General Education Committee Annual Report, 2014-2015
Members
Susanne Caro, Mansfield Library (Chair) (2015)
James Randall, Music (2015)
Kimberly Reiser, MC Applied Arts & Science (2015)
K. Huthaily (fall only)
Ione Crummy, MCLL (spring only, 2015)
Tobin Shearer, African American Studies (2015)
Mark Cracolice, Chemistry (2016)
N. McCrady (fall only)
Lilian Calderon, Biomedical Sciences (2015)
Susan Bradford, MC Applied Arts & Science (2017)
Ray Fanning, Radio-TV (2017)
G.G. Weix, Anthropology (2016)
Student Member
Tucker Squires
Ex-Officio Members
Nathan Lindsay, Associate Provost
Joe Hickman, Interim Registrar
Beth Howard, Office for Student Success representative
Business Items:
General Education Course Review
In Fall 2014, the General Education Committee received and reviewed 125 proposed courses for general
education groups and four one-time only experimental general education courses. This included several
follow-up course reviews for Literary and Artistic Studies (10), Indigenous and Global (12), and American
and European (4) from last spring’s rolling review. The committee approved 18 courses for new general
education designations in the following groups: Mathematics (1), Foreign Language (6), Social and
Behavioral Science (3), Expressive Arts Courses (3), Historical and Cultural Studies (4), and Ethics (1).
Two 400-level courses were not approved for the Ethics group.
This year’s rolling review included foreign languages (23), language exemptions (51) and symbolic
systems courses (24). The review of foreign language exemptions was accelerated to address the new
exemption requirements adopted by faculty senate last year. See appendix for the list of changes to this
category. Twenty-three existing language courses were also reviewed and approved in the spring.
Committee members formed four workgroups to complete the reviews.
The committee also granted a retro-active approval for NASX 239 Native North American History and Art
for Literary and Artistic and Global and Indigenous. This course was offered in the fall by the Bitterroot
College.
Language exemption clarification / appeal
The Committee met twice with the proposers requesting the language exemption for Resource
Conservation for clarification and follow-up. Although the General Education Committee did finally
approve the request ASCRC did not because the proposed language did not adhere to the spirit of the
language requirement motion. The exemption is based on major requirements not students choice.
The Committee met again with the proposer to work on language to address the ASCRC’s concerns and
passed the revised request for an exemption.
Assessment
The committee continued its work to develop an assessment strategy for General Education. Several
committee members attended the OCHE General Education Assessment Workshop on September 22.
A pilot project was initiated with faculty in the Natural Sciences to develop a strategy to meet the
Northwest Accreditation requirement. Associate Provost Nathan Lindsay provided general education
Assessment samples from his previous institution. The intention is to gain input from faculty, address
concerns and show the benefit of embedded assessment. Faculty members were encouraged to use
existing papers and exams to connect the learning goals to student work.
Seven faculty volunteers participated on the assessment including two Committee members. This
group met several times throughout the year to share experiences and provide feedback on a
new general education form. This form requires information on how student work and the
overall class will be assessed. Sample forms will be posted from the responses collected in the pilot
project. A statement was also included that allows professors to skip the criteria and learning outcomes
review if the course has not changed since the last review.
Participants were asked for reports on the assessment. These reports include:
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Course description
Course learning goals, and how they are connected to the General Education learning
goals
Method(s) of assessment
Findings
Action steps
Associate Provost Lindsay will compile a report over the summer.
Revised Forms
The General Education Committee review forms were revised for accessibility and to clarify the
assessment requirements. A statement was also included that allows professors to skip the criteria and
learning outcomes review if the course has not changed since the last review.
Inquiry from Student on study abroad
Chair Caro received an inquiry from a student on study abroad in Ireland regarding whether one of her
courses would fulfill a general education requirement. The Office of International Programs establishes
agreements with the student in regard to the courses taken at UM’s study abroad partner. The student
receives credit when the transcript is received by the Admissions Office consistent with other transfer
courses. A link to the study abroad website was added to the General Education Committee web page
to assist in directing students to the appropriate office. The link was added to
http://www.umt.edu/facultysenate/committees/gened/default.php
General Education Pathways for Transfer Students
In 2012 the General Education Committee passed a motion that, "Students transferring from outside the
Montana University System should have comparable paths to completing general education
requirements as students within the Montana University System.” Unfortunately there was no action
on the motion by ASCRC. Given some of the contention regarding the enforcement of the extended
major status for the language exception ASCRC requested the General Education committee draft
catalog language to implement the 2012 motion. The Committee approved the catalog language at its
last meeting. The catalog language motion went to the Faculty Senate May 7th.
Communication / Discussion Items:
Upper-division general education courses
The committee considered whether 400 level courses in general should qualify as general ed courses –
the committee was divided on this. While there may be cases where program requirements make this
desirable, most committee members felt that a high bar should be met for offering “foundational”
courses at this level. This question may be considered further next year.
Continue discussion of problems with current program
The General Education Committee will resume efforts to address the issues with ambiguity and
complexity. It will consider how to simplify the model to clarify how the current croups align
with the MUS Core, and have clear distinctions between categories.
Another discussion topic that emerged this year is the impact of changing general education
requirements on veterans seeking to use their educational benefits. Fulfilling general education
requirements is often frustrating for veteran students because they have a limited window for receiving
benefits and they need to have coursework approved by the VA in advance. If one of their approved
courses loses its general education designation, this can become a major setback to degree progress and
funding. The committee discussed how to adjust the program to accommodate these students; for
example, extending the time frame for rolling review could provide more stability for the list of
approved courses.
The Committee will also investigate:

Issues with Indigenous and Global, American and European, Historical and Cultural, and
Ethics and Human Values

Items missing from Gen Ed Program – Diversity & Indian Education for All, Discourse,
Civic and Community Engagement, Technology & Information Literacy (although
requirement for Writing courses), and interdisciplinary courses.
Meeting with Diversity Advisory Co-Chair
The Committee met with Heather Bruce, the Diversity Advisory Committee Co-Chair on October 29th to
discuss a Kaimin Article that suggested a new general education diversity requirement would be
implemented next fall. While this is not the case, the committee discussed how best to address
“diversity” within the current framework and continues researching how other campuses have
addressed diversity in general education. We will resume this discussion next fall and welcome
collaboration with the Diversity Advisory Committee to develop this idea.
Meeting with Chair of the Academic Alignment and Innovation Program
The Committee met with Professor Andrew Ware to discuss the roll of the Academic Alignment and
Innovation Program and whether the General Education Program will be considered. An important
piece of the program will be to define how a Liberal Arts education is important for the 21st century, but
he did not think general education would be considered.
Improved website for General Education
Beth Howard created a new General Education Requirements section for the Office of Student Success
website that includes a graduation template and the narrative of why students are required to take
general education.
The site is not linked to the catalog and will need to be updated each year with changes to general
education courses. However, the archival information from the site will be useful for students as well. A
yearly general education update will be sent to Beth Howard to share with academic advisors. Camie
Foos will work on a webpage that tracks the changes to the general education courses.
The Registrar’s Office is also revising the general education section of the catalog and requested
suggestions from faculty including some examples from other institutions. Flow charts and visual
diagrams were suggested.
Appendix
Group III: Exceptions to the Modern and Classical Language requirement - Symbolic Systems
The majors listed below have been granted exceptions to the Modern and Classical Language
requirement. Students graduating in any one of these majors may substitute the symbolic system
course or courses designated by the major……….
Major
Accounting & Finance
Symbolic Systems Course(S)
STAT 216, SOCI 202, FORS 201, or PSYX 222
Anthropology
Biochemistry/Health Profession Option
Biology
Cell and Molecular Biology Option
Ecology and Organismal Biology Option
Field Ecology Option
Genetics and Evolution Option
Human Biological Sciences Option
Natural History Option
Biological Education Option
General Science Broadfield Track
Chemistry
Bachelor of Science
Environmental Chemistry Option
Forensic Chemistry Option
M162 or M171
M 162 or M171
M 162 Applied Calculus or M 171 Calculus I (or any
course for which M 162 or M 171 is a prerequisite)
Bachelor of Art- Teaching Chemistry Track
Communication Studies
Computer Science
CSCI 135 and CSCI 136
Curriculum & Instruction
BA Education – Elementary Education
M 133 and 234
Ecological Restoration (Wildland Restoration)
FORS 201 or STAT 216
Economics
Environmental Studies
Forestry
FORS 201 or STAT 216
Geography
Geoscience
Bachelor of Science and
Earth Science Education Option
M 162 or M 171
Health and Human Performance
Bachelor of Science:
Exercise Science Applied Option
M 121 or 151 and STAT 216, PSYX 222 or EDU 421
Major
Symbolic Systems Course(S)
Exercise Science Pre Professional
Exercise Science Pre Athletic Training
Health and Human Performance
Bachelor of Science:
Health Enhancement Option
Community Health
Management Information Systems
Management & Marketing
M 117 and STAT 216. PSYX 222 or EDU 421
STAT 216, SOCI 202, FORS 201, or PSYX 222
STAT 216, SOCI 202, FORS 201, or PSYX 222
Mathematics - Bachelor of Art:
Without an option or with the following options:
Applied Mathematics
Combinatorics and Optimization
Pure Mathematics
Statistics
Mathematics Education
Bachelor of Science:
Combined Major in Mathematics / Computer
Science or Computer Science / Mathematics
M 171 or any course for which it is a prerequisite
Media Arts
Bachelor of Fine Arts
MART 340 and 341
Medical Technology
3 +1 or 4 + 1 Track
M 162 or M171
Microbiology
Microbial Ecology Option
M 162 or M 171
Music - Bachelor of Music
Voice Performance
Piano Performance
Piano Performance and Pedagogy
Composition
Instrumental Performance
Organ Performance
Music – Bachelor of Music Education
MUSI 105, 106, 140 & 141
Neuroscience
Molecular and Cognitive options
M 162 and STAT 216 or PSYX 222
Pharmacy
Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm D)
M162 and STAT 216 or PSYX 222 or SOCI 202
Parks, Tourism and Recreation Management
FORS 201 or SOCI 202
Psychology
Resource Conservation
Sociology
FORS 201
Major
Theatre - Bachelor of Fine Arts (Acting Emphasis)
Symbolic Systems Course(S)
THTR 210, 211 & 310
Theatre - Bachelor of Fine Arts (Design/Technology
THTR 255 & THTR 345 or 355
Emphasis)
Wildlife Biology
M 162 or higher and WILD 240