GE@LC

General education at Lewis & Clark College

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About James Proctor

I'm Professor and Director of the Environmental Studies Program at Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon. My scholarship over the years has addressed ideas of nature, science, and religion, environmental theory, and new learning technologies. I also help run an educational nonprofit on land I own in rural Oregon, do weekly podcasts of songs I've written over the years, and co-teach a karate PE class on campus as a totally different way to engage with our students!

GE Reform: Three Key Questions

March 16, 2016 By James Proctor

The below is informed in part by GEMs, a distillation of AAC&U design principles and process recommendations in the context of general education. It summarizes three key questions we may ask as we chart our way through the process of GE reform at Lewis & Clark College. Each question represents a major theme for informed conversation, reflection, […]

Filed Under: Posts

Feb 16 S.O.G.E. Meeting Summary: Here We Go!

February 20, 2016 By James Proctor

The setting: Maggie’s, late afternoon on a Tuesday. Greta (and me) a bit disappointed that they don’t serve alcohol on a Tuesday (one of our motivations to meet at Maggie’s!)…so Greta gets us some chips and salsa and we’re all happy just the same. The meeting: Subcommittee on General Education, which our Curriculum Committee chair […]

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Paul Hanstedt Groundhog Day Talk

February 2, 2016 By James Proctor

On Tue Feb. 2, Paul Hanstedt of Roanoke College and author of General Education Essentials visited Lewis & Clark College to meet with students, staff, and faculty and discuss possibilities for GE@LC. He presented the below talk as part of our faculty meeting. Click here for PDF, or view below.

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2015–16: Restart Button

September 1, 2015 By James Proctor

2015–16: Restart Button

Here is a summary of primary GE activities during 2015-16: Curriculum Committee implements assessment of Creative Arts GE requirement; prepares Scientific and Quantitative Reasoning assessment for spring. Curriculum Committee increasingly recognizes new GE possibilities exist; considers how to restart GE discussion. Curriculum Committee organizes, with CAS Dean support, “purge and possibilities” event for Feb CAS […]

Filed Under: LC GE timeline

2014–15: Pause Button

September 1, 2014 By James Proctor

2014–15: Pause Button

Here is a summary of primary GE activities during 2014-15: Curriculum Committee recognizes accreditation-related need for assessment of current GE curriculum, which may also inform future GE reform discussions. Curriculum Committee implements GE assessment protocol on incremental basis by distribution area, starting with International Studies. Curriculum Committee members participate in variety of GE-related conferences, bringing […]

Filed Under: LC GE timeline

2013–14: GE Plan Voided

September 1, 2013 By James Proctor

2013–14: GE Plan Voided

Here is a summary of primary GE activities during 2013-14: Faculty retreat at start of school year largely endorses bringing GE distribution and core (E&D) together for implementation, though disagreement over implementation timetable. Curriculum Committee motion to delay 2014-15 GE/E&D implementation approved. Extended faculty discussion on core (E&D), ultimately involving seven models. Resource implications for […]

Filed Under: LC GE timeline

2012–13: Orion Prime II

September 1, 2012 By James Proctor

2012–13: Orion Prime II

Here is a summary of primary GE activities during 2012-13: Curriculum Committee and departments continue working on GE distribution course lists. Curriculum Committee presents draft divisional descriptions to lend coherence to lists, and guiding philosophy for selecting applicable courses. Curriculum Committee separately considers E&D review and one- vs. two-semester options, and starts to reintegrate E&D […]

Filed Under: LC GE timeline

2011–12: Orion Prime I

September 1, 2011 By James Proctor

2011–12: Orion Prime I

Here is a summary of primary GE activities during 2011-12: Curriculum Committee initiates solicitation for departments to construct lists of GE courses to fit Orion Prime divisional distribution model. Given challenges in constructing these lists, Curriculum Committee ultimately recommends delay of Orion Prime implementation until 2014-15.

Filed Under: LC GE timeline

2010–11: GE Constellations

September 1, 2010 By James Proctor

2010–11: GE Constellations

Here is a summary of primary GE activities during 2010-11: Curriculum Committee releases 2009-10 GE Task Force report to Faculty, consisting of three proposed GE distribution models named Orion, Pegasus and Andromeda, with current GE distribution requirements as another option. Separate proposal to revise Scientific and Quantitative Reasoning requirements discussed. Based on feedback, a new […]

Filed Under: LC GE timeline

2009–10: GE Task Force II

September 1, 2009 By James Proctor

2009–10: GE Task Force II

Here is a summary of primary GE activities during 2009-10: New GE Task Force convened. GE ideas solicited of all departments by Curriculum Committee. Task Force notes “lack of consensus” among department proposals, and recommends a “descriptive approach” in contrast to the competency-based prescriptive approach of 2008-09. New Task Force discusses proposed model with CAS […]

Filed Under: LC GE timeline

2008–09: GE Task Force I

September 1, 2008 By James Proctor

2008–09: GE Task Force I

Here is a summary of primary GE activities during 2008-09: GE Task Force convened; develops report released May 2009, focusing on competencies, defined as “the ability to meaningfully engage in an activity or area of inquiry,” and including both knowledge and skills. Two-phased proposal offered for implementation fall 2010 and fall 2012; latter phase would […]

Filed Under: LC GE timeline

2004: GE Task Force Report

September 1, 2004 By James Proctor

2004: GE Task Force Report

The 2004 GE Task Force report encapsulates a time of change and disagreement among CAS faculty, and upon hindsight reflects the transition from Inventing America to Exploration & Discovery as our core curriculum. The report also includes recommendations for the GE distribution requirement, though no distribution changes were made at this time. The report notes […]

Filed Under: LC GE timeline

2001: Writing & Speaking Task Force Report

September 1, 2001 By James Proctor

2001: Writing & Speaking Task Force Report

From January 2000 to April 2001, a Writing and Speaking Task Force convened to consider ways to ensure student development of sound written and oral communication skills; additionally, a related survey was distributed at the fall 2001 faculty retreat.  The subsequent report recounts the Task Force’s deliberations and recommendations, presents a synopsis of survey results, and offers “A […]

Filed Under: LC GE timeline

1994–2005: Inventing America

September 1, 1994 By James Proctor

1994–2005: Inventing America

The below summary of our GE curriculum from 1985 to 1993 was developed by Prof. Karen Gross with archival support by Zachariah Selley. Inventing America Two course sequence required in the first year Fall syllabus set by committee & the same across all sections. Some variation on topics and themes per section in the spring. Distribution requirements: Same as […]

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1985–1993: Core Inquiry

September 1, 1985 By James Proctor

1985–1993: Core Inquiry

The below summary of our GE curriculum from 1985 to 1993 was developed by Prof. Karen Gross with archival support by Zachariah Selley. Inquiry sequence: Three courses spread through the student’s time at LC Basic Inquiry – taken fall in the first-year. Syllabus determined by committee. Readings drawn from humanities, social sciences, sciences, and fine arts. Emphasis […]

Filed Under: LC GE timeline

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