Riverside, Calif., April, 2000--A new configuration for La Sierra's University Studies program is expected to be approved at a general meeting of the university faculty sometime in early May.

This vote follows a 14-to-1 tally (with one abstention) in favor of the new "Themes Proposal" at an April 7 meeting of the Faculty Senate. At that meeting, the senate also requested that the Office of Academic Administration call a general faculty meeting where "Themes" could be voted upon.

The need for a University Studies revision was requested by the La Sierra board at its Nov. 11 meeting. Citing enrollment trends and with expressed student concerns in mind, the board asked for a revision--but not without affirming faculty jurisdiction over these changes at its Jan. 21 meeting.

The Nov. 11 board action set in motion a half-year-long process of negotiations, committees, focus groups and general wrangling over University Studies, a process that was largely spearheaded by Jeffrey Kaatz, assistant vice president for academic administration and director for University Studies.

"It's been a long road, but I believe 'Themes' maintains the educational value of the current program in a way that is more user-friendly and more easily understood by our constituents," Kaatz said.

Under the current University Studies program, students take a set of six multidisciplinary core courses that are taught in a sequential order. A seventh "capstone" course--specific to a student's major--ties together the dominant themes that University Studies seeks to promote.

In addition to these courses, students must show mastery of a group of "competencies," a set of four curriculum areas which includes Modern Language, Health, Math and English Composition.

While maintaining much of the content and philosophical directions of University Studies, "Themes" departs from the existing program in three significant ways.

Transferability: It is hoped that changes in class prefixes should resolve student questions concerning the transferability of La Sierra general education classes. As an example, the social science class "Individuals and Their Society" currently carries the prefix CORE 105. Under a "Themes"-based bulletin, the class will be listed as SSCI 105. Other changes of a similar nature will mean class prefixes listed on a La Sierra transcript will not dramatically differ from class listings at other colleges.

User Friendly: Under the exiting University Studies, transfer students - irrespective of their year of transfer - had to satisfy all University Studies, or CORE, requirements. Under "Themes," students have to pick up only the CORE classes that correspond with their academic year. No "catching up" or equivalency requirements are required.

Fewer Required Courses: Under the "Themes" proposal, students are required to take one-third fewer multidisciplinary, team-taught courses. University Studies requires six, whereas "Themes" requires four - or about eight units less in credit hours.

And instead of a prescribed six classes under University Studies, students are offered four pairs of classes. Kaatz said these eight class offerings will allow a student to tailor a general studies package to personal interests and future majors. "Some students and some board members said they wanted to see more choices afforded to students and the new arrangement will allow this," he said.

The general faculty is expected to vote on the "Themes" at meeting that likely will fall on May 3, according to Anees Haddad, Faculty Senate chair. If the faculty approve the package, the final clearance will be approval from the La Sierra Board of Trustees. The next scheduled board meeting is May 25, but Kaatz said board leaders were considering a teleconference vote for the proposed general studies package immediately after any positive faculty vote.

"The board has expressed an acute interest in getting the whole University Studies issue resolved as quickly as possible," Kaatz said.

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