Essential Studies provides update

As the new academic year begins, the Essential Studies Committee and the Office of Essential Studies would like to provide you with the following information about recent work and upcoming activities:

1. During the 2015-16 academic year, the ES Committee worked on responding to the Fall 2014 Essential Studies program review, developing proposals for modifications to the goals and certain aspects to the ES Program. The next step is to reach out to faculty from across campus to discuss the proposed changes and to gather input before completing the work. Please be on the lookout for more information about these proposals and for your opportunity to provide input to the committee.
2. After a year-long pause, the Essential Studies course revalidation process is again underway for Breadth of Knowledge-only courses. The process has changed and has become more streamlined in response to comments that emerged out of the Fall 2014 program review report. Departments with courses up for revalidation have been contacted about the changes and will complete the new process within the next month or so. Information about the process, including when each department’s courses are scheduled to revalidate, can be obtained by contacting the Essential Studies Office. This information will also soon be available on the ES webpage. A revised revalidation process for special emphasis and capstone courses will be developed during the upcoming academic year, with more information available about that process forthcoming.
3. The ES Office began hosting ES Capstone Showcase events last year, and these will continue at the end of upcoming semesters. The intent is to provide a campus-wide venue for capstone students to display and present their work. If you are interested in having your capstone students participate, please contact Ryan Zerr (ryan.zerr@und.edu) or Carla Spokely (carla.spokely@und.edu).
4. The ES Committee, ES Office, and Registrar’s Office are working to determine what will be necessary for UND to be included in the WICHE Interstate Passport initiative. This effort’s intent is to create learning outcomes-based transfer pathways for students at participating institutions. Work on this project will occur during the Fall 2016 semester.

Any questions, comments, or input about these issues, or about aspects of the ES Program generally, can be directed to the chair of the ES Committee, Ken Flanagan (kenneth.flanagan@und.edu) or the Director of Essential Studies, Ryan Zerr (ryan.zerr@und.edu).