General Education Committee
Meeting Minutes
Date: February 24, 2016
Committee Members Present: Edris Montalvo, Dana Hilbert, Mandy Husak, Marge Kingsley,
Yingqin Liu, Ann Nalley, Karla Oty, Holly Rice, Mandi Smith, Kerri Stephens, Abdulhamid
Sukar, Matthew Van Sant, and Loree Gaines
Meeting was called to order at 3:07 PM in CETES 207.
1. Minutes were read and approved.
2. General Education Roundtables.
a. Information Literacy – a lot of positive comments were made by those in attendance. One
thought was to have year-round conversations and not just conversations during
roundtables.
b. Cultural Diversity – it was a productive meeting between the multiple departments
assessing this Learning Outcome. They more accurately define the term embedded test
questions.
3. Biology General Education Critical Thinking Questions. The Agriculture Department and
Department of Biological Sciences developed five (5) multiple choice questions over Critical
Thinking. After making their multiple choices answer, students will have to write one to two
sentences as to why they chose their answer. The questions also had a grading rubric. The
General Education Committee (GEC) approved the changes to the Life Sciences General
Education assessment on Critical Thinking. Their target is 70% of students will score Good
or Excellent on at least 3 to 5 of the questions.
4. Proposed Changes to Information Literacy Student Learning Outcome (SLO). The English
Department wanted a word change in their Information Literacy SLO. They wanted to
change the word “reliable” to “credible”. After some discussion the change was approved.
5. 5-year Review of General Education Courses.
RUSN 1113, Beginning Russian was given a 2 year extension last year. The course was
offered in the Fall of 2015. Depending on whether they collected data in the Fall of 2015 will
determine if it is kept as a General Education course.
BIOL 1114, Plants and Culture is being taught this spring (2016). They should be able to
collect their assessment data this year. Depending on whether they collected data in the
Spring of 2016 will determine if it is kept as a General Education course.
ENGL 2343, Women in Literature is being taught this spring (2016). They should be able to
collect their assessment data this year. Depending on whether they collected data in the
Spring of 2016 will determine if it is kept as a General Education course.
6. Steps to Changing Key Assessments Form. The English Department was the first to use the
Request to Change General Education Assessment form. As we continue to use the form, feel
free to make suggestions on changes that make it more efficient.
7. Data Tables and Workshop. A workshop is being developed jointly with the Institutional
Assessment Committee (IAC) and the GEC to help programs, including General Education,
learn about different ways of displaying data to help identify strengths and weaknesses of
student learning.
8. General Education Committee member term adjustment update. Edris did not send out
solicitations for elections for the GEC. He will once the University determines its budget
outcome.
9. March/April Doodle Poll. Edris will be sending out a Doodle Poll to determine our next GEC
meeting.
10. There was no other Business to discuss.
11. Adjourned at 3:46 PM
Submitted by Loree Gaines