EPC Small Group Discussions April 21 2009

EPC held these discussions on April 21, 2009.

Mandate
(From Ken Hoffman, Chair of the EPC, to the Faculty)

At the March faculty meeting, we approved moving in the direction of a Division I distribution requirement that encompassed four areas, but was not explicitly defined in terms of the schools. Given the press of time, we won’t be able to approve a final version of this before next semester. Nevertheless, we feel it would be helpful to have one more round of conversations on this subject before we disperse for the summer. We therefore propose, as part of the called faculty meeting on April 21, that the faculty be divided into four groups based on an analysis of shared Division II and III committees and on co-teaching patterns (algorithm compliments of Lee Spector). A list of these groupings and the rooms in which they will meet is attached. These groups are for purposes of focusing the discussion at this one time, and are not intended to be the core of any formal long-term association, so, if you find yourself with what seem to be strange bedfellows, it’s only a one-night stand. We would like to see what different specific aspects of a potential distribution requirement these groups come up with. When these four groups meet they are asked to consider the following questions from the perspective of those in the group:


 * What are the fundamental questions you would like first year students to grapple with?
 * What skills/knowledge do they need to be able to do this thoughtfully?
 * What are the kinds of evolution in their thinking you would like to see grow out of this engagement?
 * What are some of the current real-world problems you feel your group is particularly well-suited to addressing?

EPC will collect and summarize the comments growing out of these discussions and distribute the results to the May faculty meeting.