Snow College General Education Committee
April 1, 2013
In attendance: Joseph Papenfuss, Susan Larsen, Adam Larsen, Rick Wheeler, Gregory
Wright, LaFaun Barnhurst, Mel Jacobsen, Clinton King, Melanie Jenkins, Richard Squire,
Beckie Hermansen
Clinton motioned, LaFaun seconded for approval of minutes from 3/11. Unanimous vote.
We looked over and approved the final draft of the entering freshmen survey.
Big questions: How do we ensure a high response rate? How do we track which students have
taken the survey? When will students take this survey? If it was administered at freshman
orientation, it might get 50% response. What is the possibility of having it replace
or augment the student interest survey? It would make it more difficult to register for
a class. What about emailing a link to the survey under discussion to every entering freshman
registered for a class. Can we make this an assignment for college survival skills
and freshmen orientation?
Suggestion: have students provide their banner numbers on the survey so we can administer
more if needed and so we can track longitudinally.
Assignments: Inform colleagues of this survey—provide link. Melanie will talk to Gary Smith
about scheduling time in the fall workshop for GE discussion; she will also talk to Shaun
Kjar about administering survey at Start Smart. Susan will take care of implementing
it into college survival. LaFaun agreed to administer this to some of her high school
students this semester for feedback.
We looked at the GE description for social and behavioral science. The document includes
a PE and nutrition outcome. We wondered if that is necessary since every box should
theoretically have its own definition? We also wondered if every course offering GE
credit in social science should meet every outcome. Social science is a disparate group.
It is likely that no single class fits all of the bullets, but possibly a few of them
(2-3 or more). Use the phrase ‘core element’? Richard will take these suggestions
to his division.
General Education Questions brought up – Where is GE going? What is happening? Many
are getting rid of the boxes. Should there be integration between the boxes. The students
don’t appreciate the box/cafeteria approach. Is it even possible to get away from the
boxes? What would GE look like without boxes? How is integration even possible? Some
schools are using a GE theme? Is it a box problem or a teacher problem? Good teachers
can probably make any system work. Strategic Planning – Marvin Dodge will come and
meet with us next week. Does GE drive the strategic plan, or does the strategic plan
drive GE?