GENERAL EDUCATION: THE CORE

1. GENERAL EDUCATION: THE CORE Florida A&M University Faculty Planning Conference Thursday, 18 August 2005 Valencia E. Matthews, Ph.D., Presenter Associate Professor of Theatre & Assistant Dean, College of Arts and Sciences

2. Table of Contents • Introduction • General Education Assessment Committee: The Charge • SACS Requirements Related to General Education • State Requirements for General Education • General Education Sequence • General Education Sequence for Education Majors • FAMU’s General Education Philosophy Statement • FAMU’s General Education Mission Statement • Definitions of General Education Expected Learning Outcomes • General Education Outcome Statements and Competencies • GEAC Committee Members 2004-2005

3. General Education Assessment Committee AUGUST 2004 GEAC Established With representatives from the following programs and areas: Arts and Sciences (Biology, English, Math, Philosophy) General Studies Business; Journalism Nursing;Pharmacy Faculty Senate Undergraduate Students (2)

4. FEEDBACK/INPUT: FACULTY, STAFF, ADMINISTRATORS 12 August 2004 “Faculty Discussion: The Role of General Education at FAMU” (“Faculty Questionnaire on the Expected Learning Outcomes of Gen Ed” distributed) Faculty Planning Conference, August 11 -13, 2004 8 September 2004 1st GEAC Meeting 29 September 2004 Faculty Discussion and Work Session “The Role of General Education at Florida A&M University” Worksheets distributed and collected

5. General Education Assessment Committee:-- THE CHARGE --(Provide direction to and leadership in the planning and implementation of the University’s Gen Ed Assessment Procedures) • Develop a Mission Statement • Identify Five (5) to Eight (8) Expected Learning Outcomes • Develop a Plan for Assessment of General Education

6. SACS Requirements Related to General Education • “The institution defines and publishes general education and major program requirements for all its programs.” (Educational Programs Standard 10, SACS Principles of Accreditation) • “The institution identifies competencies within the general education core and provides evidence that graduates have attained those college-level competencies.” (Standards Specific to Undergraduate Programs, #15, SACS Principles of Accreditation)

7. By state statute (FS 1007.25), all Baccalaureate and Associate in Arts students are required to complete THIRTY-SIX (36) hours of general education.If a student transfers after completing the 36 hours, the entire general education program is guaranteed to transfer. • State Requirements for General Education

8. General Education Sequence (must consist of courses in): • Communication (6 hours) • Mathematics (6 hours) • Social Sciences (6 hours) • Humanities (6 hours) • Natural Sciences (8 hours) Remaining (4 hours): • SPC 2600 (Public Speaking) • HSC 1100 (Health for Modern Living) OR any of the approved general education courses

9. General Education Sequence for Education Majors • By admin. code (6A-5.066 (3)(b) (1) a-e), Education major program requirements for students entering their freshman year of college in or after the 2001-2002 academic year shall include the following: • Communication (9 hrs) -- Writing, literature & speech • Mathematics (9 hrs) – College algebra or above & geometry • Social Sciences (12 hrs) – American history & general psychology • Humanities (6 hrs) – Philosophy and fine arts • Natural Sciences (10 hrs) – Earth science, life science, & physical science w/a minimum of one associated lab

10. General Education Philosophy Statement • The Philosophy of FAMU’s general education core is that a comprehensive education provides students the requisite skills needed to function as responsible citizens.

11. General Education Mission Statement (approved by ILAC 15 Dec. 2004) • The Mission of General Education at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University is to provide a broad liberal arts foundation that supports learning in the respective majors. The students will acquire knowledge and skills that will equip them to participate as productive and responsible citizens in a global society and prepare them to become reflective thinkers and life-long learners.

12. DEFINITIONS of General Education Expected Learning Outcomes • Communication– the ability to understand and convey ideas, feelings and attitudes in speech and writing. • Critical Thinking – the ability to understand, apply knowledge, analyze and solve problems, develop new knowledge and think creatively. • Technology Literacy -- the ability to use technology to support classroom learning. • Collaboration – the ability to work cooperatively to accomplish common tasks.

13. DEFINITIONS of General Education Expected Learning Outcomes Cont … • Ethical Values – the ability to adhere to a set of principles as defined by the standards of academic integrity and conduct. • Life Long Learning – to engage in the perpetual pursuit of knowledge. • Cultural Diversity – the ability to show consideration for differences (race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, religion, disability, economics, age, etc.) among peoples. • Quantitative Reasoning – the ability to apply numerical concepts to resolve real-world problems.

14. General Education Outcome Statements with Competencies Students at Florida A&M University will be able to demonstrate competence in each of the following learning outcomes:

15. COMMUNICATION: Demonstrate competence in writing, reading and speaking. • Write in a variety of modes (e.g., essays, reports, editorials, case studies and research) • Transmit ideas and information which conform to conventional standards of written English • Apply critical reading skills to a wide range of materials • Critically evaluate other’s messages • Compose spoken message suitable for audience • Deliver a message or presentation suitable for a particular audience • Use effective delivery techniques to reach an audience

16. Communication: Courses Where Taught • ENC 1101 Freshman Communicative Skills I • ENC 1102 Freshman Communicative Skills II • ENC 1121 Honors English I • ENC 1122 Honors English II • SPC 1050 Foundations of Speech • SPC 2600 Public Speaking

17. CRITICAL THINKING: Apply critical thinking to learning and real-world situations. • Draw conclusions after weighing evidence, facts and ideas • Clarify issues to resolve problems • Assess unsupported claims using standards of credibility and expertise • Utilize available information to evaluate the credibility of a source, formulate an opinion and defend it • Apply logical operations • Neutralize fallacious reasoning and rhetoric • Distinguish between valid and invalid patterns of reasoning • Analyze the logical structure of arguments • Perform basic analytic tasks -- categorizing information, distinguishing between relevant and irrelevant data and predicting outcomes

18. Critical Thinking:Courses Where Taught • MAC 1105 • MGF 1106 • MGF 1107 • PSC 1121 • BSC 1005L • BSC 1010L • BSC 1011L • CHM 1045L • CHM 1046L • ENC 1101, 1102, 1121, 1122 • AMH 2091

19. TECHNOLOGY LITERACY: Apply technology to achieve educational success. • Use technology when appropriate to communicate with others • Use technology to assess and retrieve information • Use technology to manage (organize, analyze, present) information/data. • Exhibit functional mastery of one computer operating system (Windows, DOS, UNIX, MAC, etc.) • Use document preparation programs such as word- processors

20. COLLABORATION: Work in groups to complete tasks. • Exhibit collective decision-making skills • Negotiate roles and responsibilities in the group • Employ appropriate interpersonal skills among group members • Communicate effectively to complete a team project • Exhibit support for group

21. ETHICAL VALUES: Demonstrate personal responsibility and integrity in academic and personal situations. • Exhibit respect for people, ideas and points of view • Know laws, regulations and institutional policies related to academic growth and development • Demonstrate awareness of consequences of dishonesty • Submit written work free of plagiarism • Identify situations that could result in conflict

22. Ethical Values:Courses Where Taught • Gordon Rule Approved Humanities Courses • PHI 1100 & 2010 • ENC1101 & 1102 • AMH 2010 & 2020 • AMH 2091 • SYG 2000 • PSY 2012 • PSC 1121 • BSC 1005 • ENC 1102 • ANT 2000 • SLS 1101 & 1501

23. LIFE LONG LEARNING: Demonstrate an appreciation for further education and self-improvement. • Identify opportunities for personal and professional development • Participate in professional development activities

24. CULTURAL DIVERSITY: Demonstrate an appreciation for differences among peoples. • Use appropriate social skills to enhance positive interpersonal relationships • Function effectively as a member of a diverse group • Exhibit respect for people and the diverse perspectives they bring to the group • Demonstrate an understanding of the relationships among diversity, culture, and the impact they play on society • Demonstrate the ability to evaluate how culture has shaped and continues to shape history • Express oneself in a language other than English

25. QUANTITATIVE REASONING: Demonstrate competence in using quantitative information to solve real-world problems. • Perform basic mathematical operations with or without a calculator • Apply mathematical concepts • Use statistical reasoning • Solve real-world problems using accepted math processes • Calculate fractions, percentages, decimals and proportions or ratios with or without a calculator • Solve real-world problems involving functions that are constructed as models • Interpret data accurately from tables, charts and graphs • Draw logical conclusions when facts warrant

26. Quantitative ReasoningCourses where Taught • All Mathematics Courses • MAC 1105 College Algebra • MGF 1106 Liberals Arts Math I • MGF 1107 Liberal Arts Math II • STA 2023 Intro to Probability and Statistics • MGF 2212 Finite Mathematics • MAC 2233 Business Calculus • ECO 2013 Principles of Economics I • ECO 2023 Principles of Economics II • BSC 1005 General Biology • BSC 1010 General Biology • PSC 1121 Physical Science • PHY 2053 College Physics I

27. GEAC Committee Members2004 -- 2005 • Dr. Anna Green Business and Industry • Ms. Chinover Green Nursing (Student) • Dr. Janet Guyden (Ex-O) Teachers for a New Era (TNE) • Ms. Diane Hall Journalism and Graphic Comm. • Dr. Dorothy Henderson General Studies (Co-Chair) • Dr. Michael LaBossiere Arts and Sciences (Philosophy) • Dr. Lekan Latinwo Arts and Sciences (Biology) • Dr. Valencia E. Matthews Arts and Sciences (Co-Chair) • Ms. Jessica Mukes Arts and Sciences (Student)

28. GEAC Committee Members2004 – 2005 Continued … • Dr. Mitwe Musingo CESTA (Faculty Senator) • Dr. Ruena Norman Nursing • Dr. Uche Ohia Office of Assessment • Dr. Larry E. Rivers (Ex-O) Arts and Sciences • Dr. Serena Roberts Teachers for a New Era • Dr. Leesther Thomas Arts and Sciences (English) • Dr. Robert Thomas Pharmacy • Ms. Linda Williams General Studies (Faculty Senator) • Dr. Roselyn Williams Arts and Sciences (Mathematics) • Dr. Alexis Brooks-Walter Arts and Sciences (Biology) (Ad hoc member)

29. Thank You GEAC Committee Members THANK YOU ALL !!