General Education Revision
"The liberal arts and sciences provide a range of critical skills that will be needed as our graduates confront 21st century challenges such as AI, gene editing, and neural implants. The engineers and architects of our shared future must be excellent communicators, interdisciplinary team leaders, and critical thinkers. A uniquely RIT curriculum that emphasizes these skills within RIT’s TAD (Technology, Arts, and Design) framework will create future leaders who are deeply committed to the richness of our humanity."
Why Transform General Education?
To recruit and retain excellent students, and foster the type of experiential and future-focused learning outlined in our mission, RIT must provide an innovative and relevant general education experience that incorporates shared experiences while remaining flexible enough to connect with students in different disciplines and meet programmatic needs.
The General Education Committee has identified friction points within the existing framework, including too many learning outcomes, “box-checking” and perceived irrelevance to program coursework, a lack of flexibility and choice, a need for more attention to modern issues, and the absence of a common learning experience in the first year.
Rather than focusing on concerns about the existing framework, the GEC, and the Provost’s Office see this task force as an opportunity for RIT’s faculty and staff to build an exciting and meaningful shared experience that sets RIT apart from other universities. This curriculum will attract students and faculty to RIT and showcase the incredible innovation of a world-class university that focuses on creating the doers and makers who will shape the future.
Timeline
Fall 2023
In accordance with its standing charge to assure ongoing review of the general education curriculum, the General Education Committee (GEC) begins discussions with Senior Leadership to assess the possibility of revising the General Education Framework and curriculum.
Provost David and Senior Associate Provost Licata asks the GEC to provide a recommendation as to whether the General Education Framework and curriculum should be revised.
Spring 2024
The GEC reviews current friction points and future possibilities and recommends the creation of a task force to collect community input and propose ideas for a revised General Education Framework and curriculum.
The GEC presents the recommendation for revision at Faculty Senate in spring 2024, with a corresponding recommendation to Provost David to formally create and charge a task force.
Fall 2024
Provost David appoints the General Education Revision Task Force and Advisory Group with input from GEC. The Task Force receives their charge in September and formally starts work in October.
Stakeholder meetings, research about current general education initiatives, listening sessions, and data collection to inform the process begins.
Spring 2025
Early spring: Continuation of stakeholder meetings, research about current general education initiatives, listening sessions, and data collection to inform the process.
Late spring: Present preliminary model(s) and summary of campus feedback, solicitation of additional feedback, present and solicit feedback on timeline and plans for 2025–2026.
2025-2026
The General Education Revision Task Force recommendation to implement Faculty Working Groups is put into action. Three Faculty Working Groups are charged with the development of specific action items by the Provost; a Framework revision group, a First Year Course group, and a First Year Writing group.
2026-2027
Revision recommendations from the three Working Groups are carried forward to the faculty and other constituent groups for vetting, revision, and approval. The revised framework is shepherded through RIT’s curriculum governance process.
Engaging the RIT Community
The General Education revision process has been shaped by extensive engagement from faculty, staff, and students across the university. Through surveys, listening sessions, working groups, governance discussions, presentations, and direct feedback opportunities, members of the RIT community have played an important role in informing the vision, framework, and priorities proposal.
Provide Feedback to the Task Force
Archived Presentations
- Provost’s GE Task Force Kick Off
- Gen Ed Task Force Overview
- Transformative GE Models
- Recording of April 29, 2025 Transformative GE Models Open Forum
Archived Reports