General Education Advisory Task Force at UMKC

In a September 2009 presentation at UMKC, the President of the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U), Carol Geary Schneider asserted the need for general education to better prepare students for “global interdependence, innovation in the workplace and a diverse democracy.” The General Education Advisory Task Force at UMKC began meeting November 2009 in order to review the current status of our general education program, review the national approaches to general education, and make recommendations to the provost regarding revising or our campus wide general education program. The task force has been charged with developing a strategy and plan for the creation and implementation of a general education program tied to the UMKC mission focusing on student success and student retention. This new general education program will need to include a premier student learning assessment component and an ongoing review and revision cycle.

The task force is currently:

• Studying national trends and emphasis areas in general education
• Reviewing general education programs that have undergone revision
• Reviewing the processes aspirational peer institutions and exemplary programs have used in their general education program revision processes.

As part of the process, the General Education Advisory Task Force plans to submit a proposal to be considered as a participant in the 2010 AAC&U Institute on General Education.

Learn more about the General Education Advisory Task Force charge and responsibilities, recent happenings, members, and meetings at the General Education Advisory Task Force Web site.

President of the Association of American Colleges and Universities Visits UMKC

The Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) has been a resource for hundreds of campuses as they work to engage their students and their general education programs with the challenges of this new global century. On Wednesday, September 2nd, Dr. Carol Geary Schneider will provide a university-wide keynote address at UMKC titled, “General Education and Integrative Learning: Fulfilling the Promise of a 21st Century College Education.” Dr. Schneider, who has been president of AAC&U since 1998, will talk about the emerging themes and priorities in contemporary approaches to general education; about new research on “high impact” educational practices; and especially about ways to help students reap the full benefit of their studies beyond the major.

To find out more information about Dr. Schneider see the article about her in this month’s UMatters.

Dr. Carol Geary Schneider, President of AACU
University-wide Presentation
Wednesday, September 2, 2009 ~ 3:00 - 4:30 p.m.
Royall Hall, Room 104