CWUP 5-100

General Education Program

• 5-100-010 General Education Committee
• 5-100-020 Definitions of General Education Terms
• 5-100-030 Initiation of General Education Requirements/Program Changes
• 5-100-040 General Education Changes
• 5-100-050 Petition for Exception to the General Education Requirements
• 5-100-060 General Education Program Assessment
• 5-100-070 General Education Rules

CWUP 5-100-010 General Education Committee

(1) As with all curriculum, Central Washington University’s general education program is owned and maintained by its faculty. The faculty senate general education committee (GEC) oversees the general education program and reports to the faculty senate.

(2) In order to ensure the coherence, consistency, academic integrity, intellectual quality and transparency of the program the GEC assumes the following responsibilities:

(A) Decision making authority regarding:

1. Student petitions (CWUP 5-100-50);
2. Exceptions to the general education program requirements;
3. Strategic planning;
4. Pathway coordination;
5. Program improvement;
6. Oversight of the general education program’s elements as described in 5-100-020.
7. Committee member position descriptions.

(B) Recommendations to the faculty senate concerning the following:

1. Policies regarding the general education requirements;
2. Criteria for the addition and deletion of courses and program changes to the general education program;
3. Section CWUP 5-100 of the CWU policies manual;
4. General education program revision; and

(C) Communication regarding the general education program philosophy and requirements to students and other stakeholders, including:

1. Public relations plan/materials coordination and approval;
2. Review of pertinent advising materials; and
3. Coordination with faculty and advising staff for general education requirements.

(D) Coordination with FSCC on relevant curriculum changes.

(E) Provide direction for workshops and other forms of faculty development related to general education.

[Responsibility: Faculty Senate; Authority: Cabinet/UPAC; Reviewed/Endorsed by: Provost’s Council: 05/24/22; 04/11/2023; Cabinet/UPAC; Review/Effective Date: 07/2009; 02/20/2019; 06/22/2022; 06/14/2023; Approved by: A. James Wohlpart, President]

CWUP 5-100-020 Definitions of General Education Terms

(1) The general education program structural elements include the guiding philosophy, program goals, framework, knowledge area, outcomes, pathway criteria, and rules.

(A) The guiding philosophy articulates the program’s philosophical underpinnings. The other program elements must be consistent with the guiding philosophy. 

(B) The program goals make clear what students can expect to gain through participation in the program.

(C) The framework indicates the structure of the program including required areas of study and the sequence of the program.

(D) Knowledge areas encompass the conceptual content and skills that serve as a foundation for general education.

The knowledge area outcomes define the scope of concepts, skills, or other content that will be examined in program assessment. These outcomes drive the pedagogy within the knowledge area.

(E) The pathways constitute the themes that knowledge area courses are taught through and provide opportunity for students to explore and make connections.

The pathway criteria align with the guiding philosophy and introduce competencies to be learned within a particular theme.

(F) The rules govern the implementation of the general education program.

(2) Curriculum refers to the individual courses approved to populate the general education framework, and is distinct from the framework outcomes and criteria of the program.

(3) Pathway coordination refers to pathway oversight ensuring coherence, appropriate breadth, and timely resolution of concerns among participating departments.

[Responsibility: Faculty Senate; Authority: Cabinet/UPAC; Reviewed/Endorsed by: Provost’s Council: 05/24/22; Cabinet/UPAC; Review/Effective Date: 07/2009; 2/20/2019; 06/15/2022; Approved by: A. James Wohlpart, President]

CWUP 5-100-030 General Principles for General Education

(1) General Education Approval Effective Date.

The electronic catalog is the official compilation for all curriculum. The electronic catalog will become available at the end of spring quarter of each year. General education requirement changes will become effective in the fall quarter following publication in the official electronic catalog.

(2) Changes to the general education program will be implemented in the fall quarter following publication in the official electronic catalog. Courses added to the program may be used by students regardless of the student’s program year, as long as the student takes the course after it is added to the general education program. Courses moved between general education components will be applied to the student’s academic equirements report based on student’s program year.

(3) General Education Deadlines.

The General Education Committee (GEC), in consultation with the Faculty Senate Executive Committee, will establish annual deadlines for general education course submissions. Once a year, GEC will review submissions and prepare a program change proposal, which must be submitted to the FSCC by the established curriculum deadlines (CWUP 5-50-030(2)).

[Responsibility: Faculty Senate; Authority: Cabinet/UPAC; Reviewed/Endorsed by: Provost’s Council: 05/24/22; Cabinet/UPAC; Review/Effective Date: 07/2009; 2/20/2019; 06/15/2022; Approved by: A. James Wohlpart, President] 

CWUP 5-100-040 General Education Changes

(1) Structural Changes to the Program.

Structural changes to the general education program that do not require inclusion in the online electronic catalog or integration into PeopleSoft are addressed in this section. Structural changes to the general education program will have broad impact on university constituents. The program will be flexible enough to implement reasonable and justifiable improvements to its structure, but the known and reasonably anticipated benefits of a proposed change must be weighed against the known and reasonably anticipated costs, both quantifiable and less quantifiable. Faculty are invited and encouraged to suggest improvements to the program using the process outlined in CWUP 5-100-040 (A), (B), (C), and (D).

(A) Initiation of Structural Changes. Proposals to recommend changes to the general education program may originate from any faculty member. Proposals must use the form provided by the GEC to outline proposed changes, their justification and a summary of potential impacts on departments, faculty and students.

(B) Review of Structural Changes. The GEC will review proposed changes, work with a Budget and Financial Affairs representative and the Senate Budget and Planning Committee to develop, discuss and evaluate anticipated costs and benefits, and decide whether to propose the change to the faculty senate for approval. The GEC may invite proposal originators and other interested constituents to a committee meeting to discuss proposals. GEC reserves the right to engage in broader faculty consultation (i.e., a faculty forum, surveys, etc.) prior to deciding whether to forward proposed changes to the faculty senate.

(C) Approval of Structural Changes. The GEC will recommend structural changes through a formal motion at a faculty senate meeting. Structural changes must be approved by a simple majority vote of those present and voting at the meeting during which it is read for the second time.

(D) Timeline for Structural Changes. Proposals must follow the general education deadlines posted by the GEC. Structural changes cannot be implemented sooner than the subsequent fall.

(2) General Education Curriculum Changes.

Any general education curriculum program changes (including course additions, deletions, or revisions) that require inclusion in the online electronic catalog or integration into PeopleSoft (including changes to academic requirements, course additions, course deletions, and the program narrative are addressed in this section.

(A) Initiation of General Education Curriculum Changes. Faculty proposing general education curriculum changes will submit a completed general education proposal through Curriculog. Depending on the type of proposal (e.g., existing course with changes, new course, or existing course with no change), additional curriculum forms may be required. Proposals must follow the catalog deadlines posted by the FSCC and the general education deadlines posted by the GEC. All proposals will be reviewed by the GEC.

(B) At least once per year, in accordance with curriculum deadlines, the GEC will prepare a program change proposal that includes all curriculum changes approved by the GEC. The proposal will follow the established procedures in CWUR 2-50-040.

(C) Timeline for Curriculum Changes. Proposals must follow the catalog deadlines posted by the FSCC and the general education deadlines posted by the GEC. If proposals do not require clarification and revision, they must proceed through the process immediately. The proposal originator is responsible for tracking the proposal’s progress through Curriculog. Curriculum proposals must not remain in any campus office longer than the established number of calendar days, up to GEC and faculty senate review. Proposals that require clarification and/or revision will be returned to the originator, who then must resubmit by the established deadline.

(D) Campus Review of Curriculum Changes. All structural and curriculum proposals approved by the GEC will be published on a log for campus review for a period of two weeks. Any member of the academic community may request a hold on GEC action by submitting a completed hold petition form.

1. The hold petition form requires a justification for the hold, including the impacts of course addition or deletions on departments; a list of the affected department(s); and written, dated proof of notification of affected department(s) and dean(s). The form must be submitted to the faculty senate office one week prior to the next GEC meeting.
2. The party originating the hold must notify the affected department(s) of the justification for the hold. A memorandum of resolution must be submitted to the GEC within two weeks after the hold has been recorded. If a resolution has not been reached, a representative for the department(s) involved will appear before the GEC for a decision at the next scheduled meeting.

[Responsibility: Faculty Senate; Authority: Cabinet/UPAC; Reviewed/Endorsed by: Provost’s Council: 05/24/22; Cabinet/UPAC; Review/Effective Date: 07/2009; 2/20/2019; 06/15/2022; Approved by: A. James Wohlpart, President]

CWUP 5-100-050 Petition for Exception to the General Education Requirements

(1) In accordance with CWUP 5-90-030, a student who has completed a direct transfer agreement (DTA) or already has a bachelor’s degree (from a regionally accredited institution) has fulfilled their general education requirements.

(2) All students other than those described in (1) must complete the general education requirements for the catalog year in which the student was admitted to Central Washington University, in accordance with CWUP 5-90-040(10).

(3) For a transfer student without a DTA, the office of the registrar will evaluate the fit of transfer (non-CWU) courses with the requirements of the CWU general education program. A student may appeal the office of the registrar’s decision regarding transfer courses to the GEC, who will consult with relevant academic departments before making a decision as to the appeal.

(4) A student readmitted to the university and with three or fewer general education courses remaining in their original general education program may petition to complete the general education requirements under the catalog for the year when they were first admitted to CWU, even if the catalog has expired.

(5) Prior to applying for graduation, a current CWU student may (based on extenuating circumstances and with documented support of an academic advisor) petition the office of the registrar regarding exceptions to a general education requirement.

(A) The office of the registrar and GEC maintain a record of previously approved general education course exceptions for consistency in decision-making.

(B) For students using a catalog for years prior to academic year 2019-2020, CWU courses that are not already approved writing (W) courses may not be petitioned to meet the general education writing requirement.

(C) A student may appeal office of the registrar decisions to the GEC, with the support of an academic advisor and strong, documented justification.

(6) It is the purview of the GEC to grant substitutions and other exceptions to the general education requirements in cases of appeal of office of the registrar decisions. Requests must be submitted with supporting documentation, and exceptions will only be considered when the GEC determines the student will still have the opportunity to meet general education program and component outcomes.

(A) On rare occasions, the faculty senate executive committee may render decisions on general education appeals when the GEC is not available for regularly scheduled meetings, such as during the summer term.

[Responsibility: Faculty Senate; Authority: Cabinet/UPAC; Reviewed/Endorsed by: Provost’s Council: 05/24/22; Cabinet/UPAC; Review/Effective Date: 07/2009; 2/20/2019; 06/15/2022; Approved by: A. James Wohlpart, President] 

CWUP 5-100-060 General Education Program Assessment

(1) Responsibility for Assessment.

Responsibility for assessment of the general education program falls to the university and to the faculty teaching courses in the general education program. Multiple campus stakeholders have an interest in ensuring accurate and meaningful assessment data are available the undergraduate studies dean will share information regarding current and intended assessment practices, strategies, and tools with the academic community.

(2) Collection of Assessment Data.

Departments and programs who offer courses for the general education program are responsible for providing the data used to evaluate the courses and program.

The general education assessment report for each year will be delivered to the faculty senate as an information item as well as to administrative units responsible for assessment.

(3) Levels of Assessment.

General education assessment ensures alignment with the general education guiding philosophy, goals, knowledge area outcomes, and pathway criteria. The general education program will be assed at three levels: program, course and student.

(A) Program assessment takes into account course assessment and student assessment, but it also evaluates other areas such as class size, facilities, staffing, and ratios of full- to part-time faculty. Program assessment will follow the guidelines used for other academic programs (e.g., self-study guidelines and template from the associate provost’s office).

(B) Course assessment evaluates the alignment of individual courses with general education program and knowledge area outcomes and pathway criteria (where applicable). Course assessment may include evaluation of course syllabi, course assignments, a sample of graded assignments, other artifacts as appropriate, and a summary of how the course continues to address outcomes/ criteria of its knowledge area and/or pathway(s). Course accepted to and offered in the general education program shall undergo continuous review to ensure they address learner outcomes.

1. Consequences of determination of a course’s inadequate performance. If a course does not address approved outcomes, committee will notify the department of needed changes and work with the department faculty to ensure outcomes are being addressed. The course will be assessed again the next quarter it is offered. If the course fails to address approved outcomes in the subsequent review, the GEC may remove the course from the general education program (effective the next catalog year) or extend the assessment period.
2. Timeframe in cases of inadequate course performance. All decisions will be communicated to the offering department and dean within 15 days. If the assessment period is extended, the GEC will communicate with the department and/or faculty member to help ensure successful re-review.

(C) Student assessment will be based on course and program outcomes and student learner outcomes. Design of assessment will be determined by the university general education assessment workgroup, led by the dean of undergraduate studies in consultation with the GEC. Assessments will be designed to assess student attainment of general education learner outcomes. Students will also be periodically surveyed regarding general education outcomes, specific relevant general education related issues, and the value of general education.

(4) Assessment Cycle

Assessment for the general education program will operate on a seven-year cycle.

(A) The first six years of the assessment process will constitute two rotations of student- and course-level assessment by knowledge area:

1. Year 1: First-Year Experience (184) and three (3) knowledge areas
2. Year 2: Academic Writing I and three (3) knowledge areas
3. Year 3: Quantitative Reasoning, Culminating Experience, and two (2) knowledge areas

(B) Starting Year 4, the assessment cycle will repeat:

1. Year 4: First-Year Experience (184) and three (3) knowledge areas
2. Year 5: Academic Writing I and three (3) knowledge areas
3. Year 6: Quantitative Reasoning, Culminating Experience, and two (2) knowledge areas

(C) Year 7 will emphasize program-level assessment.

[Responsibility: Faculty Senate; Authority: Cabinet/UPAC; Reviewed/Endorsed by: Provost’s Council: 05/24/22; 04/11/2023; Cabinet/UPAC; Review/Effective Date: 07/2009; 06/12/2019; 06/15/2022; 06/14/2023; Approved by: A. James Wohlpart, President]

CWUP 5-100-070 General Education Rules

(1) All general education courses taken at CWU must be for a letter grade with the exception of culminating experience courses having the option to be graded with Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory (S/U). General Education credits earned with a grade of Emergency Pass (EP) shall count towards program requirements. [See Emergency Pass/Fail (EP/EF) Grades policy 5-90-040 (20)]

[Responsibility: Faculty Senate; Authority: ELT/UPAC; Reviewed/Endorsed by: Provost Council; Review/Effective Date: 1/25/22; ELT/UPAC; Review/Effective Date: 04/27/2022; Approved by: A. James Wohlpart, President]