Changes to the general education requirements for a Saint Mary's degree were the subject of a faculty presentation at the Board of Governance meeting Monday night.
Associate Dean Joe Incandela, chair of the Ad Hoc Committee on General Education, spoke about the importance of these changes and the need for student and faculty involvement.
"Your possibilities of success increase when you have lines all moving forward together," Incandela said. "The more involvement we have, the more tangible good things that will come out of it."
Faculty committee members have been reviewing possible models for the new general education requirements. After a survey they narrowed down the possibilities to two models.
These models have not yet been released to students.
Incandela announced that the current general education requirements are almost 30 years old. "This is a different world and we are educating people for a different century," he said. "What we have now is pretty good, but we can always do better."
Incandela encouraged students to participate in the decision-making process. He stressed the importance of the student voice.
"We don't want to write these goals about any college," he said. "We want to write them about Saint Mary's."
Students can see the progress that has been made and opportunities on how to become involved at the general education site: http://smcgened.blogspot.com
The site also offers details about the new curriculum's goals, which address diversity, women's studies, Catholic character and integration of learning.
In other BOG news:
u Heather Frey, assistant director of the annual fund, and Beth McKevitt, the senior chair for the Senior Gift and Quarters Campaign, spoke to BOG about the purpose of the campaign.
"The Senior Gift and Quarters Campaign is a tradition of students giving back to Saint Mary's through scholarships or donating things like classrooms or benches," McKevitt said.
The committee is asking each student to make a monetary donation. Freshmen are asked to donate 25 cents; sophomores 50 cents; juniors 75 cents; and seniors $2.
The donations will go into each class' account, Frey said.
u The Quarters Campaign will host Karaoke Idol at 7 p.m. Nov. 8 in the Vander Vennet Theater in the Student Center basement. Campaign members will ask for donations at the door.
The event is a spin on the reality show "American Idol," and the campaign is asking for groups to register to enter and sing on stage.
"Talent isn't required," Frey said. "The judges will score you based on the criteria of costume, attitude, talent and creativity."
Judges will be selected from Saint Mary's faculty and staff.
