The current general education checklist will soon become a thing of the past and be replaced with a more distinct approach for future Baker students obtaining these credits

Themed ‘Imagine,’ convocation was held Tuesday and presented new general education program ideas to students and the community.  

“To try and identify the topic of convocation this year, we had a lot of strategic planning to shift through what really is important to the students,” Provost Randy Pembrook said

The proposed general education program is engineered to integrate some of the normal general education classes together into the form of a single class with one specific topic. With this topic, students look and analyze it from multiple perspectives. Also added to the curriculum is the requirement to take part in an international travel experience

“The new program seems more interesting and opened,” freshman Laura Caby said. “It seems as if it will give students more freedom with their classes and how they will take them.

Students, instead of checking off courses they have taken, will check off what abilities, understandings and experiences they have obtained in their time at Baker. Whether it is just from a class or perhaps from student life activities, traveling or even a community service project

“Imagine a general education program that is defined by some learning goals that just might be met in ways other than taking an actual course,” Rand Ziegler, vice president and dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, said. “A program that defines itself by an innovative common set of learning goals that consist of practical abilities, critical understanding and unique interactive experiences, that will succeed in fully engaging students and hopefully better stimulates a passion for learning.

The new program will go into effect next school year. However, students who are taking classes with the current general education program will have the choice to stay with that program’s requirements

Associate Professor of French Erin Joyce is a member of the faculty that has been gathering ideas and information for the new program. She hopes the event was helpful in making people aware of some of the changes

“I am really happy to be able to speak and have contributed to the event,” Joyce said. “This is the first time many of the campus and community were able to be involved and not just the faculty.

Other speakers included University President Pat Long, Student Senate President Chad O’Bryhim, Pembrook and Ziegler. The Baker University Speech Choir and junior Eli Jones also performed during Tuesday’s event.