PROPOSAL 3
The Graduation Task force
proposes:
that we eliminate the basic skills part of the GE program, and in its stead
establish the following graduation requirement: that every student take at least
one mathematics course of at least the level of college algebra, and at least
two English courses of at least the level of 100. Since these are "basic"
skills, a student entering college should already have at least this level
of preparation, and be ready to go on to take a truly college-level course in
each of these areas. The idea is that we establish the requirement that, by the
time of graduation, the student has performed at at least that level. With
respect to the Speech part of basic skills, we propose that we let individual
colleges decide whether or not to include a speech requirement for graduation
from their programs. Colleges may wish to require a specific speech course
tailored for their own particular needs. Alternatively, they may wish to allow
students to test out of this requirement, or not to establish a requirement at
all in this area.