University Senate sets its sights on core curriculum

With the beginning of a new semester, GCSU’s University Senate is continuing to press on toward its goals for the 2009-10 academic year. The Senate is made up of 53 senators and meets once a month to vote on decisions that will affect GCSU faculty, staff and students.
Among other things, the Senate plans to look into a plus/minus grading scale which, according to Dr. Ken McGill, chair of the Chemistry, Physics and Astronomy Department and presiding officer-elect of the Senate, has been practiced in the University System of Georgia. If GCSU were to implement a plus/minus scale, the criteria for the grade scale would be adjusted. The Senate also expects to look into a quality enhancement plan, or QEP.
“A QEP is basically what can we do to make what we do better,” McGill said.
McGill also said the Senate plans on tackling questions about minimum transfer requirements, as well as having a complete program review. The senators will be discussing core class requirements for each degree program and voting on appropriate changes, if necessary. McGill explained that the Senate will be discussing the core curriculum after some mention that it could be too similar to that of a high school curriculum.
“The idea is that the core will be more based on the liberal arts,” McGill said of the possible changes.
Among the 53 senators are two student representatives, Student Government Association President Zach Mullins and Vice President Kayla McCollam.
“The best way for students to be involved is to stay in contact with their student representatives,” McCollam said.
The Senate expects to come to a decision on a possible amnesty policy for students as well as a policy on alcohol use during tailgating, McCollam said.
The next meeting of the University Senate will take place Monday at 12:30 p.m. in Arts & Sciences room 2-72. According to the Senate’s Web site, the meeting will include discussion of unfinished business as well as new agenda items including a Core Task Force update and an Impact Response Report.
More information on Senate members its agenda can be found at here

Posted by Mandy Boddy on Jan 22 2010. Filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry