For students who enroll at Penn State starting this summer, the existing three-credit Intercultural and International Competence requirement (GI) will be replaced by two new three-credit requirements: United States Cultures (US) and International Cultures (IL).

After passing legislation outlining the requirement change in April, the University Faculty Senate is now working out the final details before its implementation this summer.

Douglas Brown, chair of the committee on curricular affairs, said the change was made because the Faculty Senate did not feel the existing diversity requirement fulfilled its objective.

"Everyone was fully in agreement that it was a wonderful thing to fulfill the international requirement, but thought maybe we're shortchanging U.S. culture in the process," said John Moore, assistant professor of English and comparative literature. "I think it will be good because the world is getting smaller and smaller, and the more we understand about international manners, the better off we will be."

Caroline Eckhardt, comparative literature department head, said she thinks the change is feasible because it does not delay graduation, which was a concern of the student representatives involved in the decision process.

"I think it's a very useful change that incorporates a variety of issues and that expands what students already know," she said.

Eckhardt describes the current change as part of an ongoing effort by the Senate to review different components of the curriculum. Other areas they have been evaluating are first-year seminars and general health and activity requirements, Eckhardt said.

The new requirement will not add to the time it takes to graduate because many classes can double-count for required general education classes and the new diversity requirement, Brown said.

Students will have to take two three-credit courses that can often be cross-listed; however, one course cannot be counted for both requirements.

The change only directly affects students who will enroll after this semester, but students already enrolled will see benefits from the change, Brown said. Students will have more options of classes to take to fulfill the GI requirement that they will be held to.

Brown said to determine what classes will fulfill the US or IL requirement, departments have to prove that 25 percent of course material contains the required content.

John Selzer, associate dean of the College of the Liberal Arts, said the change is very timely.

"This is a chance for Penn State students to find room in their education for important information about other cultures, both within and without the U.S.," Selzer said. "This is a time in our nation's history when culture, religious and ethnic differences are on everyone's mind."

Laura Brown, a senior undergraduate studies adviser who is responsible for information in the Undergraduate Advising Handbook, said she is waiting for more information before publishing the new requirement. After Brown receives the information, she will inform academic advisers about the details.