University Conference 2009

Overview and Brief Discussion of Survey Results

Debi CartwrightDavid HayesMary Shapiro

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Survey Responses

• 152 Faculty

• 953 Students

• 59 Staff

Students should receive formative feedback on their portfolio submissions

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StronglyOppose

Oppose MildlyOppose

MildlySupport

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Faculty

Students

Staff

Truman should offer one-credit hour seminars for students who want help assembling and reflecting

upon their portfolios

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StronglyOppose

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Faculty

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How many one-hour portfolio seminars should we require?

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Zero One Two Four EachSemester inResidence

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Truman should adopt a common framework for critical thinking for use in the first-year experience

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StronglyOppose

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Truman should institute a first-year writing-enhanced interdisciplinary or multidisciplinary

seminar.

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StronglyOppose

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Students should be able to use formal speaking in the first-year seminar to demonstrate proficiency in

the essential skill of speech.

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StronglyOppose

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Faculty

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To increase coherence and synergy of our curriculum, Truman should adopt

a campus theme or themes.

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StronglyOppose

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Faculty

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Truman should require all students to complete at least one experiential learning component.

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Faculty

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Truman should institute an “International Perspectives” requirement exposing students to

the world beyond our borders.

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StronglyOppose

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Truman should continue to require all students to demonstrate elementary proficiency in a foreign

language.

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Faculty

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Truman should allow double counting so students could use courses in the major to satisfy LSP

requirements.

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StronglyOppose

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Faculty

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I support the formation of a faculty committee to review the scholarship renewal process …

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I support the formation of a faculty committee to evaluate grading practices …

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StronglyOppose

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Faculty

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Truman should allow satisfaction of degree requirements by demonstration of learning outcomes using methods such

as testing or portfolio submissions.

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StronglyOppose

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Faculty

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Truman should continue to require all students to demonstrate proficiency in the mathematics

essential skill.

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StronglyOppose

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Faculty

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Truman should maintain the current essential skills statistics requirement.

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Faculty

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Truman should maintain the current health and wellness essential skill requirement.

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Faculty

Students

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Truman should institute a creative expression requirement that could be satisfied by a portfolio

submission including a reflective statement.

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StronglyOppose

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MildlySupport

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Faculty

Students

Staff

Truman should maintain the current writing enhanced requirement.

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Faculty

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Truman should reduce the number of required hours for BA and BS degrees from 124 to 120.

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Faculty

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Truman should continue to offer the BA and BS degree but should have a more principled and

substantial distinction between the two degrees.

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StronglyOppose

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Faculty

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Truman should investigate moving to a 4-1-4 calendar.

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Faculty

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Truman should investigate alternate scheduling of classes.

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StronglyOppose

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Faculty

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Rankings for the Current Liberal Studies Program.

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First Second Third Fourth Fifth Sixth

Faculty

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Staff

Faculty – Head to Head Model Comparisons

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LSP

Mino

r

Gram

mars

Them

es

Double-

FINS

Portfo

lio

LSP Preferred

Minor Preferred

Grammars Preferred

Themes Preferred

Double-FINS Preferred

Portfolio Preferred

% Preferring current LSP compared to proposed models

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MinorChange

Grammars Themes Double-FINS Portfolio

Faculy

Student

Staff

The foundational concept of the LSP should be modes of inquiry.

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The current LSP adequately emphasizes “approaches to thinking by which people seek or

increase knowledge in various disciplines”.

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The current LSP is too large.

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StronglyOppose

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Faculty

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We should maintain the current JINS requirement.

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Faculty

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The “Life Science” and “Physical Science” modes should be combined into a single “Science” mode,

requiring a single course.

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StronglyOppose

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Faculty

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The “Fine Arts” and “Literature” modes should be combined into a single “Aesthetics” mode,

requiring a single course.

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StronglyOppose

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Faculty

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Students should be required to complete proposed 6 modes.

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StronglyOppose

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Faculty

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Summary – Points of Agreement

• Feedback on portfolio submissions• Common Critical Thinking Framework• FINS• Integrating writing and speaking essential skills

into FINS• Experiential learning component• International perspective requirement• Retain elementary proficiency requirement in

foreign language• Double counting – major courses to count in

LSP

Summary – Points of Agreement

• Satisfaction of degree requirements through demonstration of learning outcomes

• Maintain mathematics, statistics, and health and wellness essential skills requirements

• Maintain writing enhanced requirement• Decrease number of required hours to 120• Continue to offer both BA & BS and require an

additional 12 hours if earning both• Modes should be foundational concept of LSP • Combine Life and Physical Science modes

Summary: More discussion needed

• What’s the best way to provide formative feedback on the portfolio?

• How should we select and implement a common critical thinking framework?

• What types of degree requirements can be satisfied outside the classroom?

• What is the best way to incorporate the communication essential skills into the FINS?

• How should we define, implement and assess experiential learning?

Summary: More discussion needed

• How can we make the modes better reflect inquiry?

• What are other avenues for promoting a common liberal arts culture?

• How should we incorporate creative expression into the curriculum?

• How can we enhance reflection and deliberation?

• How can we build coherence and connections in the curriculum?