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The faculty senate held an open comment session Thursday afternoon to hear concerns and answer questions about the proposed changes.
Emily Johnson, director of the general education program, said the suggested changes would lead to a more developed general education experience than the “mile wide and an inch deep” program UW-L currently has.
Students now take most of their general education courses in freshman and sophomore years, and most of the classes are 100 and 200 level, she added.
“What that says, and it may be unintentional, is that general education courses are not that important,” Johnson said. “We want general education courses to be an essential part of earning a bachelor’s degree and have students take advanced courses throughout” their college years.
Under the proposal, the general education program will be called University Core, with three groups of courses to fulfill. The first level would be courses to complete within their first two years of college, while the second level would focus on classic subjects such as science, humanities and the arts.
A third level would focus on civic engagement and international experiences.
Major changes include having all incoming freshmen take a three-credit “First Year Experience” course and a basic writing class. Students now have the option of taking a similar one-credit class, Johnson said.
Another one allows students more flexibility on which history and humanities courses they take, rather than a specific required course.
Concerns raised include not adding a second required science course and where the resources will come from to pay for either new courses or more sections of existing courses if all students had to take certain classes.
Jennifer Miskowski, an assistant professor of biology, said students use science in their everyday life, whether it’s buying groceries or knowing how to prevent diseases. A second science course could add to that base of knowledge.
David Riley, chair of the computer science department and a faculty senate member, said he was nervous about voting for something that appears to be flexible. Others asked that certain requirements or phrases — such as “experience” and “engagement” — be better defined before a vote is taken.
The faculty senate could vote on the proposed changes at its May 4 meeting.
Kate Schott can be reached at (608) 791-8226 or Kate.Schott@lacrossetribune.com.
