By Bridget G. Trogden, Ph.D.
Associate Dean; Division of Undergraduate Studies
Associate Professor; Dept of Engineering & Science Education
Consisting of approximately a quarter of a student’s undergraduate coursework and affecting all of Clemson’s 19,402 (and growing) undergraduate students, the Clemson University general education core can and should impact the development of our students. Re-envisioning general education is also a key component of ClemsonForward.
This year, around 400 faculty and staff have discussed and given input on how Clemson can continue to deliver a world-class education, but to also reconsider and refine our goals. An upcoming keynote with Association of American Colleges and Universities Senior Director Kate McConnell focuses on the topic of “The Purpose and Promise of General Education.” It will be held at 11 a.m. April 12 in the Auditorium of the Watt Family Innovation Center. All are welcome.
This idea of promise and purpose echoes the trajectory of the General Education Task Force, convened last year by Dean of Undergraduate Studies John Griffin. More than 28 hours of “Featured Week” discussions were held in January and February to provide faculty and staff a chance to give input on the key question of what we want our students to learn and do regardless of major.
Bob Brookover, Ph.D., senior lecturer and coordinator of undergraduate programs in the Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management, went to many of the discussions. According to Brookover, these were “an excellent opportunity to meet and interact with faculty from across disciplines and around campus to share ideas about what general education should be and might become at Clemson.” Brookover started his faculty role about the time that Clemson initiated its last general education revision, and he points out that not much has changed in the last 15 years. “As Clemson continues to grow, creating a coherent general education program (rather than the pick-a class-to-check-the-box system we currently have) that puts our students in a position to understand the world through a variety of lenses and to solve problems and address issues can become an important and integral part of the Clemson experience,” he said.
Among the ideas discussed were ways to bring grand challenges and integrative learning into the general education curriculum. David Vaughn, professor of practice in the Glenn Department of Civil Engineering and director of Clemson Engineers for Development Countries, also participated in multiple Featured Week discussions. “As our world has become more interconnected, the demand for students who have engaged and/or are engaging real world problems has increased,” he said. “We are starting to see shifts in the educational requirements from industry that are less focused on academic degrees and moving to skill-based hiring. Change is required for academia to maintain pace with the shift.”
Moving forward, the General Education Task Force will create a white paper that includes what may change and what may stay the same, and that paper will be available in the next few months Faculty, staff, and students will have opportunities to voice suggestions and concerns over the summer and early fall. An official general education committee has been approved by the Faculty Senate and will guide future endeavors.
