MLL/GE Courses - Introduction

The Role of Multicultural or Global Education at Park University

The Lilly Grant gave the initial impetus for the curriculum revisions and curriculum development with multicultural/global components at Park University.

The objectives of the grant were:

• Create a sense of community and common purpose on the campus in which all diversity of race, religion, culture and language will be recognized and encouraged and will contribute to an enhanced educational and personal development experience for all students.
• Develop in the faculty an increased awareness of the difference in learning styles and motivations among minority cultures so that successful completion of a four-year baccalaureate degree program will be more likely for all students.
• Create in the Park University student and graduate a new awareness, understanding and tolerance of cultural differences which will carry over into a richer lifetime experience as a citizen, parent or co-worker.

Curriculum revision of high profile or popular GE or LL courses to infuse multicultural perspectives was one of the activities approved to achieve the objectives above. Park University faculty approved the inclusion of multicultural or global dimensions in all GE's and LL's and set a deadline to complete that work

The former Academic Council approved the following proposal on January 31, 1996.

• Eliminate the deadline except for new GE's and LL's.
• Endorse and continue the approval of the concept of integrating multicultural/global dimension in all LL's and GE's.
• Continue giving individual faculty the flexibility of making the decision about the portion of the course that would incorporate these dimensions.
• Identify in the course schedule those courses that have been revised for those dimensions under the Lilly project or without Lilly funding.

Creativity, imagination and open-mindedness are characteristics we aspire in our students. We should be willing to abide by the same aspirations as faculty.

Definition of General Education at Park University

General education at Park University is education that develops an awareness of human potentials. It also develops proper attitudes for realizing such potentials through critical and informed judgments that foster concern for individual and social well being. It develops a love for learning by encouraging activities that promote knowledge of the basic concepts, methodologies, and rewards of learning. It builds skills and competencies that help students acquire the distinctive outcomes defined in the college mission statement. These outcomes include open-mindedness, professionalism, and aesthetic, civic, critical, science, and values literacy. This program has four components: General Education (GE), Liberal Learning (LL), Multicultural/Global/General Education (MGE), and Multicultural Liberal Learning (MLL).

Definition of a General Education Course

A General Education Course at Park therefore is one that aims at meeting the definition of general education above in its discipline or area of learning. While it may emphasize the literacy of its discipline (aesthetic, civic, critical, science, or values literacy), it should develop concern for individual and social well-being, and foster open-mindedness and professionalism.

Guidelines for a GE Course

These guidelines respond to the definitions of the literacies approved by the faculty in February, 1986. They also respond to current concerns for service and community oriented education.

• Does the course identify the basic vocabularies of its discipline?
• Does the course present a historical perspective of its discipline?
• Does the course present a diversity of concepts in its discipline?
• Does the course promote critical thinking, computing, or communication skills?
• Does the course clarify values of/in its discipline?
• Does the course promote awareness of the scientific method and the impact of technology in its discipline?
• Does the course promote civic awareness and responsibility?
• Does the course promote understanding and appreciation of the arts? I. Does the course promote individual expression or creativity?
• Does the course include multicultural or global dimensions?

Liberal Learnings

The Liberal Learning Program is intended to confront the student with a learning experience above the sophomore level in areas outside the major. The program should aid students to become more aware of this world and themselves. It intends to develop within students a concern for contemporary issues and assist them to understand these issues and make informed judgments about them.

A Liberal Learning course, therefore, focuses on a contemporary problem(s) or theme, gives consideration to a multi-disciplinary perception of the issue or theme, and aims to stimulate the intellectual life of the student. Each course requires completion of at least one major paper (research, journalistic, or creative writing), or an art work or an artistic performance. All LL courses should include multicultural or global dimensions.

The requirement is met by satisfactory completion of at least three (3) designated upper level courses in three different disciplines. No Liberal Learning course taken in the discipline of the major or majors may be counted as satisfying the Liberal Learning requirement. Students may not take Liberal Learning courses until they have completed sixty (60) hours of course work. Courses which are cross listed between disciplines may not be used to satisfy Liberal Learning requirements for either discipline.

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