The new assistant dean of liberal studies, Erin Joyce, stood in front of faculty members Tuesday at a town hall meeting to present and answer questions about the newest model for general education.

“I was pretty encouraged by the response,” Joyce said. “Of course there are some things that we still need to think about a little more, but I think overall I got the sense that the faculty were interested in learning more about this and that there was some enthusiasm for it, so I was pretty encouraged by the meeting (Tuesday).”

The new program contains three different types of courses. Core courses, linked courses and salons are all part of the new program.

Core courses will help students develop abilities that all students need, like writing and oral communication skills. Linked courses will correspond with each core course and the salons will be used for discussion.

“I’m hearing from people that they liked the idea of the linked courses and that it sort of allows us to do some of what we’re currently doing and then also do some new things,” Joyce said. “So it’s not like everything has to change all at once.”

The new program, which is being called a liberal studies program instead of a general education program, only requires 38 and 39 hours. Students are currently required to complete 64 hours of general education.

“Since this whole thing is a … continual renewal process, 10 years from now we’ll still be revising and editing,” Ryan Beasley, associate professor of political science said.

Although the number of general education hours has been reduced, students will still be required to complete 132 total hours in order to graduate from Baker University.

“They have room for more electives in (the new) model,” Joyce said at the meeting. “I think electives will be a big part of the new experience.”

Although there was some discussion about whether or not to make some electives required, Associate Professor of Psychology Marc Carter said that would not be the case.

The general education task force also identified 29 different abilities, understandings and experience outcomes, or AUE’s, that all students will have to complete through their coursework by the time they graduate from Baker.

"The model … incorporates all these outcomes somewhere," Joyce said. <br/>Joyce said she was pleased with the outcome of the town hall meeting and that she felt encouraged by the discussion.Joyce said she was pleased with the outcome of the town hall meeting and that she felt encouraged by the discussion.
Joyce said she was pleased with the outcome of the town hall meeting and that she felt encouraged by the discussion.

"The goal is to present the model to faculty senate by the end of the semester, so we're just hoping we'll be able to do that," Joyce said.<br/>