UPs to get welcome change

CMU’s general education program is long overdue for a makeover.

And it could happen as early as fall 2009.

The Steering Committee for Studying General Education has been
working on a solution for more than a year, and it presented its final
report at Tuesday’s Academic Senate meeting.

Now it’s up to A-Senate members to decide which model is worthy.

The right model for change is Model A.

Model A, more than Model B, gives students options and a better
selection of courses.

For example, students would have the option to take a “quantitative
literacy course,” instead of a math or statistics course.

The natural science courses listed under Group II would become one
area instead of two subgroups.

Both these changes will work in students’ favor.

Model B, on the other hand, leaves the University Program similar to
what it is now, with the exception of eliminating Group IV A:
Integrative and Multi-disciplinary Studies.

Many people agree the University Program needs to change.

Model A is the best way to approach this change.

Students will appreciate being able to have more options within a
required system of learning.

And hopefully, a few years from now, they won’t view the University
Program as a chore they have to complete before they graduate.

Instead, they’ll be able to embrace and appreciate it for what it’s
designed to do — create adjusted and well-rounded people.