Del Mar General Education

1. Del Mar General Education Part 1: Process for establishing the 2014 Core Curriculum

2. Many of the following slides were adapted from a webinar given twice through STARlink training on April 3rd and April 11th • “The Core Curriculum: a focus on 21st Century Competencies” • Archived webinar may be accessed at • http://www.starlinktraining.org/ • Limited time to watch archived version?

3. “Current” Core Curriculum Implemented statewide in 1999 5 Foundational Component Areas (e.g Mathematics) + 1 Institutional Designated Option 6 Basic Intellectual Competencies 8 Perspectives 37 Exemplary Educational Objectives (EEOs) Institutionally Designated Option (with its own institutionally-developed EEOs) Adds up to more than 51 different items, each to be assessed and evaluated THAT’S a LOT!

4. Rationale for changes • Focus on coherent general education knowledge and skills needed by all; • Make assessment and evaluation more relevant to the skills and knowledge needed by students; • Reduce the number of “things” to be assessed and evaluated; and • Ensure that Core Curriculum assessment would meet SACS-COC Comprehensive Standard 3.5.1. • “The institution identifies college-level general education competencies and the extent to which students have attained them.”

5. 2014 Core Curriculum8 Foundational Component Areas Communication (010) Mathematics (020) Life and Physical Sciences (030) Language, Philosophy, & Culture (040) Creative Arts (050) American History (060) Government/Political Science (070) Social/ Behavioral Science (080)

6. 2014 Core CurriculumSix Core Objectives Critical thinking skills – to include creative thinking, innovation, inquiry, and analysis, evaluation and synthesis of information Communication skills – to include effective written, oral, and visual communication Empirical and Quantitative skills – to include the manipulation and analysis of numerical data or observable facts resulting in informed conclusions

7. 2014 Core CurriculumSix Core Objectives, continued Teamwork – to include the ability to consider different points of view and to work effectively with others to support a shared purpose or goal Social Responsibility – to include intercultural competency, knowledge of civic responsibility, and the ability to engage effectively in regional, national, and global communities Personal Responsibility – to include the ability to connect choices, actions, and consequences to ethical decision-making

8. Core Objectives Mapped to Foundational Component Areas

9. Foundational Component Area Semester Credit Hour Distribution • Foundational Component Areas: • Communication (010) – 6 SCH • Mathematics (020) – 3 SCH • Life and Physical Sciences (030) – 6 SCH • Language, Philosophy, and Culture (040) – 3 SCH • Creative Arts (050) – 3 SCH • American History (060) – 6 SCH • Government/Political Science (070) – 6 SCH • Social/ Behavioral Science (080) – 3 SCH • Total = 36 SCH

10. Component Area Option (090) Semester Credit Hours Component Area Option – 6 SCH Links the CAO closely to the eight FCAs Replaces the institutionally designated option Still “in flux” – changes will be considered at the April 25th Board Meeting

11. Summary of New Core Curriculum SCH Comparison of Core Curriculum SCH

12. Proposed Rule Change (for April 2012 Board agenda) §4.28 (b)(4)(A) and (B): Courses in the CAO must meet one Foundational Component Area definition and the applicable Core Objectives; except that an institution may certify that, for up to 3 SCH of the CAO, the course/s meet(s) the definition specified for one or more of the foundational component areas, and include(s) a minimum of three Core Objectives, including Critical Thinking Skills, Communication Skills, and one of the remaining Core Objectives of the institution’s choice.

13. Proposed Rule Change (on April 2012 Board agenda) (new section) §4.28(b)(4)(C): For the purposes of gaining approval for or reporting a Component Area Option course under the exception outlined above, an institution is not required to notify the Board of the specific foundational component area(s) and Core Objectives associated with the course(s).

14. Proposed Rule Change (on April 2012 Board agenda) §4.28(g) would provide that any semester credit hours (SCH) for a course approved to meet a Foundational Component Area (FCA) requirement, but that exceed the number of SCH required to fulfill the FCA, must either be applied to the Component Area Option or must be required by the specific degree program such that the number of SCH required to complete the program would not increase. (The FCA SCH must be expended prior to applying the additional SCH to the degree plan.)

15. Other Changes for 2014 Unique need courses will no longer be allowed to be used for the core curriculum by comm. coll. All institutions will have a 42 SCH core – no exceptions A student can still be excused from completing the core curriculum when earning AA and AS degrees for which there is an approved field of study curriculum, voluntary statewide transfer compact, and other statewide transfer articulation agreements (as they are developed), and the AAT. Students who transfer with an such an academic associate degree would become responsible for completing their remaining core requirements at the receiving institution.

16. Timeline November 30, 2013 - Proposed institutional core curricula due to Coordinating Board February 1, 2014 – THECB staff approvals should be completed Fall 2014 – Statewide implementation Instructions, forms, procedures for submission and review of proposed core curricula are in the works

17. Sample Institutional Timeline Spring 2012: Develop process for creating the new Core Fall 2012: Course Submission, Review, and Revision Spring-Summer 2013: Continue and finalize Course Submissions Fall 2013: Submission to CB (by November 30th, 2013)

18. Summary of New Core Curriculum SCH Approximate Number of Courses in Current (2011-2012) Core

19. How Do We Make This Happen? Implementing the 2014 Core Curriculum Across the State

20. Who is responsible for selecting the courses for the core on our campus? Each institution determines its own process and procedures for course approval. Best practices and accreditation guidelines generally place the faculty in a position of responsibility for curricular decisions. • Faculty should ensure that each course selected for inclusion will meet: • the required Foundational Component Area (FCA) criteria • all Core Objectives for the FCA.

21. Who is responsible for selecting the courses for the core on our campus? The Chief Academic Officer or Chief Instructional Officer should send courses approved for inclusion in the institution's core curriculum to the Coordinating Board staff during fall 2013.

22. What will the Coordinating Board want to see? • CB staff are currently developing forms that each institution will use to submit their new core curriculum. • Staff will ensure the courses meet all requirements: • The content of a course is appropriate to the component area identified • All core objectives for the selected component area are covered in the course • The number of SCH are within prescribed parameters and give final approval.

23. At a minimum, institutions should be prepared to include: • A brief description of the process used to ensure compliance with CB Rules and Texas statutes; • A list of institutionally-nominated courses for each Foundational Component Area (FCA); • A list of any courses specified by the institution to fulfill the Component Area Option (CAO), and information about those courses as required in CB Rules; • Assurances that each course includes content and learning activities that allows students to achieve an institutionally-designated level if attainment for the Core Objectives required. Forms for institutions to use are currently in development.

24. Questions? Core Curriculum (additional info and FAQ) www.thecb.state.tx.us/corecurriculum2014 From STARlink Webinar Dr. Rex Peebles rpeebles@midland.edu (432) 685-4552 Dr. Agnes DeFranco adefranco@uh.edu (713) 743-9102 Dr. Catherine Parsoneault (512) 427-6214 Catherine.Parsoneault@thecb.state.tx.us

25. Del Mar General Education Part 2: General Education Competencies update

26. Comparison • Current Gen Ed Competencies • Reading • Writing • Speaking • Critical Thinking • Computer Literacy • Recently Approved THECB Core Curriculum Objectives • Critical Thinking Skills • Communication Skills • Empirical and Quantitative Skills • Teamwork • Social Responsibility • Personal Responsibility

27. Options (as the members of the GEC see them) • Keep DMC’s current GE competencies for SACS purposes AND • Use new Core Curriculum Obj. for THECB purposes. • Come up with new GE competencies for SACS purposes AND • Use new Core Curriculum Obj. for THECB purposes. • Adopt new Core Curriculum Objectives AS DMC’s GE competencies.

28. Recommendation to Academic Standards Committee (ASC) • The General Education Committee recommended that we: • Adopt the new THECB Core Curriculum Objectives as the Del Mar General Education Competencies • Satisfy both SACS and Coordinating Board • One set of outcomes, achievement targets, measures, and findings instead of two

29. Presentations and Survey of Faculty • Met directly with • 15 out of 17 departments • Surveyed 164 faculty • “Should we change from the current 5 GE Competencies to the proposed 6 GE Competencies.” • 153 “yes” (93.3%) • 10 “no” (6.1%) • 1 abstain (0.6%)

30. The Academic Standards Committee: • Unanimously adopted the new THECB Core Curriculum Objectives as the Del Mar College General Education Competencies as of the beginning of the 2012-2013 academic year.