General Education is a foundation of knowledge and life skills that prepares students for success and encourages their development into informed and engaged critical thinkers. General Education at EWU covers a broad variety of subjects. It introduces research, creative and service projects, and emphasizes success skills and learning outcomes.
In May 2017, the Faculty Senate voted overwhelmingly to change the structure of General Education. See key changes from the old program and a timeline for implementation below.
Key Differences
The key differences between the previous General Education model and the new model are:
Implementation Timeline
Academic Year 17-18: Beginning of implementation
- Reduce the general education requirements to 2 courses in each breadth area, shaving 10 credits off
- Offer more FYE pairs and single FYE courses. Support for FYEs (summer workshops, integration of goals, assessment)
- Each currently approved general education course identifies the outcomes that best fit their course
Academic Year 18-19: Continued Implementation
- Phase out CPLA requirement (possibly replace with technology across the curriculum [TAC])
- Build FULL capacity in FYEs and assess them
- Provide stipends to faculty who volunteer to incorporate goals into their courses and assess them
- Build capacity for writing and quantitative stand-alone courses
- All new courses submitted to CPAC intended to meet GE requirements describe the goals they intend to integrate and assess
- Completion of development of Breadth Area Criteria
Academic Year 19-20: Continued Implementation
- Development of Diversity and Global Studies Criteria
- Development of Quantitative and Symbolic Reasoning Criteria
- Development of Writing Proficiency Criteria
Academic Year 20-21: Anticipated Completion of Implementation
- Completion of Capstone Criteria
- Complete and total roll out of new General Education program