The General Education Review Board has met several times over the month of October to discuss the university’s CORE and general education requirements.

Dr. Gregory Straughn, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, said the committee is still in the data-gathering phase of the review.

“We are asking are the outcomes being met, what’s good or bad about them and we want to see how things are working,” Straughn said.

The committee is composed of five faculty and three ex officio members: Dr. Neal Coates, Dr. Lauren Lemley, Trevor Thompson, Dr. Stephen Baldridge, Dr. Orneita Gray Burton, Dr. Phyllis Bolin, Dr. Chris Riley and Dr. Eric Gumm.

When the CORE curriculum was established several years ago, committee members voted to have a review process after four years. This comprehensive review of general education and CORE classes is taking place to evaluate these academic areas.

In addition to the committee meeting together, they have had discussions with all faculty, conducted student conversations and randomly sampled students for surveys.

“I think there will be some changes, but I am more encouraged now by what I am hearing than what I was hearing four or five years ago,” Straughn said. “I still think there is a good amount of work to do for us to make the experiences as high as we can.”

The board will sift through the data in November and present a report with their commendations for things done well and recommendations and suggestions for changes in the curriculum.