Ohio State report outlines undergraduate education reform

COLUMBUS – Citing undergraduate education as one of three key academic priorities for the year, Barbara Snyder, executive vice president and provost, has made available a final report that proposes significant changes in undergraduate education at The Ohio State University.

Recommendations include a reduction in the number of credit hours required for graduation and in the General Education Curriculum (GEC), as well as enhancements to the undergraduate curriculum.

The report is the result of a 10-month study conducted by the Committee for the University-wide Review of Undergraduate Education, chaired by Brian McHale, professor of English and Distinguished Professor of Humanities.

The 13-member committee, which included faculty and an undergraduate student from the academic areas heavily involved in undergraduate education, was charged by Snyder to give special attention to the GEC – basic non-major education requirements -- and the minimum number of credits needed for graduation.

Snyder said the academic qualifications and aspirations of undergraduate students at Ohio State have changed dramatically since the last comprehensive review of the undergraduate curriculum in 1988.

“With the move to competitive admissions, the academic profile of our undergraduate student population is increasing year after year,” Snyder said. “We must provide an undergraduate education that best serves these well prepared students.”

McHale said the reduction of graduation credit hours from 191 to 180 is an important step that will enhance students' ability to graduate in four years.

“The committee found the current structure of the GEC to be complex,” McHale said. “More specifically, the number of credit hours required for graduation was identified as excessive, compared to many of our peer institutions.”

Non-major requirements (NMR) would be reduced from 85 hours to 60 for students pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree and from 85 hours to 65 for students pursing a Bachelor of Science degree.

Committee members also examined the Freshman Seminar program, faculty staffing of undergraduate courses, and how well undergraduate programs reflect Ohio State's commitments to diversity, interdisciplinary opportunities, research, and engagement.

McHale also noted the committee's recommendation to develop a “Freshman Cluster” program as the centerpiece of undergraduate general education. The concept, modeled after a successful UCLA program, would provide increased flexibility and more interdisciplinary opportunities for undergraduate students, while allowing them to complete 40 percent of their general education credits in their freshman year.
Courses would be taught in a three quarter-sequence and developed by faculty to focus on a single, interdisciplinary theme.

“This program will greatly increase contact and build relationships between our freshmen and faculty members,” McHale said.

Faculty, staff and students have been asked to review the report and provide feedback by March 15, 2006. The recommendations will go through routine curricular review processes and then to the Council on Academic Affairs and the University Senate for action.

A copy of the report is available for review at http://oaa.osu.edu/reports/ur_index.php