From Foundation to Flourishing: 
Creating a Future-Focused Core Curriculum

Fayetteville State University is embarking on an exciting journey to develop a transformative and aspirational Undergraduate Core Curriculum (Core). This collaborative effort will be led the faculty and shaped by key individuals, including students, employers, alumni, and senior senior FSU leadership. Together, we will work towards creating a Core that reflects our institution's rich history, core values, and strategic plan for the future.

• Core Review Video: A four-minute introduction to FSU's Core Curriculum.

What's New?

Core Review Survey Results. In October 2023, the Task Force conducted a survey of faculty, students, and alumni to find out what FSU's Core Learning outcomes should be. Click here for a presentation summarizing the results.

Core Consultant Report. Also in October 2023, Dr. C. Edward Watson visited FSU to consult on our Core Review. As a vice president of the Association of American Colleges & Universities (AAC&U), Dr. Watson is a nationally renowned authority on general education (a.k.a. core curriculum). Click here for his report and recommendations.

CLO Delphi Survey Results. To consolidate the results of the survey, the consultant report, and other input into the elements of a proposal for a revised core curriculum, the Task Force conducted a series of surveys asking the members of the Task Force and the Subcommittees what they thought should be part of a revised core curriculum. In the Delphi method, experts provide anonymous feedback on a topic to a facilitator. The facilitator identifies areas of consensus and disagreement, then asks for another round of feedback. The process continues until there is substantial consensus.

The Task Force conducted three rounds of surveys in March and April 2024. Click on a round for a presentation summarizing the results:

• Round One (March 14-18)
• Round Two (April 1-5)
• Round Three (April 15-19)

Report of the Teaching Subcommittee. The Core Review Teaching Subcommittee was the first to create a report with recommendations for teaching and learning in the Core. Click here for the report.

What is the Core Curriculum?

According to the FSU Undergraduate Catalog,

The Undergraduate Core Curriculum provides the academic foundation for all the undergraduate degree programs at Fayetteville State University. The core curriculum enables students to develop the skills and general knowledge that are essential to success in their respective major programs and careers after graduation.

The Core Curriculum includes basic skills such as written communication, critical thinking, and quantitative reasoning. It requires students to take courses in the natural sciences, the social sciences, and the humanities. And it includes other subjects that FSU considers important for all students, such as Global Literacy and Ethics and Civic Engagement. For more information about the Core Curriculum, click here.

Why Review the Core Curriculum Now?

FSU reviews the core curriculum periodically to ensure that it

• provides the skills and knowledge all students need to succeed in a changing world,
• meets the needs of all FSU undergraduates as the student population evolves,
• reflects the mission of the university as it too evolves, and
• ensures the success of all students who take core courses.

The last core review was completed in 2012. 

For more information about FSU identity and the core curriculum, click here. 

What Kinds of Change will the Review Consider?

The Core Review will consider

• Learning Outcomes and Requirements: What are the fundamental skills and knowledge all FSU students should master? What kinds of courses should students take to master the core learning outcomes? How many courses should they take? More....
• Teaching and Learning: How should core courses be taught to ensure that all students succeed? More...
• Assessment: How does the university ensure that students are mastering core learning outcomes? More...
• Student Support: How does FSU support the wide diversity of undergraduate students who take core courses? More...
• Governance: Who is the university official responsible for the core curriculum? How is that official advised by the faculty? More...

What Principles Guide the Core Review?

The Core Review Task Force is guided by the following principles: 

• Mission: The purpose of the Core Curriculum is to provide the general skills and knowledge all FSU graduates should possess regardless of their background or major. These general skills and knowledge should prepare students for success in their majors, careers, and lives.  
• Curriculum: The Core Curriculum should be based on core learning outcomes or competencies that are carefully defined and consistently implemented across the courses that fulfill core requirements. Core learning outcomes should be introduced and developed in the core curriculum, but they must be reinforced throughout the majors as relevant and evident in students’ capstone work.
• Teaching and Learning: Core courses should incorporate evidence-based teaching practices that lead to student success. Both general and discipline-specific teaching practices must inform the instruction of all core courses. Teaching practices must address the extraordinary diversity of FSU students. 
• Assessment: Core courses should be subject to rigorous assessment based on established best practices to ensure that students are mastering core learning outcomes. That includes basing assessment on the work students do in their courses and on common rubrics that define the core learning outcomes and levels of performance. The Core Curriculum should also be assessed based on how well it contributes to the success, progression, and graduation of all undergraduate students. 
• Student Support: Student services should be intentionally designed to contribute to student success in the core. This includes academic support, advising, and co-curricular activities. These services must be tailored to the needs of the wide diversity of students we serve. 
• Governance: The Core Curriculum is the largest academic program at FSU. As an academic program, faculty have primary responsibility for the Core Curriculum. As a large program spanning every academic college, the Core requires administrative oversight and support. 

How will the Core Review Work?

The Core Review will be faculty-led and community-informed. SACSCOC, the University of North Carolina, and Fayetteville State all give faculty primary responsibility for the curriculum. The Provost, who is FSU's chief academic officer and a member of the faculty, has ensured that the Core Review Task Force and its subcommittees include a majority of faculty.

However, the Provost has also insisted that the core review be community-informed. That community consists of the many stakeholders who have an interest in the core curriculum:

• Employers and community organizations, who hire FSU graduates;
• Educational partners, such as the North Carolina community colleges, which are the primary source of transfer students;
• Students and alumni, who are the ultimate reason our institution exists.

The Core Review Task Force will solicit stakeholder input through a variety of means, including

• Subcommittees
• Surveys
• Focus groups
• Town Halls

For more about the Core Review process, click here.

When will the Core Review Happen?

The Core Review is already underway! The Task Force and faculty subcommittees were appointed in spring 2023. The Task Force planned over summer 2023. The Task Force solicited stakeholder input over fall semester 2023. The input was analyzed and used to inform recommendations that will be submitted for further input in fall 2024. The Provost has asked that the Task Force report its recommendations by the beginning of fall semester 2024.

For more about Core Review timeline, click here.

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Website: For questions about the website, contact John Brooks (jibrooks@uncfsu.edu). The Core Review Task Force would like to thank the following for their contributions to this site: Dr. Miriam DeLone, Dr. Melissa Haithcox-Dennis.