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Task Force on the Curriculum of the New American University (NewCu)
The Task Force on the Curriculum for the New American University has had two meetings of the whole committee and several subcommittee meetings. Summaries of the discussions are included on this website, as well as links to related publications and programs. The university community is invited to comment and ask questions, through the website’s discussion function.
About the Task Force
The Task Force on the Curriculum for the New American University...“has, naturally, approached the charge of reconsidering the entire curriculum for a university on several fronts at once. The goal, in brief, is a better university and we’ve spend a month in a way discussing those terms: better and university. While we have tried to keep the big picture in mind, a macro view of the entire Arizona State University, we have heard many specific and particular concerns from various regions and corners of that university. While the world and our nation and our region are changing and changing at a more rapid pace, in the university we seem to be seeing that curricular change will be an evolution not a revolution. Our committee has no agenda except to learn as much as we can about curriculum, the ideal and the pragmatic, and address the charge of the Provost. We are now turning our attention to learning outcomes. It is, after several meetings where we have established a prologue, a solid starting place. It is where we will begin. We want to hear from you, because we are you. Your commentary and questions are welcome, though please understand there may be some difficulty answering all of the input.”
—Ron Carlson, Task Force Co-Chair
The task force has the unique opportunity and responsibility to dream about the future of general studies at Arizona State University. Our role is not to discuss the “nuts and bolts.” We are tasked with coming up with broad strokes and ideals about what an ASU graduate looks like.
Interestingly, one of the biggest challenges we face is not to focus on the details, and not to get bogged down by the discussions of all the obstacles a major change in general studies requirements may face. The most important task for us is to keep a macro perspective; the details must be worked out later.
Our subcommittee meetings have worked on understanding our present state and brainstorming about the desired state.
Some themes that have emerged from our discussions of the present state of general studies (GS) at ASU are (these are general statements and may not apply to all programs):
- The current GS requirements are complex, complicated and difficult to navigate.
- There is little overall faculty ownership of the current GS content, although there is more ownership in some colleges and areas than in others.
- The GS courses are concentrated in the first couple of years of the students’ education at ASU.
- While we know what the stated goals of the current GS requirements are, we have no objective way, besides student self-report, to assess whether those goals are achieved.
- The GS are not fully integrated into the colleges and majors.
- There are several outstanding examples around our university of what we can achieve; we can learn and draw from those.
Some directions that have emerged from our discussion of the desired state are (these are just discussion items)
- ASU needs clear and concise GS learning outcomes: What should our graduates know/understand/be aware of/be able to do… when they leave ASU.
- GS should be the responsibility of all faculty in all colleges; not just the domain of A & S.
- GS should be spread out throughout the curriculum.
- GS should be started the first year and continued until graduation.
- Different colleges, departments and programs should be able to satisfy the GS goals in different ways.
- We must be able to assess whether we have achieved our goals; assessment is an integral part of the process, not an afterthought.
The next step is drafting learning outcomes for ASU to answer the question of what should ASU graduates know/understand/be aware of/be able to do…when they leave ASU. Feedback and input from all university members, faculty, staff, and students as well as other stakeholders are essential to our ability to complete our task successfully.
— Afsaneh Nahavandi, , Task Force Co-Chair