Proposed language change to UP group sparks heated debate
A motion to change the wording of a section of the University Program requirements has been put on hold after several senators and faculty members voiced their objections to the change.
The Academic Senate’s General Education Committee proposed changing several parts of Group IV-B of the UP, but the part that drew the most criticism was the proposed drop of the word “global” from the group, changing Group IV-B from “Studies in Global Cultures” to “Studies in Culture and Diversity.”
“I think everybody here knows about the importance of international education. It’s in our mission statement,” said Interim Journalism Department Chairwoman Jiafei Yin. “The importance of global education, I hope, is understood here. It’s not about being sensitive, it’s about preparing our students for a global market.”
Yin said “Studies in Global Cultures” is a chance for the university to show students the importance of a global connection. If the word “global” is changed to “culture” it would be too narrow.
Students are required to complete 27 credit hours in the UP, with at least one course selected from each of the four subgroups.
With the proposed change in wording, many departments believe the classes they teach could be affected and would no longer be considered applicable to a student’s UP requirement.
“We had a class that was cut from general education because it was considered too global,” said Management Department Chairman Mahmood Bahaee. “We owe our students the opportunity to take these classes. If we make them narrower, there has to be a category for other global types of courses, but right now there is none.”
Several senators, including General Education Director Tracy Brown stated the intent of the proposal is not to change the meaning of the group, but to clarify its purpose.
With the clarification proposed, senators were still unsure what the some of the wording changes meant, especially the words “outside the Anglo-American tradition.”
“I was not here when it was put in,” Brown said. “We talked about what it meant. What (Anglo-American) meant is people outside of the U.S.”
The senate voted to postpone a vote and will continue discussion on the matter at the next Academic Senate meeting on Tuesday Feb. 24.
