Academic Senate tables the vote on changing the general education program
Central Michigan University faculty members discussed the proposed changes to the general education program once again at the Academic Senate meeting on Dec. 9.
Ben Human, the general education committee chair, proposed a motion to the Senate to lower the credit hours from 39-40 down to 30-31.
“Central education will prepare students for success in their personal lives, intellectual pursuits and professional careers,” Human said. “By providing foundational skills, promoting creativity and curiosity across disciplines.”
He said the proposal is not perfect, but it is a solution that represents all of the colleges. Human said the goal of the proposal was not to create a perfect program, but rather to involve each department in the current requirements.
Currently, students are required to take two English courses, an oral competency, a math course, four writing intensives, a quantitative reasoning course and 10 university program courses.
When voted on for the first time, the motion was denied, which moved the motion to debate. The Senate discussed a change to the amendment by requesting a more exact understanding of which sections of the requirement will be cut.
Alejandra Rengifo, a professor in the history, world languages and cultures department, said that students come to CMU for education.
“(Students) come here for everything; they were not looking for gen-eds or central education,” she said. “But, they’re looking for the education itself.”
The Senate moved to vote on requesting specific directions on which sections of the proposed program should be cut, and it passed.
The meeting then debated whether to approve or deny the change to the number of credit hours.
Faculty from various departments discussed whether their department was in favor of the change of credit hours.
“This also helps foster transformation and innovation, not all these traits fit well into the current gen-ed categories,” Xiao Wang, a professor for the department of geography, said. “Students are still paying for 120 credits regardless.”
When voted again on the proposed changes, the motion did not pass. So, the Senate voted and passed a motion to table the amendment to a future meeting.
The Academic Senate will meet after winter break at 3:30 p.m. on Jan. 20 in French Auditorium (EHS 118).
In other news:
- Cole Bartels was elected to the President's and Provost's Awards for Outstanding Research and Creative Activities committee.
- Stephen Juris addressed concerns that were overheard about senators feeling targeted based on the comments that were made in the Senate.
- Juris also addressed that he heard that a student senator was approached by a faculty member to vote in a specific way.
