It isn’t exactly a failing grade, but more than a third of the core classes that students need to graduate from Colorado’s colleges and universities have been found wanting. That’s not the finding of an obscure think tank or an organization with a political ax to grind.
That’s according to faculty members.
Higher education leaders should view the finding as an alert to upgrade their classwork, making Colorado college degrees more valuable.
Students shouldn’t be forced to foot the bill for courses that may not be strong or relevant enough to transfer to other in-state schools. Considering the rising cost of tuition, Colorado’s schools should revamp the 100-plus problematic courses or drop them.
In 2001, state lawmakers passed legislation requiring that the Colorado Commission on Higher Education take steps to ensure that core courses teach competency in a subject and critical thinking. As part of the new “opportunity contracts” that each school signs with the state, CCHE organized a group of 100 faculty members from different schools and disciplines to review class descriptions. Thursday, CCHE commissioners approved their report and have asked the schools to respond with how they plan on updating the courses.
Schools nominated the core courses and were asked to describe how they led students to demonstrate critical thinking and competency in the subject. Far too many failed to make the grade.
With 40 percent of all students – and 70 percent of low-income students – transferring between schools, it’s imperative that their credits transfer, too. When they don’t, students often must spend another year in school. We can see how that might benefit the schools, but for most students, a fifth (or sixth) year is a financial hardship.
Courses that didn’t pass muster with the faculty panel will be noted in student handbooks with a “not recommended” next to the course title. Schools can still count those classes as part of their core requirements, but we trust administrators will not want many courses tagged with a “not recommended” designation.
Some faculty worried the review would allow the state to dictate what types of courses the schools offer, but that didn’t happen. Schools can still offer the courses they want; they just have to show the concept and coursework meet certain standards.
“Getting into curriculum and what constitutes a major is a problem, but I don’t think the state has done that,” said University of Northern Colorado president Kay Norton. “They’re just trying to say what is guaranteed to transfer.”
Considering the dwindling amount of state money going to schools these days, this is about as far as the state can intervene with a straight face, but it’s a welcome contribution.
