Status Quo (or Status Quo with Tweaks) We know it well, or at least we think we do. Please review the catalog description. One way to think about GenEd is to imagine a continuum, with distribution requirements allowing people to choose cafeteria-style from existing courses at one pole and at the other an integrated curriculum […]
Recent GE@LC Posts
Below are recent posts in reverse chronological order; simply click on any title to see the full version, and feel free to comment on any post. You may search posts and other content on this site via the home page.
How a GenEd Subcommittee Got Its Student Identity: A Just-So Story
In the Middle Ages, an auctor was someone of great authority who wrote in Latin and was usually dead. God, of course, was the Primary Author behind two books: the Book of Scripture and the Book of Nature. No wonder the scandal when Dante insisted on calling himself an author—a layman writing about contemporaries, and […]
Ethical and intellectual growth at Lewis & Clark
On leading students into and out of identity crises We collected a lot of language from students and faculty in the various feedback forums about “listening to diverse perspectives,” “valuing diversity,” and “learning to work with people with different backgrounds and beliefs.” We seem to have a sneaking suspicion that by confronting opposing viewpoints, students will […]
GE Reform: Three Key Questions
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, […]
Discovering an Identity (March 8 SoGE Meeting)
Identity. If we were all mathematicians, it would be a straightforward concept. A = B: the object in question (and only the object in question) is exactly equal to its description, no matter what elements of the object you consider. For the majority of us, however, defining our identity is a struggle between paradigms. To what extent do […]
Summary of March 1 meeting
Week three found Jim Proctor, Greta Binford, John Holzworth, Jessie Starling, Robin Jarecki, Aaron Fellows and Jennifer Hubbert gathered again at Maggie’s contemplating a different location that provides a wider variety of beverages on Tuesday evenings. Our conversation this evening revolved around issues of process and concerns that we aren’t reinventing the wheel each time […]
Summary of February 23 SoGE meeting @ Maggies
Once again a Tuesday afternoon at Maggies. Several folks in attendance stare wistfully at the sign advertising Maggies’ Pub offerings – alas, not on tap tonight. Jim buys us snacks as a consolation. Dan Kelley’s beautiful black dog keeps watch outside. Greta, Peter, Jim, and Karen represent the CC. Jennifer Hubbert, Dan Kelley, Hannah Swernoff, […]
Feb 16 S.O.G.E. Meeting Summary: Here We Go!
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 […]
Paul Hanstedt Groundhog Day Talk
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.