University of Nebraska Kearney

General Studies Governance Policy, 1993 

This policy provides the means for governance, monitoring, and long-term revision of the UNK General Studies Program. Gradual revision will allow for the informed planning that will accommodate individual students, faculty, and academic departments.

The General Studies Council will directly govern the General Studies Program 

1. Composition of the General Studies Council
   • two faculty from each college
   • four students, one from each college
     (votes to be recorded, but not to count [Regents model])
   • the Director of General Studies (non-voting)
     (five votes required to approve an action)

   Each college academic committee will forward four names to the SVCAA from which two will be selected to represent each college to serve four year terms. (Initially, one four year and one two year representative will be named from each college.) College committees selections should be faculty experienced in and committed to general education. Committees should identify the particular strengths each nominee would bring to the Council. Committee nominations and SVCAA selections should insure fair representation of gender and minorities and include those with expertise in writing and cultural diversity issues.

   The Student Senate will forward eight names, two names of students in each college, from which the SVCAA will appoint the student representatives for a one year term, subject to a one year reappointment. Student selections should insure fair representation of gender and minorities.

   The SVCAA will name a Director of General Studies, who will serve as chair of the Council, upon recommendation of a search committee composed of representatives of each undergraduate college and the Faculty Senate. The search committee will solicit applications from the entire campus.

   Appointments to the Council will be reported to the Academic Affairs Committee of the Faculty Senate for review.

2. Duties of the General Studies Council will include:
   1. Developing a set of procedures for evaluating courses against both general objectives and the objectives for the specific area.
   2. Developing standards for Writing Intensive and Cultural Diversity course emphases.
   3. Approving departmentally proposed courses for inclusion in the program.
   4. Approving faculty proposed courses for inclusion in the program.
   5. Approving Writing Intensive designations.
   6. Approving Cultural Diversity designations.
   7. Assessment of student academic achievement and other aspects of general education.
   8. Establishing a schedule of review and regularly reviewing all general studies offerings.
   9. Establishing and reviewing General Studies waiver mechanisms, which may include the use of high school coursework and grades, and relevant ACT scores. (See definition of "waiver" below, in IV.) The Council, in cooperation with the departments involved, will establish waiver mechanisms.
   10. Regularly reviewing program structure and objectives, especially in light of assessment data and evolving admission standards. Recommended changes in General Studies Program structure must be presented to the appropriate college committees for approval as well as the Academic Affairs Committee of the Faculty Senate. "Structure" includes program sub-divisions, total program required hours, and required hours assigned to and within program sub-divisions.
   11. Reporting actions of the Council to the SVCAA and the Academic Affairs Committee of the Faculty Senate.
   12. Developing standards and procedures for the regular recognition of outstanding General Studies faculty.
    
3. Duties of the Director of General Studies will include:
   1. Chairing the General Studies Council.
   2. Coordinating General Studies offerings with Deans and Department Chairs.
   3. Facilitating the development of General Studies Offerings.
   4. Facilitating the assessment of General Studies and general education.
   5. Reporting for the Council to the SVCAA, Academic Affairs, and other interested entities.
   6. Distributing minutes of the Council meetings to the appropriate academic committees of the undergraduate colleges.
    
4. Waivers for studentswill be determined upon enrollment at UNK, normally during orientation. Students who qualify for waivers will not be issued credit for coursework; waivers will, however, fill the general studies requirement for the course waived. Students with waiver(s) will still be required to take at least 42 hours of General Studies. Standards determined by the Council, using ACT scores, high school courses, and high school grades will determine these waivers. Other mechanisms for waiver may be developed and included in Council Policy. Advanced Placement and CLEP credit will satisfy General Studies requirements. The goal of the waiver policy will be to place each student in General Studies according to his or her competencies. 
5. While most General Studies offerings are by departments, individual faculty may offer, with the approval of their Chairs and Deans and the General Studies Council, unique courses that meet the objectives and apply their particular academic specialities. 
6. Individual Colleges, and individual programs with the approval of the appropriate college committee, may require that their students take particular courses in the General Studies Program.Such requirements by Colleges and programs should appear in the catalog in both the General Studies section and in the College and program sections. Colleges and programs will make every possible effort to accommodate students who change majors in the course of their college careers. 
7. The General Studies Council will be named and begin working in the Fall of 1993. 
8. The new program will be effective in the Fall of 1994. Writing Intensive and Cultural Diversity requirements will be implemented when sufficient numbers of courses are approved, both within the General Studies Program and in the larger curriculum.

   Approved 5/20/93