The Missouri Students Association Academic Affairs Committee created a resolution last week asking Faculty Council to reassess the general education requirements every eight years.
“With new generations of students coming in, the general education requirements need to be looked at more consistently,” Academic Affairs Chairman Everett Bruer said.
Operations Committee Chairman Justin Mohn said in an e-mail if this were to be adopted, Faculty Council would work with the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Studies Jim Spain to implement the plan.
“Part of the problem that spawned this resolution is that there isn’t any real solid timeline for gen-ed requirement review,” Mohn said. “Everett thought it best to work with Faculty Council to get that kind of solid timeline implemented.”
The general education requirements have not been looked at in 20 years, Bruer said.
According to the resolution, eight years allows administrators and faculty to see if changes made to the general education have been as beneficial as anticipated.
Going over the requirements is beneficial for students, Mohn said.
“It reinforces the legitimacy of any requirements that may be decided about,” Mohn said. “It’s easier to defend a required course from questioning students if you can point to the meeting and discussion notes from when that course was instituted.”
The language of the resolution explains the purpose of the general education is to provide an educational experience that will make a well-rounded student.
“The need for the Mizzou’s general education program reflect the issues of today’s society is paramount for the success of students,” the resolution stated.
Bruer said he first sent the resolution to Faculty Council to symbolize student support for plan. After Faculty Council looks over the resolution, Bruer said he plans to talk to the Academic Affairs Committee to discuss the resolution.
“The Faculty Council meets every two weeks,” Bruer said. “We’ll set up a meeting with the subcommittee to make any revisions, if necessary. They’ll vote on it after that.”
Bruer said the purpose of the most recent review of general education was to assess if general education needed to be changed to fit students’ educational needs outside their major.
“We wanted to see if (the requirements) were benefiting students,” Bruer said. “Having them up to date is important and makes students more well-rounded.”
Having a well-rounded student body is important, as stated in the resolution’s language. Bruer said the diversity course requirement was an example of this.
“This requirement would give students a better understanding of how to approach sensitive topics and situations which is becoming more and more important in today’s culture,” Bruer said.
Mohn said requiring Faculty Council to look over the general education requirements was a good idea.
“There’s no downside for students with a regular gen-ed requirement review,” Mohn said in an e-mail.