General Education Reform has continued its progress this spring. We considered the feedback we received on our potential models and invited faculty and staff to provide input on programmatic policies via working groups. We shared our proposed model with Faculty Senate in April and plan to consider spring feedback as we work over the summer.
Reform Timeline - Year 3 is Complete!
- Year 1 (AY 23/24): Planning, External Review
- Year 2 (AY 24/25): Build Community, Develop Learning Goals
- Year 3 (AY 25/26): Develop and Recommend Structure
- Year 4 (AY 26/27): Goal: Pilot, Assess, Refine, and Seek FS Approval
- Year 5 (AY 27/28): Goal: Faculty/Course Development, Catalog Revisions AY 28/29: Goal: Launch Program
New Committee Member
The reform committee will have a new faculty member representing the Darden College of Education and Professional Studies for the coming year. Seongryeong Yu is an Assistant Professor of Early Childhood and Elementary Education, and she is stepping in so Tony Perez can focus on a new role. Welcome to the committee, Seongryeong Yu!
Attending AAC&U CLASS
ODU sent a team of twelve faculty and administrators to Tucson this spring for the American Association of Colleges & Universities Conference on Learning and Student Success. Among the cohort were Gen Ed Reform Committee members Orlando Ayala, Amy Johnson, Anders Nolan, Jenn Sloggie, Lanah Stafford, and Leanne White. Johnson, Sloggie, and Stafford presented on topics related to general education reform and high-impact practices, while some of our colleagues presented on academic recovery and student well-being and belonging. The team is excited to bring what they learned back to the committee to inform the future of general education at ODU!
Gen Ed Reform Spring Accomplishments
- Launched Office of General Education
- Reviewed feedback from fall outreach and model showcase week
- Shared call for spring working group volunteers
- Convened two new working groups - Capstone & Experiential Learning
- Determined overall structure of new program
- Developed first draft of Student Learning Outcomes
- Planned First-Year Seminar (FYS) pilot
- Held FYS Forum & Faculty Focus Group
- Gave an update to the Provost’s Council
- Shared proposed model and components with Faculty Senate for input
- Presented at Academic Affairs Summit
- Gave an update to the President’s Cabinet
Next Steps & Future Plans
Over the summer:
- Review spring working group reports and feedback
- Refine policies and develop transition plans
- Launch FYS Pilot working group and workshop for faculty participants
AY 2026/2027:
- Pilot FYS activities and shared assignments in courses across colleges
- Share proposed model and components with campus community
- Work with faculty to finalize SLOs and curricular requirements
- Continue to refine policies with input from campus stakeholders
- Seek full Faculty Senate approval for new program