The University Undergraduate Studies Committee met Thursday to consider your proposal for revision the breadth requirements for all majors in your college except engineering technology.

You stated that your requested changes were to streamline the breadth requirement with your proposed changed, yet there is no rationale presented to support this statement. In addition, you did not identify the problem you are addressing with this requested revision, nor do you address how this change will fix that problem.

This committee is asking that you rewrite and resubmit the proposed program revisions clearly stating the problem, the rationale for the proposed changes, and an explanation for how this change will fix the problem.

College of Agriculture and Natural Resources Breadth Requirements

Proposal amended 12/11/06

The Problem:

In addition to University and major requirements, students are expected to receive general education via College breadth requirements. In the CANR, these have traditionally been grouped into the following groups: Ag & Bio Sciences; Literature and Arts; Social Sciences and Humanities; and Physical Sciences. In many cases, students can fulfill these groups with courses required for their majors.

In the late 1990s, in an effort to shrink the size of the catalog, and to try and help students and advisors understand that courses could often double count to fulfill both College and Major requirements, the delineated list of College requirements was deleted from the catalog and therefore no longer exists in writing or as a policy in any written form. The term “College” or “breadth” requirements is not listed anywhere in the catalog, and these requirements are now largely imbedded in the “Major requirements” section of each program. This has created confusion for both advisors and students, who understand there are breadth requirements to be met, but cannot find a consistent list among majors in the College. This becomes an additional problem when an exception, substitution or waiver for a College requirement needs to be approved. This falls under the review of the Academic Programs Office; however, without clear identification as to what the breadth requirements are, students and faculty are not sure to whom they are to direct these requests.

The Rationale for the Proposed Changes:

The proposed changes would allow for a consistent presentation of the College breadth requirements, to offer students a clear explanation of the requirements they are expected to meet. This will eliminate confusion as to what constitutes a breadth requirement, will show how these requirements fit in the curricula, and will differentiate major requirements from group requirements. Clearer communication and presentation are the ultimate goals.

The proposed changes also provide a more current menu of breadth requirements (the current ones have not been updated in more than 25 years) that reflects the current academic offerings at UD and in the CANR, and which supports the faculty’s vision of general education for undergraduates.

How the Change Will Fix the Problem:

The proposed changes will fix the problem by providing a clearer, more accurate, and more contemporary presentation of the College breadth requirements as consistent among all the College’s majors (except ET.) It also expands the possible course choices for students, giving them options for greater breadth. Faculty advisors will find the new presentation easier to follow and to explain to their advisees.

The College Courses & Curriculum Committee, as well as the full College faculty and Deans, have reviewed and approved these changes, indicating their agreement with the restructuring of the College breadth requirements.