Association might also serve a role in gathering qualitative feedback from alumni.
7. Campus-wide forum—Katz will work on scheduling a campus-wide forum on General Education for early in the fall. He has talked in a preliminary way with Dr. Duane Davis, who runs the Faculty Forum, to explore whether it might be an appropriate program to sponsor such an event. Katz will also talk to the Chancellor about giving a short presentation of his views regarding General Education and its role in educating students at UNCA.
8. Thanks—Katz thanked the task force members for their good work and commitment this semester, observing that this is a year in which we are all committed to so many other challenging and important projects.