The Wichita State University Faculty Senate met this week and approved a new description for the General Education requirements that includes a new mission, goal and set of outcomes.

"This approval is a culmination of nearly two years of focused work by faculty and administrators, which make the requirements outcomes-based and focused on improving critical thinking, written and oral communication, problem solving and analytical reasoning skills," said Steven Skinner, Faculty Senate president.

The new description of General Education provides a framework to assess these outcomes using the College Learning Assessment, a national assessment tool used by universities throughout the United States.

"This approach to General Education is important in many ways and allows for a mechanism to evaluate and improve general education skills, which students begin acquiring as freshmen and continue learning in their majors," Skinner said.

Skinner added, "These skills are what faculty and employers agree are most important for graduates to have regardless of their particular career choice."

"I want to express my deep appreciation for the leadership provided by the Faculty Senate on this important issue and the work of the many faculty who participated in the process," Pickus said.

For a complete description of the newly approved General Education Program, go to http://www.wichita.edu/j/?1520.