Charting a New Course
As the incoming class registers for courses this summer, they will become the first students to experience East Tennessee State University’s innovative new general education curriculum: Compass Core Curriculum.
The new curriculum, which was approved unanimously by the ETSU Board of Trustees at its February 2024 meeting, is designed to emphasize the real-world skills that students need to succeed in their careers and as citizens.
“The core curriculum of a university should reflect the institution’s values and priorities,” said Dr. Kimberly D. McCorkle, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs. “I am incredibly proud of the plan we have developed, as it clearly articulates the skill sets students need to find lifelong success in their careers. Perhaps more importantly, through these core classes, our students will gain the critical-thinking abilities and knowledge necessary to be active citizens – to both serve and lead with integrity, empathy, and vision.”
The Compass Core Curriculum offers students flexibility and choice to tailor their educational journey to their interests, while developing essential skills for professional success and responsible citizenship.
Trent White, who served as the 2023-24 President of the Student Government Association, applauded the flexibility of Compass Core Curriculum and said he hoped it would help more students understand and appreciate the value of general education requirements.
“If there is something students may be interested in or may not be interested in, they can fit their coursework to what their interests are,” he said.
Compass Core Curriculum gives students the opportunity to select courses from five categories, which include strengthening foundations, understanding natural and social worlds, exploring connections, cultivating artistic awareness, and growing as an individual and global citizen.
“Students in every general education course will benefit from high-impact teaching practices, which help them engage with the material they are learning through hands-on learning experiences,” McCorkle said. “This helps to make the coursework relevant and meaningful so that students will see the connections and applications to their career path and lifelong learning.
“Each of our students is on a different pathway, and they are going in many different directions. However, Compass will help guide their journeys and prepare them for their destinations.”
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By Melissa Nipper
Read more incredible stories in the Summer 2024 Edition of ETSU Today. #BucsGoBeyond
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