Governance Review

Principle: 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.

The Core Curriculum both draws from and serves all academic colleges. For this reason, its academic home is generally outside any one college. Formerly at FSU, the Core Curriculum was the responsibility of the University College, which served undeclared and first-year students. However, a recent reorganization has eliminated the University College, raising the question of which office should be responsible for the Core Curriculum.  

Because the Core Curriculum is an academic program, its structure and content are determined by the faculty. Previously at FSU, a Core Curriculum Committee reviewed proposals to add, remove, or change core courses and requirements. The Core Curriculum Committee consisted of faculty from each of the academic colleges, appointed by the provost upon the recommendation of the academic deans. The Core Curriculum Committee reported to the dean of the University College. With the elimination of that college, an opportunity arises to restructure the Core Curriculum Committee. 

There are several models of core governance. The Governance Subcommittee of the Core Review Task Force will review different models of core governance and recommend one that best fits FSU. 

Faculty Oversight 

It is important that there be a faculty body officially charged with responsibility for reviewing proposals for changes to the core curriculum, whether that involves adding a course to fulfill core requirements or changing those requirements.

• Faculty Senate Committee: At some universities, the Core Curriculum Committee is a committee of the Faculty Senate. 
• University Committee or Council: At other universities, the Core Committee is a university-wide faculty committee, with members either appointed or elected. 

Administrative Oversight 

There are several administrative tasks related to the core curriculum beyond chairing the curriculum committee: 

Administrative Tasks 

• Class Scheduling: Because the core curriculum serves students in every college, the distinct needs of providing core courses benefit from oversight by someone who looks out for the core as a whole. This is especially true if the core includes learning communities, honors courses, or other special needs. At FSU, one important constituency is the early college high schools, whose students take predominantly core courses. 
• Assessment: The assessment of the core curriculum is separate from the assessment of academic major programs. Oversight of the core assessment process can be delegated to the official responsible for the Core Curriculum. 
• Teaching and Learning: Programs promoting teaching excellence in the Core Curriculum may be the responsibility of the official in charge of the Core. 

Administrative Positions 

The official responsible for the Core Curriculum can be  

• Faculty Chair: a faculty member presiding as part of their regular university service, without a course release. 
• Director of General Education: a faculty member on extended but time-limited administrative reassignment, with a course reduction. 
• Assistant/Associate Vice Provost: a permanent administrative appointment rather than a time-limited faculty reassignment. 

The Governance Subcommittee will review different options for faculty and administrative oversight and make recommendations to the Core Review Task Force.

Subcommittee 

Charge 

To recommend a structure for the governance of the core curriculum, to include reporting structure, responsibilities, core curriculum committee membership, and leadership.

Membership 

Chair: Dr. Zarha Shekarkhar, Chair of the Faculty Senate, zshekark@uncfsu.edu.