Core Curriculum Appraisal Task Force
Members
- Fletcher Linder, University Studies, Chair
- Bethany Blackstone, Honors College
- Kathy Clarke, Libraries
- Allison Fagan, College of Arts & Letters
- Lindsay King, College of Business
- Christine May, College of Science & Mathematics
- Margaret Mulrooney, Faculty Affairs & Curriculum
- Carole Nash, College of Integrated Science & Engineering
- Sarah Sackett, College of Health & Behavioral Studies
- Emily Westkaemper, College of Arts & Letters
Committee Charge
Charge: Goal 1, Objective 4 of the Academic Affairs Strategic Plan identifies renewal of the General Education Program (GEP) as a high priority. With the GEP Academic Program Review (APR) report and response in hand, the Provost Leadership Team affirms its commitment to renewal and to providing “all undergraduates with a high-quality liberal education program.”
To these ends, the Provost has appointed the Core Curriculum Appraisal Task Force to lead the division through a process of consultation, discernment and innovation. Curriculum is primarily vested with the faculty and developed through shared governance processes. This task force will facilitate broad collaboration and has the following responsibilities:
- Use the 2021-22 APR to develop recommendations for facilitating discussion among faculty and other stakeholders for revising and renewing JMU’s core curriculum to better incorporate contemporary expectations for the liberal arts and sciences.
- Identify and work with an external consultant to facilitate campus engagement and help us assess the university’s curricular needs.
- Advise academic leaders on expanded communication and messaging about the General Education program’s role in JMU’s unique blend of liberal arts, research and professional education.
- Analyze staffing levels needed to meet SCHEV base adequacy guidelines, with the possibility of strategic growth in full-time instructional positions to support the instructional needs of our core curriculum.
Note on the CCATF’s charge revision:
In the CCATF’s original charge, the first item in the enumerated list of responsibilities read: “(1) The task force will use the 2021-2022 APR to develop recommendations for revising and renewing JMU’s core curriculum to better incorporate contemporary expectations for the liberal arts and sciences.” In response to faculty concerns that the CCATF had been charged to draft a revised general education curriculum, the Provost’s Office revised item (1) to clarify that the CCATF will support the process of general education renewal by facilitating broad engagement in the renewal process, but that the curriculum will be developed and approved by faculty.
