Senate Document SD 06-10

(Amended and Approved, 2/12/2007)

TO:                              Fort Wayne Senate

FROM:                        Educational Policy Committee

DATE:                         8 January 2007

SUBJECT:                   Revision to SD 99-25, General Education at IPFW

DISPOSITION:          To the Presiding Officer for implementation

WHEREAS, SD 99-25 defines the current General Education requirements for all IPFW Baccalaureate students: and

WHEREAS, The articulation of the Principles of General Education contained in the opening paragraphs of  SD 99-25 lacks the specificity necessary for effective program design and assessment; and

WHEREAS, The proposed revision is based on the language and principles already contained in SD 99-25; and

WHEREAS, The proposed revision replaces in toto the section of SD 99-25 titled “Principles of General Education;”

BE IT RESOLVED, That the Senate approve the following revision to SD 99-25

Senate Document SD 06-10

Principles of General Education

General Education ensures that, upon graduation, students will be familiar with the important modes of human thought that are the foundations of science, philosophy, art and social behavior. General Education expects students to understand the traditions that have informed one’s own and other cultures of the world.  

In order to do so, General Education at IPFW defines an integrated pedagogical framework for courses taken outside the student’s major discipline.  Furthermore, General Education requires that students consider the nature and diversity of individuals, cultures and societies around the world.

General Education courses should offer both substantive knowledge and an appreciation of multiple methods of inquiry and learning.  While specific General Education approved courses may be foundational or advanced, the overall goals of the General Education requirements are achieved through cumulative course work.

Therefore, students who have completed the General Education requirements at IPFW are expected:

To be familiar with the important modes of human thought that are the foundations of science, philosophy, art and social behavior.

To possess effective foundation skills: 

Read, write, and speak with comprehension, clarity, and precision.       

Identify substantive knowledge and disciplinary methods.

Develop information literacy skills.

Reason quantitatively (as means of gaining and creating knowledge and drawing reliable conclusions)

To demonstrate the ability to think critically and to solve problems using the foundation skills:                                                                                    

Evaluate their ideas and the ideas of others based upon disciplined reasoning.

Understand the traditions that have formed one’s own and other cultures.

Be able to articulate their ideas in appropriate media.

To complete a research/creative project outside the student’s major discipline that requires synthesizing knowledge and applying skills gained.