Ball State University's University Education Committee approved a new core curriculum Wednesday that aims to decrease the number of credits students have to take while increasing their knowledge base.
Under the new curriculum proposal students would be required to take 39 credit hours compared to the current 41, according to the curriculum report. Students also must complete courses designated under three tiers and help ensure students get scientific, critical and creative thinking skills, according to the report.
Another requirement the report mentions is students must complete at least one course in each of six areas, which include writing, international awareness, service and civic engagement, environmental awareness and sustainability, respect for diversity among peoples and cultures and technological literacy.
Julie Eflin, University Core Curriculum Task Force II chairwoman, said the WISER requirements came from goals Task Force I gave to Task Force II. WISER provided a way for more of the goals to be completed, she said.
"[We] tried to fit as much as we could into no more than 42 hours if not even less," Eflin said. "We felt responsible to lower [credit hours] because departments already require so much."
Originally, WISEART did not include technological literacy, but after UEC discussions, the requirement later was added to the curriculum. With the addition of technological literacy, WISER became WISERT.
Before UEC approved the new curriculum, the members voted to have another addition to WISERT and include an American Institutions and/or American History requirement. UEC also changed the "R" to read "respect for human liberty and diversity among peoples and cultures."
The curriculum's new acronym is now WISEART.
Michael Spillman, UEC chairman and telecommunications instructor, said UEC will submit the curriculum to Faculty Council by the end of the week. The council will then decide when to review the approved curriculum for a vote, he said.
Not everyone in UEC approved of the new curriculum, though. UEC's three student voices had some worry about it.
Student Government Association President Betsy Mills said the biggest concern she had would be the new core curriculum could add credit hours.
"It's excessive and adds more restrictions to the core and keeps students here longer," she said. "We [three students] really fought for the student voice to make sure it was heard. I felt the faculty in the committee weren't acting on the best interests of the students, but [were acting] for the departments and other faculty members."
Kyle Ellis, SGA president pro tempore and a volunteer designer for the Daily News, said he and the other two students wanted to make sure they voted for what would be in the best interest of the students.
"I just hope the faculty members act with the best interest of the students at heart," he said.
Spillman said he thought the process worked the way it was supposed to and the meeting allowed people's thoughts to be discussed. He said the new curriculum would not add more credits.
"The core is a very important part of the university curriculum and there's a lot of differences of opinions and philosophies," he said. "The duty of the committee is to look at different opinions. I don't think anyone in the committee has had anything except the highest respect for students because we all know the importance of the core, students' time and their requirements for the core."
Both Mills and Ellis said they were upset because students would not have another voice on the issue.
Spillman, however, said University Senate would get it after Faculty Council voted. Students have had ample time to discuss the matter, and if they have concerns then they should address them with their senators, he said.
TCOM professor Barry Umansky said the UEC vote was just one of several rounds being completed.
"It's a long process and democracy worked," he said.
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