Ad Hoc Steering Group on General Education

2005 – 2006

Reason: The Ad Hoc Steering Group on General Education is to be constituted in response to the vote of the Faculty Assembly, at its April 2005 meeting, resolving to move forward in considering a “major overhaul” of the general education requirements at Pacific Lutheran University. Following the Faculty Handbook (Bylaws to the Faculty Constitution 4a.b) and in consultation with the Faculty Governance Committee, the Ad Hoc Steering Group is constituted by a vote of the Faculty Assembly. The Faculty Executive Committee brings this motion to the assembly.

Membership: The proposed membership of the Ad Hoc Steering Group intentionally reflects a broad representation of the various constituencies of the faculty, along with the ASPLU President. A concern for faculty demographics is also reflected in the proposed membership. The goal is to draw upon our colleagues with strong institutional wisdom, as well as newer voices in the school. Faculty members have been invited to serve on the Ad Hoc Steering Group not as advocates for particular units; rather, they have been invited for their ability to work on behalf of the whole university, and for their experience with and commitment to serving the whole. This committee will not be bringing forward or designing specific curricular proposals or models. We do not envision the need for voting on the committee. This group will guide and facilitate broad campus discussions on curriculum issues, and its purpose is to de-politicize curricular conversations and foster communication and community-building across disciplinary boundaries. The Faculty Handbook requires that President Anderson serve on an ad hoc committee. Colleagues without faculty rank (though they may have faculty status) may not have regular membership on ad hoc committees. It bears repeating that everyone serves on behalf of the whole faculty. The Chair and Vice Chair of the Faculty serve by virtue of their representation of the whole faculty.

Charge: The Ad Hoc Steering Group will direct research into curricular change both at PLU and at other colleges and universities, and with the Educational Policies Committee facilitate faculty conversations on possible changes in the requirements for general education at PLU. Drawing upon these conversations, and envisioning a multi-year process for review and revision (possibly two and one half years), the Ad Hoc Steering Group will make a recommendation to the faculty on the next stage of the process. It will serve for the academic year 2005 – 2006.

Ad Hoc Steering Group Members

Professional Schools College of Arts and Sciences

Paula Leitz, School of Education Patricia Killen, Department of Religion

David Robbins, School of Arts and Norris Peterson, Department of Economics

Communication Ken Blaha, Computer Science

Fern Zabriskie, School of Business and Computer Engineering

Interdisciplinary Programs Student

Rona Kaufman, First-Year Program Willie Painter, ASPLU President

Ann Kelleher, International Core

Faculty Officers Advisory

Charles Bergman, Chair of the Faculty Loren Anderson, President

Erin McKenna, Vice Chair of the Faculty Patricia Roundy, Director of Academic Advising