Saint Mary's College General Education

Present: Chris Cobb, Janet Fore, Kitty Green, Joe Incandela, Michael Kramer, Laurel Thomas

Guests: Jessica Ickes, Susan Vanek

---

Actions from Academic Affairs meeting on February 10:

• Approval of the General Education Curriculum Committee
  
• The GECC will refer new courses to the Curriculum Committee, but not report to it.
  

Responses regarding Gen Ed:

• Joe has heard from 3 people—one positive, one concern about scheduling in relation to the Engineering program, one in reference to science labs.
  
• Joe will meet with student government on February 17 for a possible endorsement.
  

The Critical Thinking Seminar and advising:

We discussed at great length whether it will be possible to make the students’ CTS professor also their advisor. Susan Vanek pointed out that part of the issue with this idea is that most of the people who advise do not teach first year students. She did point out that we could schedule all CTS at the common time of 9 am. This would allow for a possible common experience. The committee sees many benefits to having the prof also advise. We do not think that the common experience would have to be about a common topic. If the 4 anticipated common experiences are at a high level, any CTS can connect to them.

Our committee is aware that this is all very complicated and will take time to work through. The implementation committee will have to deal with this. For now, we will encourage faculty who wish to teach a CTS also consider advising. It is our fervent hope to develop a CTS culture.

Preparation for Trustee Education Committee meeting February 18, 2010:

• All committee members will attend and should feel free to respond to questions, regardless of who is presenting.
  
• Each speaker should keep his/her section to no more than 5 minutes.
  
• This is intended to be interactive, not presentations.
  
• Gail Mandell will do the “Women’s Voices” section.