An update on the experimental three-year general education program launched this fall at the University was presented at the Faculty Senate meeting Nov. 6.

William Frawley, linguistics and cognitive science and faculty adviser on general education to Academic Programs and Planning, and Harry Shipman, Annie Jump Cannon Professor of Physics and Astronomy, spoke before the business meeting about two new, first-year learning experiences.

Frawley discussed the LIFE [Learning Integrated Freshman Experience] program, a living/learning experiment, while Shipman brought senators up-to-date on Pathways to Discovery, first-year, interdisciplinary courses with a common theme.

As approved last year by the senate, the proposed general education program will emphasize an inquiry-based freshman year, research-based learning and a capstone experience to integrate a student's undergraduate education. A new senate Committee on General Education, which is setting guidelines, standards and academic polities for the program, will report to the senate with its recommendations by September 2003.

According to Frawley, this fall, LIFE is an experiment in academic living with up to 20 students housed together and co-enrolled in courses around a common theme. LIFE includes a one-credit pass/fail enrichment course facilitated by a peer mentor and a faculty member.

Frawley said the first LIFE semester included 115 students, 11 clusters, 14 peer mentors and 11 faculty. "An example of shared experiences and projects included building a computer from scratch, a private fashion show and label creation and visits to mental health facilities," he said, indicating that 15 clusters are expected in the spring. "Two experimental clusters, which we call LIFE II, will determine if and how existing groups can continue into the spring.

"We still need an assessment technique and LIFE guidelines," Frawley said, adding that plans are being made to double LIFE enrollment to about 300 by next fall. "Our LIFE program is unusual in that most such programs promote academic skills, and we promote academic experiences," he said. The facts of LIFE can be found on the web [www.udel.edu/life/].

Some 28 proposed Pathways courses emerged from a meeting of 82 interested faculty, Frawley said, with seven courses having been offered to 400 students through the fall.

"Next fall, Pathways courses will be designated in the registration book," Shipman said, noting that more courses are needed and a committee is developing criteria for these courses. "We are discussing how many goals should be met and what does it mean to be interdisciplinary," he said.

Other aspects of the proposed general education program include the discovery learning experience, which can occur after the freshman year, and the capstone experience that should integrate a student's education through participation in a group project or senior seminar.

The discovery experience includes such possibilities as a directed thesis, research, creative projects, internships, study abroad, service learning and field work. "I think the University does this pretty well," Shipman said. "About half our students already are involved in undergraduate research or study abroad, but we will look at other ways to develop service learning."

Some departments now offer a capstone experience, he said, either as a senior seminar, a senior design project or a teaching experience.

Frawley pointed out that new grant programs of up to $15,000 for courses focusing around the general education initiative are now available, with proposals due Dec. 18 to the Center for Teaching Effectiveness.

After the presentation, the senate approved minor revisions to two existing majors. A revised policy manual for the graduate program in nursing, listing one new course and a decrease in credits for another, was approved without challenge. A proposal to increase the credits for a physical therapy practice clinic from one to three also was approved.

–Cornelia Weil