The KU Core, a Renewed Beginning for all KU Undergraduates Christopher Haufler, KU Professor of Systematic Botany

1. KU Core 2013
History, Current Status,
Projected Timeline

2. History
2009-2010: Chancellor’s Task Force
finds general education requirements
for College BA impede retention and
timely graduation

3. History
2009-2010: Chancellor’s 2010-2011:
Task Force finds general
education requirements for Strategic Planning work
College BA impede retention group recommends
and timely graduation transforming KU curriculum

4. Principles
 Make educational goals more visible and tightly linked to curricula
 Involve full KU community in discussion
 Consider national trends in university teaching and learning
Process
 The general education work group:
 Surveyed faculty, students, staff, and alumni
 Used survey responses (700+) to drive discussion
 Analyzed discussion results to prioritize goals
 Compared general education systems across AAU institutions

5. Results
 General education at KU should be:
 University-wide
 Based on educational goals and learning outcomes
 Focused on fundamental skills, knowledge, and values

6. Revised Educational Goals
The successful graduate will:
1. Build core skills of critical thinking and quantitative literacy
2. Strengthen written and oral communication
3. Develop a background of knowledge across fundamental areas
of study
4. Respect human diversity and expand cultural understanding
and global awareness
5. Practice social responsibility and demonstrate ethical behavior
6. Gain the ability to integrate knowledge and think creatively

7. Keys and next steps:
 Link educational goals to learning outcomes
 Ensure courses and educational experiences achieve the outcomes
 Incorporate review of the courses for student learning

8. History
2009-2010: Chancellor’s Fall 2011:
Task Force finds general 2010-2011:
education requirements “Satellite Committees”
Strategic Planning work
for College BA impede recommend learning
group transforms KU
retention and timely outcomes, activities, and
curriculum
graduation evaluative rubrics

9. History
Spring 2012:
2009-2010: Chancellor’s Fall 2011:
Task Force finds general 2010-2011: “Transition Committee”
education requirements Satellite Committees finalizes learning
Strategic Planning work
for College BA impede recommend learning outcomes and criteria;
group develops six core
retention and timely outcomes, activities, and University Core
educational goals
graduation evaluative rubrics Curriculum Committee
formed

10. Building the KU Core curriculum
 Three “general education” goals
 Critical thinking and quantitative literacy – 2 “units”
 Written and oral communication – 3 “units”
 Broad background of knowledge – 3 “units”
 Three “advanced education” goals
 Human diversity and global culture – 2 “units”
 Ethics and social responsibility – 1 “unit”
 Integration and creativity – 1 “unit”
 “Unit” = 3 – 5 credit course OR
 an “educational experience” OR
 an approved combination of courses and/or experiences

11. University Core Curriculum
Committee (UCCC)
 Reviewed and endorsed by faculty governance
 Elected representatives from College and all Schools with
undergraduate programs (including Med Center)
 Student representatives
 Ex officio members from Libraries and Provost Office

12. Summer 2012 Activities
 “Fast-tracked” 700+ courses for provisional approval
 Developed online submission process for courses and
educational experiences
 Established approval process:
 Department  School/College curriculum committees 
UCCC

13. How does a course or educational
experience qualify for the KU Core?
 Departments describe how course or experience enables
students to achieve learning outcome(s)
 Courses/experiences can meet more than one outcome (students
can achieve only one outcome per course/experience)
 All sections of the course must meet the same outcomes.
 Nominations reviewed by school/College curriculum
committees
 UCCC shepherds process to promote successful
departmental applications

14. How does a course or educational
experience remain in the KU Core?
 Evidence of student achievement preserved
 UCCC reviews evidence for re-approval

15. Projected Timeline
 Spring 2013
 Finish integration of KU Core into School and College
curricula
 Finalize catalog and student information systems
 Begin orienting new students
 Fall 2013
 All incoming undergraduates follow new curriculum
 Current first-year students can “opt in”
 Transfer students can “opt out”

16. The KU Core: A renewed beginning
for KU undergraduates
 Curricula linked to educational goals
 Undergraduates aware of learning outcomes
 Degree-specific and major requirements build on KU
Core foundation
 University-wide; establishes essential educational
expectations of the KU undergraduate experience
 Coordinated with efforts to make learning visible and
share evidence of student achievement