Keeping with this year’s convocation theme regarding general education, Founders Day activities will revolve around a keynote speaker who will be on campus next week to discuss general education reform.
Baker University will host a Founders Day celebration starting at 11 a.m. Thursday in Collins Center.
Baker students, faculty and staff, as well as administrators from surrounding colleges and high schools, are invited to attend. Keynote speaker, Carol Geary Schneider, president of the Association of American Colleges and Universities, is known at the national level for her work regarding undergraduate liberal education.
In the past, Founders Day has been a time to rediscover Baker’s Methodist roots while applying themes and elements used to remain committed to education.
Last year, Baker celebrated its 150th anniversary. Three ceremonies were held to commemorate this achievement at some of the Baker campus locations including Topeka, Overland Park and Baldwin City.
This year, Founders Day activities will focus on revamping the general education program currently in place.
“General education classes should not just be classes with hours and boxes you have to fulfill,” Provost Randy Pembrook said. “These classes should broaden one’s abilities, understanding and experiences.”
Baker requires students to fulfill a certain number of hours in certain diverse areas of study in order to graduate. These areas vary from nonwestern perspectives to fitness and well-being.
“I think it is important to have a well-rounded student,” freshman Jessica Shiney said. “But at the same time I think that it is a little ridiculous because some of the requirements do not even pertain to their field of work.”
Freshman Tracie Babbit believes she has taken her fair share of general education classes this semester.
“You end up putting more time into those classes than what you actually get out of them,” she said.
Schneider is a graduate of Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, Mass., and studied at the University of London’s Institute for Historical Research and Harvard University. She will apply her knowledge from the national level to address the audience regarding general education reform at Baker.
Pembrook is anticipating between 200 and 300 individuals to attend the Founders Day celebration and listen to Schneider’s thoughts.
He hopes in the future ideas for Founders Day will be announced at convocation, discussed fully during the Founders Day time period and then mentioned once again at graduation ceremonies to bring students and faculty together.
