General education under review

Re-evaluating general education is a long-standing tradition at universities.

At UB, it's a tradition that is getting a jump-start this semester as officials follow through on a decision made last January to review the university's basic gen ed requirements.

"There's been a movement to assessment of higher education for over 20 years," said Peter Gold, associate dean for general education in the College of Arts and Sciences. "This assessment at UB is when we take teaching and learning very seriously."

Starting with the formation of a faculty committee to assess and observe a random sample of gen ed classes, this year will be the first in a new program approved last semester by the Faculty Senate Executive Committee. From psychology to world civilization and English, curriculum and course work will be the material under review, but not the professors and teachers themselves.

Under the plan, each subject will be addressed every three years, keeping the gen ed program in continual check.

The assessment will be based, Gold said, on a set of gen ed class learning outcomes developed by both SUNY and UB. For a requirement like world civilization, an example of a learning outcome would be to know the social implications of at least one non-western civilization. In addressing that aspect, the faculty committee would ask the professor to point out how his or her course material tackles that outcome, Gold said.

Questions over success rates and student engagement will be considered through examinations of textbooks, course syllabi and tests. Each aspect will be considered and compared to the SUNY learning outcomes.

Although the process might seem intrusive, many faculty members say the assessment is only there to make improvements.

"I would feel fine with a review of my curriculum. I have nothing to hide," said Debra Kolodczak, an American pluralism instructor.

Many students say, however, they aren't as concerned about the curriculum for classes like American pluralism as much as they believe the teachers should also be under review. Despite the random sample of individual professor curriculums, the assessment excludes teachers from the observations.

The committee will analyze tests and give itemized reports, but the assessment is in no way a review of an instructor.

"It's great that they're doing this," said Michelle Nochisaki, a freshmen management major. "But are they going to do anything about the teachers? Some of them downright grade too tough and don't really care."

Gold said it is important that there isn't any confusion about the goals of this assessment.

"Learning outcomes are our only concern, regardless of the teacher," he said.

And although even having to take gen ed classes is an annual student gripe, Gold said the assessments are not about whether students like a course or not.

"It's assessing whether a course is doing what it's supposed to do," he said.

UB's general education review comes after a SUNY-wide committee presented a universal examination in which individual schools were allowed to conduct their own programs under SUNY approval.

"UB should not have to submit to a SUNY-wide test," Gold said. "All schools have their own specialties and differences."

Gold added that he knows the assessment will only go so far towards improving the gen ed experience if students don't do their part.

"The iPod blasting, a fresh issue of The Spectrum on the desk, and a text message conversation cannot be an effective way to succeed in a general education class," Gold added. "Assessment can only do so much without students making an effort as well."