Forums to discuss role of general education

Contact: Deanne Puca
Photo of students in a lecture hall.

The forums are free and open to all.

KALAMAZOO, Mich.—Two events this month will launch a spring series of panel discussions about general education on the campus of Western Michigan University. These expert-led exchanges will offer diverse ideas and viewpoints for innovating the curriculum that forms the backbone of WMU's undergraduate education. They will continue conversations initiated in a University Center for the Humanities discussion group series of brown bag lunch meetings last fall.

The forums are free and open to the public and will be held at the Bernhard Center.

  • Wednesday, Jan. 21, noon to 1:30 p.m., Room 208. "Engaged Learning: Lessons From our Own Classrooms," led by Dr. Megan Grunnert, assistant professor of chemical education; Dr. Gwen Tarbox, associate professor of English; Dr. Maarten VonHoff, associate professor of biological sciences; and Dr. Denise Keele, associate professor of political science.
  • Tuesday, Jan. 27, noon to 1:30 p.m., Room 204. "Profiles of Future WMU Students," led by associate provosts Dr. Dawn Gaymer, Dr. Wolfgang Schloer and Dr. Christopher Tremblay.

The Faculty Senate’s Ad Hoc Committee on General Education sponsors these panels. This committee will present recommendations later in the year for revising WMU’s now 20-year-old curriculum. Additional forums and panels include a March 19 keynote address by Kent State University’s distinguished professor of English, Dr. Paul Gaston, a national leader in higher education reform.

For more information, contact Dr. Sarah Hill, associate professor and co-chair of the committee, at (269) 387-4150 or sarah.hill@wmich.edu.

For more news, arts and events, visit wmich.edu/news.