University of Wisconsin - Stout

  1. Name

    The name of this Faculty Senate Standing Committee is the General Education Committee

  2. Purposes

    The purposes of the committee shall be

    1. to review, develop, and recommend policy and standards regarding general education to the Faculty Senate.
    2. to act on requests regarding the inclusion of courses in the list of general education courses.
    3. to participate constructively in assessment of education and advisement as they relate to general education at the University of Wisconsin-Stout.
  3. Membership
    1. The General Education Committee will consist of fifteen (15) voting members as follows:
      1. Five faculty members elected by the Faculty Senate, one each from College of Technology, Engineering, and Management and the College of Human Development, and two from the College of Arts and Sciences and School of Education.
      2. Two academic staff members from the Division of Academic and Student Affairs, one instructional and one non-instructional, both elected by the Senate of Academic Staff.
      3. Six additional members: one each from CTEM and CHD and COE, and three from CAS, elected by the faculty of those Colleges/Schools.
      4. One student member elected by the Stout Student Association.
      5. One non-voting, ex officio member from the Provost's Office.
    2. Each voting member (except for the student member whose term is determined by the SSA) is elected to a three year term with one-third of the committee being selected each year.
    3. The General Education Committee will also have six alternate members to serve as follows:
      1. The College of Arts and Sciences will elect two alternates; each other unit (CHD, CTEM, SOE Faculty Senate, Senate of Academic Staff) shall elect one alternate.
      2. Alternates will be elected on the same ballot and from the same slate as voting members so that their proportion will be the same as that of the voting members. Nominees with the highest number of votes will be voting members; runners up will be alternates.
      3. When an elected member from a unit cannot attend, one alternate from that unit will serve as a voting member. Such instances include, but are not limited to, absence caused by illness, personal imperative or schedule conflict, and when a member for whatever reason cannot complete a term.
      4. Alternates are urged to attend meetings when they do not serve, but they cannot be assumed to know when they are needed to serve; therefore, any member who must miss a meting should contact an alternate form his/her unit.
  4. Officers
    1. Each year at its organizational meeting the committee shall elect a chair and a vice chair from the members on the committee.
    2. The terms of office shall be one year in length with the possibility of re-election.
    3. The general duties of the officers are outlined in Robert's Rules of Order.
    4. The chair shall develop a schedule of activities for the year subject to approval by a majority vote of the members present.
    5. The vice chair shall preside in the chair's absence and shall consult with the chair on scheduling activities and other committee issues.
  5. Responsibilities of the Committee
    1. Development of General Education standards
      1. The committee leads the university in developing and maintaining a common general education standard for undergraduate programs in the university.
      2. The committee recommends to the Faculty Senate concerning standards for general education including but not limited to definitions, distribution requirements, and total credit hours.
      3. The committee passes to the Curriculum and Instruction Committee for review any proposals for substantive changes in the General Education curriculum, including any changes in category definitions and credit distribution. That committee may, according to its bylaws and practice, also make recommendations to the Faculty Senate.
      4. The committee monitors and responds to UW System-level developments related to general education.
    2. Assessment & Review of General Education
      1. The committee periodically reviews the condition of general education in the university.
      2. The committee participates in and takes a leadership role in assessment and review of general education.
      3. The committee coordinates and assembles reports related to periodic review of general education by the Planning and Review Committee.
    3. Committee's Role in Education and Advisement
      1. The committee advocates for general education as a vital component of education provided at UW-Stout.
      2. The committee promotes campus-wide awareness regarding general education issues and requirements.
      3. The committee serves as an advisory group to academic program committees regarding the general education component of degrees.
      4. The committee works with the Provost's Office to maintain an official list of currently offered General Education Courses and Requirements.
      5. The committee provides academic advisement information to faculty and students regarding general education.
  6. Meetings
    1. Regular meetings of the General Education Committee shall be held monthly during the academic year and as needed during the summer sessions.
    2. Special meetings may be called by the chair.
    3. The quorum shall consist of a majority of the voting members (i.e. seven members and alternates serving as voting members).
    4. The meetings shall be open.