What Do You Think About CU's Changes to General Education

It’s clear that the faculty of Concord University would be affected by changes to the general education requirements that will be going into effect. But how do they feel about it? Select faculty were asked their opinion on the matter, and how they feel it might affect students going into upper level courses. Some faculty have chosen to remain anonymous to protect their identity.

Dr. Cory Williams: “I think general studies has potential for improvement. I also think it’s very important to consider the traditions of the college and make sure we maintain our liberal arts education. I think those sorts of processes take time, so it’s important to take into account what’s best for students.”

Anonymous: “The general studies plan that we have is excellent. Having the general studies plan that we now have in affect, [students] on the whole are well prepared for upper level courses.”

Dr. Karen Griffee: “I don’t have super strong opinions about it. I have more concerns and hopes for it…I’m hoping they’re going to be good, and worried that they might be bad. What I hope will happen will it will provide a lot more flexibility for students to get done in four years. We might be able to get full classes that we wouldn’t otherwise be having that for. The new plan won’t be affecting us for psychology.”

Anonymous: “I think it’s a bad idea. I don’t think it’s in the students’ best interest. And my concern is that in the long run, it’s going to hurt the students. It’s going to hurt the reputation of the school. In the short term, it will fix graduation rates; they’ll go way up. But my concern is that we’re supposed to be a liberal arts program…this to me smacks of vocational school training.”

Dr. Tom Ford: “The way that they’re going about doing it, I don’t particularly support. I think if you’re gonna change general studies, going back to a starting point and thinking about what students should get out of general studies is important. What are the skills and content knowledge that we want a student graduating from Concord to have? If you can cut the number of hours and still accomplish that, that’s fine with me. But I want to see general studies made more engaging.”