GE FAQs
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Frequently Asked Questions – and Answers
GE Topic: Tutorials & Materials
Q: What is the purpose of the General Education (GE) tutorials?
A: To provide General Education information for student advisement
Q: Is this information related to the “new” GE system?
A: Yes, the materials relate to the GE 10 Goals and associated General Education Points
(GEPs) that began in 2012
Q: What materials are included in the tutorials?
A: Short videos from Mediasite clips; PDF screen shots that focus on How-to steps;
and these Q&A’s
GE Topic: MyCore Basics
Q: When did the new General Education program start at Bloomsburg University?
A: Fall, 2012
Q: Where can students, staff, and faculty find GE information?
A: www.bloomu.edu/mycore
Q: What are the basic GE requirements?
A: A set of GE Goals that reflect the students’ exposure to broad university experiences
and skills
Q: What are General Education Points (GEPs)?
A: A separate tracking system (other than credits) to mark student progress with the
10 GE Goals
Q: What is a discipline requirement in relationship to GEPs?
A: Courses from more than one discipline or department may be required to fulfill a goal, thus
assuring a variety of experiences, not just courses within one department or major
GE FAQs
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GE Topic: Finding GEPs
Q: Where can you find courses that offer approved GEPs?
A: www.bloomu.edu/mycore and then click the “Requirements” button, resulting in
http://www.bloomu.edu/documents/mycore/GEP_Tracking.pdf
Q: Is there another place where this list of approved GEP courses appear?
A: Yes, within “BU Documents” on the “S” drive, then “General Education Council,”
then click on the PDF file “Gen Ed approved (date)”
Q: How can students easily find GEPs within various disciplines or departments?
A: Go to the list of approved courses within MyCore and follow the column downward to see
all courses and departments listed for each GE Goal
Q: Is there a spreadsheet that faculty can use to track GEPs?
A: Yes, go to the S:\BU_Documents\General_Education_Council, then click on the
Excel version: Gen Ed approved (date).xlsx, and use the “Sortable,” and “Custom Sort”
features as shown in the tutorial
GE Topic: Course Credits
Q: Are student credits easily tracked?
A: Yes, through ISIS (Integrated Student Information System by PeopleSoft)
Q: How do advisors access ISIS?
A: Go to www.bloomu.edu; then click Faculty & Staff; then click ISIS Login; then enter your
BU ID and password; then select either Faculty or Advisor centers or Campus Solutions
Q: Where exactly is the student course information housed?
A: Within “Academic Requirements,” the 1st item in the dropbox located under “Academics”
Q: What is the difference between the collapsed and the expanded views?
A: More credit information is available when sideway triangles are clicked, changing the
direction of the triangle to pointing downward and exposing more details
Q: Are credits and GEPs different?
A: Yes, credits toward graduation and GE points are two separate but complementary
Requirements
GE FAQs
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GE Topic: Earned GEPs
Q: What is the advantage of keeping the categories of GE Goals collapsed when viewing a
student’s record, and then opening one goal at a time?
A: Advisors can open each goal separately, in order to better view the details specific to a
particular goal
Q: When reviewing a goal, is there a list of approved courses that can be easily viewed?
A: Yes, when opening (expanding) each goal, a list of available courses becomes visible that
shows course options for meeting the needed GEPs
Q: Why are “units” instead of the terms “points” or “credits” listed?
A: The term “units” is the only measurement available within the software. Other terms, like
“credits” are not an option at this time. “Credits” and “Units” mean the same thing
Q: In the previous GE system, there was “double-dipping” or points given in two areas. Is this
done with the new GE program?
A: No, GE points are approved (awarded) to individual courses; so, GEPs relate to a specific
course and goal, and these points do not overlap or double-dip to any other course or goal
GE Topic: Transfer Credits
Q: Will a course that transfers to BU receive GEPs, as well as the course credits?
A: Yes, if the transfer course is equivalent to a BU course, then the GEPs are awarded too
(Remember that no grade is recorded for transferred courses, just the credits and GEPs)
Q: How are GEP equivalencies determined?
A: Equivalencies are determined by BU departments when discipline-specific courses taken
elsewhere are compared to courses offered at BU.
Q: Is there a method for searching for equivalencies?
A: Yes, go to http://patrac.org/ “Search for Equivalencies”
Q: If a transfer course is approved, will that student also receive the GEPs for this course?
A: Yes, if there are GEPs approved for the equivalent BU course.
Q: Can a student determine whether or not a course from another institution will be approved as
a transfer course at BU before taking the course elsewhere?
A: Yes, and it is highly recommended that students receiver prior approval for transfer courses.
Go to http://bloomu.edu/registrar-transfer-credits
GE FAQs
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GE Topic: Language Credits
Q: Are there two different ways for students to complete their GE Goal 8 Language GEPs?
A: Yes, students may take an approved course that awards GEPs, or they may take a language
placement test to achieve the equivalent GEPs
Q: Is the course number “99” designated only for the language placement exam?
A: Yes, a language notation such as French 99 or Spanish 99 has fulfilled the required language
GEPs
Q: Is it correct that only language courses bear credits, not the placement examination?
A: Correct. GEPs are awarded for successful completion of a language exam, but no credits are
earned
GE Topic: Degree Audits
Q: How can we get the most information from a student’s Degree Audit Report?
A: Sign into ISIS and go to the student’s record via “Academic Requirements.” Expand the
specific sections under review, or maximize all available data by clicking
“View Report as PDF.” A “Self Service Degree Audit” becomes visible
Q: What categories are available in the full-view report?
A: University Requirements, such as minimum GPA and credits for graduation, residency
requirements, etc.; Major requirements for a specific degree; Courses finished or started
but not used; Free Elective credits; and, the 10 GE Goals, including the tracking of
completed and incomplete GEPs
Q: Are all the potentially opened areas actually expanded in the Self Service Degree Audit
version?
A: Yes. “View as PDF” is the most detailed report
GEC: M. Miller
8-8-14