Changes on current general education courses and subgroups prohibited for next two years
New courses and additions to the general education subgroups will be included in the fall’s registration, students planning on taking general educations courses already in the system no longer have to fear seeing them altered in the next two years.
Central Michigan University’s Academic Senate approved a moratorium on making changes to general education courses and subgroups at its Tuesday meeting.
“I would like to see an effective assessment plan (of courses),” said Senator Mary Senter. “It will be difficult to assess anything if the subgroups change. What I had in mind was for new courses to be able to come, but what we need is the language to be clear that the moratorium will only be on the existing courses.”
Tracy Brown, director of general education is in favor of the moratorium. She said it is her responsibility to create assessment plans for general education courses.
“It takes a while for me make assessment plans,” Brown said. “The moratorium will give me time. Courses can still be added. The idea is to not change anything until I can get a plan in place.”
Brown said that student and faculty surveys have already been created and the results are not in yet.
While the moratorium passed with 61 percent of the vote, 39 percent of the senate including Senator Nathanial Smith. The general education committee member said he is not in favor of the moratorium.
“I do not believe a moratorium is necessary for general education to be assessed and developed,” he stated in a written statement.
The resolution takes effect during the fall 2015 semester.
