Spring Break
Committee to review Bacc Core
Faculty Senate committee could recommend sweeping changes to core requirements
Rebecca Johnson
Issue date: 4/9/09 Section: News
Students could be seeing major changes in the all-too-well-known baccalaureate core within a couple of years.
The OSU Faculty Senate has created a committee in charge of reviewing and implementing a baccalaureate core curriculum that best fits the educational needs of students.
The baccalaureate core is a set of mandatory curriculum that all OSU students must complete, no matter the college or degree they are committed to. It was implemented in 1988, and with the changes that have been made over the years, such as departments changing credit values, the Faculty Senate believes it is time to take a serious look at the core to make sure it is serving the students properly.
"For some students, it's become a kind of game to navigate their way through the bacc core, instead of it being a serious part of their education," said John Bailey, co-chair of the committee.
The committee is in the stage of gathering information from focus groups representing all facets of the OSU community. This has included speaking with people from each college at OSU, academic advisers and ASOSU leaders.
"It is amazing how similar the ranges of opinions are on what makes a good education," Bailey said.
An all-students survey is scheduled to come out within a month, at which time students will be able to directly give input into the restructuring of the bacc core. They will also be holding open forums next week specifically geared toward students.
"We are really going to encourage students to participate because this affects every student's undergraduate experience," said Shayna Rodgers, ASOSU representative on the ad hoc committee. "Students are so directly affected by any decisions made regarding the bacc core."
The information gathered will be put into a report scheduled to be completed by the end of spring term. The findings in the report will then be assessed beginning fall term.
"We will look at what are the changes that can be made," Bailey said. "That will be about a year-long process."
Any changes deemed necessary will then be implemented, but Bailey said that is still two to six years out.
Since data is still being collected, members of the committee were hesitant to comment on what changes may occur. Rodgers did say that students should not be concerned that the number of required credits would increase, but that the changes will be more structural.
"We're not talking about adding credits. It would be in the context of a complete revision," Rodgers said. "Certain members of the committee are also looking at other universities [general education] models so that we don't have to reinvent wheel."
The committee is made up of two chairs, 10 faculty members, two student representatives and the associate provost for academic success and engagement.
Anyone with concerns about the baccalaureate core can leave a comment at the Faculty Senate website.
Rebecca Johnson, senior reporter
news@dailybarometer.com, 737-2231
The OSU Faculty Senate has created a committee in charge of reviewing and implementing a baccalaureate core curriculum that best fits the educational needs of students.
The baccalaureate core is a set of mandatory curriculum that all OSU students must complete, no matter the college or degree they are committed to. It was implemented in 1988, and with the changes that have been made over the years, such as departments changing credit values, the Faculty Senate believes it is time to take a serious look at the core to make sure it is serving the students properly.
"For some students, it's become a kind of game to navigate their way through the bacc core, instead of it being a serious part of their education," said John Bailey, co-chair of the committee.
The committee is in the stage of gathering information from focus groups representing all facets of the OSU community. This has included speaking with people from each college at OSU, academic advisers and ASOSU leaders.
"It is amazing how similar the ranges of opinions are on what makes a good education," Bailey said.
An all-students survey is scheduled to come out within a month, at which time students will be able to directly give input into the restructuring of the bacc core. They will also be holding open forums next week specifically geared toward students.
"We are really going to encourage students to participate because this affects every student's undergraduate experience," said Shayna Rodgers, ASOSU representative on the ad hoc committee. "Students are so directly affected by any decisions made regarding the bacc core."
The information gathered will be put into a report scheduled to be completed by the end of spring term. The findings in the report will then be assessed beginning fall term.
"We will look at what are the changes that can be made," Bailey said. "That will be about a year-long process."
Any changes deemed necessary will then be implemented, but Bailey said that is still two to six years out.
Since data is still being collected, members of the committee were hesitant to comment on what changes may occur. Rodgers did say that students should not be concerned that the number of required credits would increase, but that the changes will be more structural.
"We're not talking about adding credits. It would be in the context of a complete revision," Rodgers said. "Certain members of the committee are also looking at other universities [general education] models so that we don't have to reinvent wheel."
The committee is made up of two chairs, 10 faculty members, two student representatives and the associate provost for academic success and engagement.
Anyone with concerns about the baccalaureate core can leave a comment at the Faculty Senate website.
Rebecca Johnson, senior reporter
news@dailybarometer.com, 737-2231
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