University of Michigan - Flint

General Education Focus Session

Suites Across Boxes

January 29, 2008

12:30 – 1:30 pm, 241 French Hall

Facilitated by Yener Kandogan

Attendance: 7

Yener Kandogan explained the boxes as described in the general education curricular plan and indicated that the purpose of the session was to discuss how disciplines fit across suite boxes. He noted that suites are intended to make interdisciplinary connections between courses more explicit to students.

He also provided an update of the implementation work to-date, including the first year experience pilot courses and suite pilots. He noted that the suites to be piloted this winter semester consist of already existing courses.

The following questions arose:

· Should suites be offered in one semester or could they be offered sequentially?

· Currently, are pilots being limited to the boxes?

· What is the faculty obligation to meet outside of the suite courses? What does the linking of the courses entail on behalf of the faculty?

· Are courses in suites going to be faculty specific or not?

· Does the plan detail how many suites are required?

· How will pre-reqs affect the viability of suites?

· Should courses in suites be 100 level only?

· Where will courses count? Can they count in more than one suite area/box?

· Where do single interdisciplinary courses fit?

Concerns:

· Transfer issues – Yener reported that a subcommittee of the GE Design Team is looking at issues relating to transfer students.

· If the plan is not transfer friendly, it is not going to work.

· Difficult to have students enroll in the suite unless it is mandated.

Suggestions:

· Courses should not have to change entirely to be in a suite. Additional work for students enrolled in the suite can be expected so that students can make the links between disciplines. Syllabi could be adjusted to reflect similar timing of discussion of topics, assignments.

Participants familiar with interdisciplinary teaching shared their experiences. Each felt that in order for a suite or interdisciplinary course to be effective, it is helpful for one faculty member to be the “leader” or “coordinator”.