CALIFORNIA STATE POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY, POMONA
ACADEMIC SENATE
GENERAL EDUCATION COMMITTEE
REPORT TO
THE ACADEMIC SENATE
GE-002-123
GSC 110, Water in a Changing World
GE AREA B1
General Education Committee
Date:
Executive Committee
Received and Forwarded
Date: May 15, 2013
Academic Senate
Date: May 22, 2013
FIRST READING
July 17, 2013
SECOND READING
GE-002-123, GSC 110, Water in a Changing World, GE AREA B1
2
BACKGROUND:
The request is that the course, GSC 110, Water in a Changing World, be added to GE Area
B1. The course, designed by Drs. Stephen Osborn and Jonathan Nourse, Department of
Geological Sciences faculty, is of general interest. It aims to supply students with the
knowledge and skills necessary to evaluate and make sound water resource decisions at
personal, regional, national, and global levels. Since water is central to the persistence of all
life on this planet, the proposers find that a course addressing processes and practices
affecting its quality, availability and conservation is highly relevant and timely. As a broadbased and contemporary topic, the focus of this new course on water-related issues is
designed to appeal to a broad spectrum of students from across the campus. The proposed
course also is consistent with the University's core value of environmental sustainability, and
contributes to University strategic plan objectives by imbuing principles of sustainability into
the curriculum (Item 7.3). No objections or concerns were expressed by any of the Associate
Deans and COS Department chairs consulted (Feb 3 - March 6, 2012).
In recognition of the potential for enrollment competition among the Department's GE Area BI
courses, the Department of Geological Sciences has demonstrated its willingness to adjust
the number of GSC 120 sections (Oceanography) it offers in order to reach enrollment
capacities necessary to sustain this new course. No additional costs should be incurred as
existing facilities are adequate to accommodate the new course and any number of GS
faculty members is capable of teaching this course. The Department's newest hire, Dr.
Stephen Osborn, has extensive expertise in hydrology. He has been instrumental in
designing this new course and will play an important role in its implementation.
RESOURCES RECOMMENDED:
Claudia Pinter-Lucke, Associate Provost
Stephen Osborn, Assistant Professor, Geological Sciences
Jonathan Nourse, Chair and Professor, Geological Sciences
GE Area B Faculty
RESOURCES CONSULTED:
Claudia Pinter-Lucke, Associate Provost
Stephen Osborn, Assistant Professor, Geological Sciences
Jonathan Nourse, Chair and Professor, Geological Sciences
GE Area B Faculty were recently consulted through the College of Science
Curriculum Committee and they consulted all colleges.
DISCUSSION
After review by a subcommittee of the GE Committee, the proposers revised their ECO to
bring it into line with current standards for GE-course ECOs, which require that the ECO state
GE-002-123, GSC 110, Water in a Changing World, GE AREA B1
3
how the course relates to GE SLOs in the B1 area. The attached ECO is the revised version,
which specifies how the course fulfills B1 criteria. Also, the revised ECO under “Expected
Outcomes” uses terminology that indicates more specifically how the course SLOs will be
measured.
The GE Committee discussed the course’s appropriateness for the B1 Area, and the
sufficiency of each portion of the ECO. The Committee also noted that the consultation
process (documented one of the attachments to this report) drew no objections from the
College of Science or from other colleges.
RECOMMENDATION:
The GE Committee unanimously recommends adoption of GSC 110, Water in a Changing
World, for GE Area B1. Not only does the course satisfy GE Area B1 criteria. It is also a
timely course and one that helps the Cal Poly Pomona fulfill its sustainability objectives.
ATTACHMENTS
ECO for GSC 110
A PDF including letters of support from Dr. Mandayam A. Srinivas, Interim Dean, College of
Science, and Jonathan Nourse, Chair of the Department of Geological Sciences; and the
completed course consultation form.