Future of IDS may change

Sara Mettlen
Staff Writer
Mar. 4, 2004, Page 1

The ad hoc first year liberal arts proposed course committee, consisting of 12 faculty members, has been meeting since May 2003 to discuss and form a proposal for the modified IDS course.
A proposal has been put before both the Academic Affairs committee and Doane Plan committee for approval or revision.
The Academic Affairs committee has asked for a few revisions in the proposed course description. The ad hoc committee met on March 1 to talk about the suggestions from the Academic Affairs committee.
Kay Hegler, Professor of Special Education and Assessment Officer, said that it would be helpful for the two committees to give some sort of support for the course.
Although Hegler first hoped to have a pilot course of the new IDS in fall 2004, Maureen Franklin, Vice President of Academic Affairs, said the course would most likely not take effect until fall 2005.
“At times we feel we are very close and at times we feel very far,” Hegler said about the progress of the ad hoc committee.
The ad hoc committee has proposed several changes from the current IDS format.
The committee wants to make the class into a three-credit liberal arts seminar with an emphasis on writing and critical thinking.
Smaller class sizes, ideally around 15 students per section, would be another change.
The new IDS class would also be aligned with at least one other course in a learning community.
Hegler said the ad hoc committee has spoken about using a common book that would change each year, but the faculty would decide how much to use the book. Another aspect the committee hopes to involve in the class is discussion of speakers who come to campus.
An added feature of the new IDS would be upperclassmen teaching assistants who would get credit for helping with the class.
“We’re trying to break down isolated pieces of instruction to see interrelationships of what you are studying,” Hegler said.
Hegler said the new IDS class will create closer relationships between faculty and students and among students because of the smaller class size.
Hegler said the ad hoc committee feels this will increase learning and help keep students on campus once they get here.
Freshman Emily Wallman said she did not like that the faculty is considering making IDS a three credit hour class.
Wallman also wondered if since there was an emphasis on writing in the course if it would be considered writing-intensive and help fulfill the Doane plan.
“I like the smaller class sizes and the upper classman teaching assistants, but I think for the book they should let the specific teacher decide,” Wallman said.
However, Wallman said that she did not think she got much out of IDS in its current form.
Today Hegler will have a Faculty in Residence presentation in the Hansen Hall lounge discussing the liberal arts education and learning communities.
She said that this will also be a time to have a conversation with students about the proposed changes.