Faculty prepare for fall transition

Members of the Class of 2010 are only five months away from advance course registration, and College of Arts and Sciences administrators are trying to make sure they have a new curriculum ready for them to take part in.

While College faculty members voted to modify the school's General Requirement last April, next year's incoming freshmen will be the first to actually experience the changes.

But first, the faculty themselves must become acquainted with the overhaul.

The new curriculum will require students to take seven General Requirement courses -- students currently take 10 -- and will introduce a new Cross Cultural Analysis requirement.

"We've identified a host of people all around the University who need to know about the curriculum in varied degrees, so we've been working on different ways of introducing people to the curriculum," said Kent Peterman, the College's director of academic affairs.

Peterman also said that the College will train faculty and staff on a need-to-know basis.

History professor Warren Breckman said that he had received information explaining the curriculum and that he looked forward to learning more about it.

"I think that faculty should know about the curriculum," Breckman said. "I think that knowing the general requirements can help us when we think about new course offerings, for example."

Urban Studies professor and freshman adviser Elaine Simon said that she had not taken part in any training yet but that she expects it will happen soon.

"The folks who deal with advising are pretty conscientious, so I can't imagine they're not going to plan several opportunities," Simon said.

And as advisers prepare to counsel students, College officials are also working to change the literature sent to freshmen over the summer, including the Class of 2010 Handbook, which is designed to help them choose courses and understand the College requirements.

"Every year we revise all of our publications, and the principle publication is the Handbook being sent to students. It's a substantial task and this year it's going to be even more substantial," Peterman said.

The course list for next year has not been released, but Peterman said that all departments "have been asked to review all the courses they offer for general education and to suggest adding courses, taking away courses and creating new courses."

Other internal changes include an overhaul of the College's Web site, which currently contains a special page explaining the new curriculum.

Peterman said that students will also no longer be able to apply Advanced Placement credit toward the General Requirement but that the reduction in classes required makes this "a little less harsh."

With all the changes taking place, Simon said that even the most involved faculty will need input from the administration to get ready for fall.

"Everyone is pretty much used to the way that its been. So anytime something changes, you're going to have to readjust the way you've been doing things," Simon said.

Ready for the fall - New General Requirement will have 7 courses instead of 10 - Faculty have added a cultural analysis requirement - Students will no longer be able to use AP credit to satisfy the General Requirement

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