Evaluation of Core Curriculum about to begin

Seattle University's Core Curriculum will undergo review from the recently formed Core Review Committee, which could lead to curriculum changes and the outlining of detailed learning outcomes.

Provost Isiaah Crawford laid out an Academic Strategic Action Plan (ASAP) earlier in the year which highlighted the renewal of the 25 year old Core as a priority.

ASAP was approved by the Board of Trustees mid-November, and since then has been steadily progressing. The planning period for the Core Review is almost complete, and meetings are projected to begin sometime near the end of winter quarter.

The provost selected English professor Nalini Iyer to chair the Core Review Committee, with co-chairs Vicky Minderhout and Greg Prussia serving as the leadership for the process.

"The three of us met to discuss what kind of process we are looking at to educate ourselves about various aspects of the Core Curriculum," said Iyer. "Each of us has different experiences with the Core based on our teaching."

The three chair holders certainly bring a wide swath of experience with them. Between them, the colleges of Arts and Sciences, Albers and Science and Engineering are represented. The three are looking to widen that well of experience though as they are currently in the process of establishing the rest of the committee.

"We're looking for people who will play well in the sandbox," said Prussia, management professor, who has placed an emphasis on finding individuals who would work well with others on the committee.

This is an area of importance for Minderhout as well.

"We want people who are willing to cooperate," said Minderhout, chemistry professor. "We want people who are willing to listen to what the community as a whole says they want for the Core."

The chairs are also looking for those who understand registrar requirements and have had experience teaching in the Core.

ASSU will also be allowed to select members to be included in the committee, representing the voices of students with Core suggestions.

"Having worked as an adviser, and talking to students about their schedules and concerns, it's clear to me that students are one of the major stakeholders in this as well," Minderhout said.

The new Core would strive to reflect the new revised undergraduate learning outcomes as determined by a separate University Assessment Committee (UAC) comprised of nine faculty members. The UAC is currently working on the first phase of the process, which entails collecting ideas about the ideal characteristics of a Seattle U grad, according to a faculty-wide e mail. This phase is slated for completion at the end of February. The UAC will then begin the second phase, where these ideas will be synthesized into a final list of six outcomes, which is due at the end of April. Part of the reason for these new outcomes is to make student success in the new Core more quantifiable.

"We want to create an educational experience that propels the student to new levels," Minderhout said. "But we also want to be able to know as a faculty that we're actually doing that."

Kelton may be reached at ksears@su-spectator.com.