Students, faculty and administrators in the College of Arts and Sciences are working to combine the strengths of the pilot and general curricula to create a new set of requirements for undergraduates.
The College decided to do away with the current, four-year-old experimental pilot curriculum -- which features a research component as well as fewer requirements than the general version -- after an internal review revealed little difference between the academic experiences of students enrolled in the two curricula.
"We are trying to design a curriculum that effectively balances out the sense of intellectual goals for the University and initiation on part of students to create programs that suit their own intellectual needs," said History Professor and Committee on Undergraduate Education member Steven Hahn.
SAS faculty will tentatively vote on the new curriculum in April.
Although those involved in the planning process have not made any definitive decisions about the components of the new curriculum, there has been strong faculty opposition to the current use of Advanced Placement credit towards the fulfillment of general requirements.
"The faculty has had very thoughtful conversations about whether or not AP high school courses are equivalent to Penn courses," School of Arts and Sciences Dean Rebecca Bushnell said, adding that Penn strives to distinguish its course opportunities from those offered in high schools.
More than 150 faculty members attended a December Committee on Undergraduate Education forum to discuss ideas and issues concerning the construction of the new general education curriculum.
"The faculty has bought into the process, and they really care," College Dean Dennis DeTurck said.
In addition to what DeTurck said was a successful faculty turnout in December, CUE held a November forum for students that was attended by approximately 65 undergraduates.
The Student Committee on Undergraduate Education helped to organize the student forum and moderate the discussions, with the hope of incorporating student input into the new curriculum.
"I was excited by how interested everyone is in the process," SCUE Chairwoman Samantha Springer said.
The Committee on Undergraduate Education will conduct more faculty and student forums this spring.
