University Liberal Education Committee

The University Liberal Education Committee is responsible for developing criteria and intended learning outcomes for the liberal education core: the core includes General Education and other university-wide course/experience requirements outside the major/minor. It is responsible for recommending such criteria and intended learning outcomes to the Academic Policies Committee and to the University Senate. It serves as the coordinating body for university liberal education reform efforts.

The Committee is responsible for:

• Periodic review of university graduation requirements outside the major/minor
• Development of criteria for inclusion of courses and high impact practices in the liberal education core
• Periodic review of existing course offerings of the liberal education core for re-approval 
• Working with the Office of Academic Affairs to annually evaluate liberal education core effectiveness in achieving the liberal education goals as passed by the University Senate.

The assessment processes adopted for the Liberal Education core include all of the following:

1. All courses and experiences approved for inclusion in the Liberal Education core must address identified outcome(s) as a regular part of the course curriculum each time the course/experience is taught.
2. All courses and experiences approved for inclusion in the Liberal Education core will assess student learning using the approved learning outcomes and associated rubrics each time the course or experience is taught (including each section of a multi-section course).
3. Instructors assigned to teach courses approved for inclusion in the Liberal Education core will report assessment results on a regular schedule as determined by the department offering the course (that at a minimum meet the reporting requirements agreed to by the University Assessment Committee, ULEC and Academic Affairs). We are aware of many departments that are substantively exceeding the existing set of minimum requirements.
4. All courses approved for the Liberal Education core must include the common LE language (as approved by ULEC) on all course syllabi.  

Membership

1. Faculty representatives as follows: seven from the College of Arts and Sciences; two from the College of Business; two from the College of Education and Human Sciences; two from the College of Nursing and Health Sciences; and one from the Library (3-year term)
2. One Academic Staff representative (ex officio and non-voting) (3-year term)
3. Provost/Vice Chancellor or Designee (ex officio and non-voting)
4. One student 

Elected by/from the College of Arts and Sciences

Jeff Goodman (2024), Chair and Professor, Department of Psychology
Joanne Jahnke-Wagner (2024), Assistant Professor, History
Namji Kim (2023), Professor, Department of Music and Theatre Arts; completing Gary Don's term
Kristine Knutson (2024), Associate Professor, Department of Communication and Journalism
Jim Seliya (2025), Assistant Professor, Computer Science
Alexander Smith (2023), Chair and Professor, Department of Mathematics
Andrew Sturtevant (2025), Assistant Professor, History

Elected by/from the College of Nursing and Health Sciences

Jeannette Olsen (2025), Associate, Department of Nursing
Theresa Dachel (2023), Assistant Professor, Department of Nursing

Elected by/from the College of Education and Human Sciences

Emily Freeman (2025), Assistant Professor, Department of Education for Equity and Justice
Angela Jones (2024), Assistant Professor, Department of Special Education and Inclusive Practices

Elected by/from the College of Business

Emrah Ekici (2023), Assistant Professor, Accounting & Finance
Marcy Orwig (2025), Associate Professor, Business Communication

Elected by/from Academic Staff

Katie Ritland-Clouse (2023), Academic Advisor for Advising, Retention + Career Center (ex officio and non-voting)

Elected by/from the Library

Liliana LaValle (2024), Digital Learning and Instruction Librarian and Assistant Professor, McIntyre Library

Appointed by Student Senate

Ben Hurley, Student Representative 

Provost or Designee

Mary Hoffman, Interim Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affair (ex officio and non-voting)

Secretary

Sarah Forcier, Program Assistant, Academic Affairs

Meeting Information + Agenda

ULEC meets bi-weekly at 2 PM on Mondays during the academic year. The agenda can be found here: ULEC Meeting Agenda. 

The first meeting of the 2023 spring semester will be on February 6, 2023.

Questions? Contact Sarah Forcier or Kris Knutson