Gen Ed Governance

This webpage provides information on the formal application and review process for General Education courses, which is under the purview of the General Education Council of the Faculty Senate. The Gen Ed Council of the Faculty Senate oversees General Education at UMass. The Council establishes guidelines for all Gen Ed courses and conducts the Gen Ed course application and course review processes. The Council provides special reports concerning Gen Ed designations, approvals, and changes. A General Education Handbook provides useful information about the various curriculum areas as well as the rationale behind General Education, Gen Ed guidelines and the course review procedure.

The Academic Matters Council develops policy recommendations on academic and curricular life on campus, examines proposals for majors and minors, reviews undergradute course proposals and makes recommendations to the Senate.

The most recent General Education Task Force was mandated by Provost Charlena Seymour in Fall 2007; it concluded its term in Spring 2009. All General Education Task Forces are compromised of faculty, administrators, and students from many disciplines. The most recent Task Force was charged with recommending ways to improve the Gen Ed experience, focusing especially on curriculum design and delivery, as well as support for faculty who teach Gen Ed courses. Read the final report.

The Office of Academic Planning and Assessment (OAPA) provides several reports on the Gen Ed experience.

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