Undergraduate Education Work Group

Members

Steve Brown - Chair	Josh Anderson - Community	Myrna Cornett-Devito
Jessica Doll - Student	Michelle Hernandez - Student	Lynn Hobson
Jill Megredy	Steve Neill	Connie Schrock
Rachelle Smith

 

ROLE AND PURPOSE

Understanding the critical importance of undergraduate teaching and learning to the mission of ESU, we must identify unique qualities which make the undergraduate experience at ESU distinctive. Most importantly, we must identify and recommend opportunities for enhancing the quality and distinctiveness of the undergraduate experience, both within the classroom and beyond, for all students regardless of major filed of study.

This work group will:

• Recommend how we might define the “Emporia State University Undergraduate Experience” so that it is truly special and distinctive (i.e., what is the common experience that students can get only at Emporia State University?).
  • Identify what existing attributes (i.e., programs and services; approaches to pedagogy, both in and out of class) are contributing, or could contribute, to this distinctive educational experience for all ESU students, regardless of major, and could enhance the University’s comparative advantages.
  • Identify what new attributes (i.e., programs, services, and pedagogies) could add value to the University’s total educational experience (for all students, regardless of major) and could add distinctiveness and comparative advantages to the University.
  • Consider what can be done to enhance all undergraduate in-classroom learning in order to achieve excellence.
• • Using the supplied format, recommend to the Strategic Planning Task Force one statement of “strategic direction” (i.e., one goal), and three to five strategic initiatives and action steps (for each initiative) that should be pursued in order to make progress toward the recommended strategic direction.
• • Determine the mechanisms and criteria which should be used to monitor, assess and validate our progress in achieving our undergraduate aspirations.

 

PROCESS GUIDELINES

The work group should investigate national trends in undergraduate education that have implications for how the University shapes the undergraduate experience.

The work group will collect data from a variety of sources including available documents and should invite expert witnesses to present relevant information.

The work group will sponsor open forums and/or focus groups as a means of collecting additional data and advice regarding their charge.

The work group should communicate and coordinate its deliberations with other work groups so as to promote constructive “cross fertilization” of ideas and recommendations.

The work group will maintain appropriate records of its proceedings.

OUTCOMES

• Progress reports delivered at bi-weekly Steering Committee Meetings
• Preliminary Report due February 1, 2008
• Revised Report due March 3, 2008