By Sarah Carlson, Arts Editor
Faculty were presented with three scenarios for changing curriculum before the start of the semester by the General Education Review Committee, which is reviewing the university’s core courses for the first time in 15 years.
Dr. Jeff Arrington, associate dean of Campus Life and chair of the committee, said the committee will receive feedback from faculty on the proposals in order to present a formal proposal for the faculty to vote on by the end of the semester.
“We want the proposal that we vote on to be informed on the feedback we get over the next six weeks,” Arrington said.
Core courses are mandatory for students regardless of their major, such as exercise science, Bible, history, science, English, math and communication, among others. Arrington said part of what the committee is evaluating are Student Learning Outcomes, or the skills, knowledge and values of students when they graduate in relation to the mission of ACU, and how the core courses are contributing to them. The proposals all vary in the courses chosen to remain unchanged and those that will be cut or added on to.
Part of the proposals are calling for an enhancement of the quantitative reasoning and communication skills of students, to which Arrington said he has received positive feedback from faculty.
“This is a very complex process,” Arrington said. “We’re looking at the broad base part of the curriculum that the faculty as a whole is responsible for.”