The Curricular Design Working Group (CDWG) recently released its proposal of a new academic curriculum that would reshape much of the current general education requirements (GER). CDWG presented this curriculum at the Student Association General Assembly meeting in a meeting on Wednesday Feb. 24.
CDWG started development on a new curriculum about two years ago, studying institutional barriers that exist in the current curriculum and creating a framework for what the curriculum could become. While the pandemic delayed the project, CDWG published the curriculum revision proposal titled “A Geneseo Education for a Connected World” on Feb. 18. Chair and associate professor of philosophy David Levy began working on this project as a liaison but has transitioned to the head of CDWG.
"In the initial charge, we were supposed to do this within a 12-month period. CDWG spent the first two years doing a lot of exploratory work," Levy said.
The SUNY Board of Trustees establishes subject-area and credit requirements that must be met by all students within the SUNY system, called SUNY General Education Requirement (SUNY-GER). Geneseo's current curriculum surpasses the basic requirements for a SUNY student. SUNY-GER requires 30 credits in at least seven of ten subjects; Geneseo requires 30-52 credits in the same ten subjects.
"We've always asked for more than what SUNY requires," Levy said. "The new proposal scales back our set of requirements, so that we're closer to the SUNY minimum, but still exceeding a little bit."
The new curriculum would reduce the number of courses needed to fulfill the requirements in natural sciences, social sciences, the arts and basic communication. It would additionally make the GER in American History and Western Civilization optional.
"What's happened with our current Gen-Ed program is that it really has become a check off the box system," Levy said. "[The proposed curriculum] is a coherent narrative of preparation for participation in a global society."
“A Geneseo Education for a Connected World” also implements an additional graduation requirement of “a significant integrative and applied learning experience.” This requirement would be fulfilled through "high impact experiences," such as studying abroad, participation in undergraduate research or the completion of an internship or job.
These changes display a shift in focus for Geneseo's curriculum requirements. The new curriculum would address five areas: Diversity, Pluralism and Power; Global Cultures and Values; Contemporary Global Challenges; Creativity and Innovation and Sustainability.
"They are kind of making [the GER] more representative of the Geneseo values that we strive to embody and incorporate," Student Association President Kaitlyn Bertleff said. "These are our values and we're showing that by [them] being in the curriculum."
The college intends to have open conversations about the new curriculum as it moves forward as well.
"It's the curriculum that everyone has to experience," Bertleff said. "Because it impacts every student so intensely, it's important that we get abundant and meaningful conversation behind this, so that as many students can put their input in on this before it's official."
The proposal is currently being amended by members of CDWG. After this process is completed, the proposal will move onto the College Senate, where it can be more openly debated by the campus. If the proposal passes, the new curriculum would be implemented starting with the students who enter the college in fall 2022.
The Curricular design workshop group is working on a proposal that seeks to change the general education curriculum. (Photo Editor/Kate Rodgers)