Gen. Ed. plan infuses more group work

By KATE DAILEY
Collegian Staff Writer

John Cahir, vice provost and dean for undergraduate education, and Ingrid Blood, associate dean for undergraduate education, met with the Undergraduate Student Government Academic Assembly Monday night to discuss the future of education at Penn State.

One of the main topics discussed was general education classes.

"When we sat down to look at general education … it took us two years and we realized there's just a lot of things that need to be worked on," Cahir said, citing large class size as a main detriment to general education classes.

Cahir said 700 general education classes are going to be reorganized and the changes phased in during a four-year period beginning Fall Semester 1999. As opposed to the traditional classes, in which students listen to lectures, the new classes will include more teamwork, collaboration, writing and problem-solving, Cahir said.

"I am so excited about this," he said. "Historically, these things have been terrific battles. … This is the first time Penn State, as a university, has really paid attention to general education."

Cahir and Blood also discussed with the assembly the number of late drop credits a student receives, the ability of students to graduate in four years, the availability of classroom space and academic assessments of teachers.

David Kayal, USG Academic Assembly president, announced as of today, late drop and academic withdraw will be available over the World Wide Web through Penn State's Comprehensive Academic Advising Information System program.

The assembly welcomed two new representatives: Laura Munro, a representative from the college of Liberal Arts, and Jolene Nicoletto, a representative from the college of Agricultural Sciences. Munro is filling the chair left vacant by Liz Kinland, newly elected USG academic assembly vice president.