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Curriculum changes ahead

By Rachel Keller

On May 6, 2011

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Change is in the air at Lyndon State College this year, and the general education unit structure is no exception.

This fall, first-year students will see a difference in their course catalogues. Instead of the four core classes and five choice classes now required, students must choose one course from each of eight new categories.

"There are many more choices and fewer requirements," says English professor Chandler Gilman, part of the general education committee. "There's now a wider selection of disciplines, so there will be more choices."

The new categories include self and social interaction, written language, art and design, cross-cultural awareness, perspectives on the past, government and economics, natural resources and sustainability, and scientific and empirical reasoning. Foundation courses in English and math, as well as a basic course on entering an academic community will still be required of students.

Another addition to the required courses is a sophomore-level critical reading, writing, and thinking course. Anyone from the college is allowed to teach it, and though it won't be heavy on workload, it will be heavy on methodology on writing critical pieces, says Gilman. Since all departments are able to teach this course, there will be a wide variety of classes to choose from. These curriculum changes apply only to incoming first year students, the Lyndon class of 2015.

The general education structure is examined about every ten years, and three years ago the committee began seriously considering changing the current structure. Professors Paul Searles and Alison Lathrop are chairs of the committee.

A challenge the committee faced was including as many ideas as they could, since the committee was made up of a diverse group of about six faculty members and received lots of feedback from the entire faculty. Gilman considers the changes and process to have been a success, saying "there was a great deal of collaboration and good will."

General education is the most important component of a college education," says Gilman. "These classes are what will give you a lifelong sense of knowledge."