Appendix IVb: GE Senior Survey (Data) CODING: Holistic Education Interdisciplinary teaching and learning Service learning Diversity and Intercultural learning Miscellaneous challenges Integrating Faith and Learning Writing intensive courses First year seminar Advising Results No of records in this query: 153 Total records in survey: 153 Percentage of total: 100.00% Field Summary for DIV: From what division is your major? If you have multiple majors, identify the division for the major from which you have taken most courses. Answer Count Percentage No answer 0 0 Humanities (HUM) 67 43.79% Natural/Behavioral Sciences (NBS) 45 29.41% Social Sciences (SS) 41 26.80% Field Summary for TRANS: Did you come to Westmont as a Transfer Student?
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Appendix IVb: GE Senior Survey (Data)
CODING:
Holistic EducationInterdisciplinary teaching and learningService learningDiversity and Intercultural learningMiscellaneous challengesIntegrating Faith and LearningWriting intensive coursesFirst year seminarAdvising
ResultsNo of records in this query: 153
Total records in survey: 153Percentage of total: 100.00%
Field Summary for DIV:From what division is your major? If you have multiple majors, identify
the division for the major from which you have taken most courses.Answer Count Percentage
No answer 0 0 Humanities (HUM) 67 43.79%
Natural/Behavioral Sciences (NBS) 45 29.41% Social Sciences (SS) 41 26.80%
Field Summary for TRANS:Did you come to Westmont as a Transfer Student?
Answer Count PercentageNo answer 0 0
Yes (Y) 18 11.76% No (N) 135 88.24%
Field Summary for TRANS-IQ:How many Common Inquiries and Common Skills GE requirements did you
fulfill using work from other institutions? (Include AP and IB units.) Common Inquiries (Reading Imaginative Literature, Physical Science, Life
Field Summary for Comment:Please comment on the MISSION of Westmont's General Education
Program.Answer Count Percentage
Answer (see pg. 24)153 100.00%
No answer 0 0 Field Summary for Coherent:
Taken as a whole, how coherent have you found the General Education curriculum?
Answer Count PercentageNo answer 0 0
Very coherent (1) 36 23.53% Reasonably coherent (2) 107 69.93%
Less that fully coherent (3) 8 5.23% Not coherent (4) 2 1.31%
Field Summary for Benefits:How has Westmont's General Education program contributed to your
growth as a person and as a scholar?Answer Count Percentage
Answer (see pg. 36)123 80.39%
No answer 30 19.61% Field Summary for Change:
What changes would you suggest to improve the General Education program?
Answer Count Percentage
Answer (see pg. 45)118 77.12%
No answer 35 22.88% Field Summary for Comments:
Please include any additional comments you may wish to make here.
Answer Count Percentage
Answer (see pg. 55)34 22.22%
No answer 119 77.78%
If You used ‘other,’ please identify the source here: 17 Registrar's Office
24 non-academic projects of interest
27 Internet
29 Webadvisor
47 Class schedule
58 what i am interested in
67 liberal arts ambassador
76 Parent help
85 Personal choice
86 Registrar
98 Alumni
104 My personal interest and plan for the future
115 I'm not sure
121 previous knowledge of what I wanted to take
122 Q1: online webadvisor stuff
126 I found that advisors and teachers were largely unhelpful when it came to giving direction on a four year plan or even a year by year plan. Therefore, I created my own plan.
135 wrote custom program to choose ge's
140 program evaluation for major
145 monroe weekend
149 Process of elimination
158 Online GE information on Westmont Website
180 GE's that contributed toward my major emphasis
Please comment on the MISSION of Westmont's General Education Program.
11 Some of the GE courses should not be required because they are too much like high school classes.
12 The aforementioned mission is a lofty goal but a really good one. Courses I felt most achieved this mission in the GE program were Perspectives in World History (Chapman), American Writers (McEntyre), and New Testament (McDowell). These classes/professors did an excellent job in bringing relevance to their subjects in light of my faith which did (in my opinion) leave me with greater intellectual vitality as well as a stronger Christian character.
13 I felt that various aspects of my general education program overlapped and that my classes and my extracurricular activities were interconnected. I appreciate knowing that I have obtained a holistic education and I feel prepared to enter the working world after Westmont because of the general education program and other courses.
14 I think the mission is great and I think it is being put into action very well.
16 It's a good goal
17 The mission statement is well thought out for the overarching goal of a Westmont education. The goal of integrating faith and learning is possibly the most important goal to strive for, and this mission statement encompasses that.
18 Good.
19 I feel through the GE Program I have gained a broad knowledge and seen a real unity through everything I have learned. I don't see everything as separate subjects but as all part of God's creation.
20 I think the mission statement is good, but I am not sure that some of the classes are successful in fully doing that.
21 The connections I know of were made on my own. Classes could do more to promote intercultural skills. RS classes accelerated my loss of Christian faith.
22 it was wonderful to have well rounded classes however i felt like some of the teachers cared less about the classes because they were lower level and assumed they would be easier.
23 The professors employed on Westmont campus make this MISSION a reality.
24 At any liberal arts institution there ought to be a strong focus on the general education requirements - it is one of the reasons one would want to attend such an institution. By and large, I feel Westmont has done an acceptable job with the courses themselves and the scope of availability offered; however, I would like to see greater integration between what is being learned in the classroom with service oriented requirements in the city: to take to the streets with what we learn. Westmont has, in its mission statements, consistently not viewed off-campus and
out of classroom events as extra-curricular but co-curricular activities since we recognize that so much of the learning in college takes place outside of the assignments for class. But that language should be taken more seriously! How can we implement the material we learn immediately and directly into our city when we have so many academic requirements that consume our time? We are forced to sacrifice readings for class and oftentimes miss classes themselves to lead missional initiatives in our city. Should this be the case? Can the two not become one? This union between the two would aid the growth of many dimensions to the Christian experience; for example, the ability to balance both academia with incarnational mission, relationships at home (on campus) and those with our neighbors (off campus), etc. This would also help avoid the atrophied intercultural and communication skills throughout the student body through direct application (instead of mere theory) along with an increase in cultural and personal sympathies that extend beyond the campus. Too often, because students have been told that we ought to prioritize school work above EXTRA-curricular activities, it becomes difficult to develop a balanced lifestyle of schoolwork and service; however, if community service were to expand to the requirements of the classroom, then Westmont's language would surely be fulfilled as CO-curricular activities, fostering an intellectual vitality by forcing students to discern the relevance of material being taught as we would have to make it relevant to the needs and concerns of our city (and if there is not relevance...why is it being taught?) It will also teach Christian character through a consistent call to pass on to others what has been given unto us and thereby an integrated training of students unto a commitment to service that will last a lifetime, since the balanced lifestyle between work and service would not be seen as a dichotomy of exclusive ends hoped to be reconciled in the future (but rarely, if ever actually done) but would be practiced as holistic and immediately available.
25 I think the GE program does a good job at serving its mission for well-rounded students.
26 I feel like I was exposed to a broad range of disciplines and they were connected to each other often. So often, in fact, that I am quite tired of thinking about how one subject relates to other subjects. I feel like I was exposed to a lot of information multiple times, almost to the point that some classes felt redundant.
27 The ge program is a waste of students time and money.
28 It is fine.
29 As a graduating senior, I feel confident in the liberal arts education that I have received. Because I was required to take courses in a number of different disciplines, I am entering the working world a more well-rounded, confident potential employee. In that respect, I think that the mission of Westmont's general education requirement program has been fulfilled.
30 Sounds like a good idea to ensure that Westmont graduates are well-rounded citizens that can apply their faith to other, practical contexts.
33 The mission statement is excellent, it is sometimes follow through in terms of
classes that is a little bit difficult, but overall it is great.
34 I loved everything about Westmont and although GE's can be the most frustrating (either because they aren't in your field of understanding or viewed as something to get out of the way), I've learned a great deal from all of them!
35 It is very appropriate
36 I think the mission statement reflects my experience at Westmont. I had great GE classes because of the great professors.
37 I felt like my instructors helped to provide a faith-informed education by encouraging intellectual curiosity and adopting a Christian worldview where the material allowed.
38 the variety of disciplines required has been rewarding, but the quality of a GE class is usually lower in standards
39 The mission as a whole is a noble one and is almost totally fulfilled. The part about fostering commitment to service could be stressed and expanded more.
40 I think the mission of the GE program is a good one, worthy of the effort it requires of students.
41 I truly value the attempt to achieve well-roundedness
42 I like praying in class
44 The mission as stated is not a problem. The execution of the program is. Changing requirements and then applying those changes to seniors with no consideration for the issues that may result shows an amazing lack of foresight. (Ex: Deciding that statistics no longer fulfills the GE it used to, informing students only after registration has occurred, then offering no new courses as replacement)
45 I think the GE program succeeds in exposing students to academic disciplines that they might not necessarily seek out on their own, which often results in a learning experience that is stretching and challenging. While "intellectual vitality, expansive sympathies, Christian character and commitment to service that will last a lifetime" is a very lofty goal, I do think that this is what I have taken away from my experience with the GE program. Those classes have pushed me and made me do more critical and integrative thinking than most.
46 I think it's a fair expectation, and reasonable as well.
47 Westmont's general education program is no different from any other general education program that I have experienced. The Christian nature is not commonly experienced.
48 GE classes generally do a great job of accomplishing this mission
51 the idea is lovely... the instructors however are not. my GE classes were amongst the most difficult classes i have taken here, the work load demands far too much time, especially when majority of the courses are not in the area of interest.
52 Westmont's goal to develop globally conscious, sympathetic students was
achieved through my education. The General Education Program not only cultivated my faith and gave me a passion for social justice but it also gave me the tools to succeed in any career of my choosing and to greatly benefit any service to which I dedicate my life.
53 I feel like the mission statement is an ideal goal, but not a completely realized goal.
54 The mission seems good, though difficult to attain each part.
55 I truly loved being able to take a broad depth of classes, but the limitations on the types of classes and professors made it difficult to find a diverse range of opportunities.
56 The goal is wordy and verbose, I think. I'm not sure what intercultural skills are. I think the idea is great, I just wish more professors and especially students really believed and grasped how crucial the GE core is to a liberal arts education. We tend to think of GE classes as obstacles or something to "get out of the way." Instead, we should see them as the foundation of a Westmont education. I think this needs to be better communicated to students and perhaps even faculty.
57 I understand the reasoning behind the GE Requirements set forth by the school and I agree that they are important. As a senior, what I have hated about the GE requirements is that, to fulfill certain areas, one has to plan years in advance or get lucky if they know that certain fields of study are not their forte. For example, if a person is bad at math, the reasoning abstractly GE can be hard to deal with. This is one area where, if someone doesn't naturally think in this way, fulfilling this requirement can be over complicated. To teach and relate to someone how to reason abstractly requires a professor who isn't totally entrenched in their field. The problem is, most of the professors who teach in the fields have a hard time relating the material to people who are not math, logic or computer science majors. Adding to this is the problem that no class is offered for this GE which realizes this. For all of the GEs, there is a class which is geared towards the general student population. Case in point, Dr. Sommermans's astronomy class is geared towards non-science majors. He understands that it is of little value to try and teach the class like he would if it was an upper-division physics class because the students taking it aren't physics majors. Instead, he teaches the class in way that makes it accessible to all students while still being very informative. Students walk away from his class, not only proving yet again that they can jump through a hoop i.e. fulfill a GE, but also learning something and maybe even gaining a new appreciation for science. There needs to be a re-evaluation of what classes fulfill the GE requirements and who teaches them. Another issue is that, at this point in a students academic career, some of the GE courses are pointless. Having college students take a semester of a foreign language is asinine. A student has to take a foreign language in high school; many take two years or more if they want to be seriously considered by colleges. Why then must they also take a single semester in college? No one will learn anything of true use in that time. Most people simple take what ever they took in high school, don't learn anything, and waste 4 units one semester. If all of this weren't bad enough, getting a class taken at a different
school to count towards a GE at Westmont can be almost impossible at times. For transfers this can mean that they wasted inedible amounts of time before coming to Westmont. The GE requirements at Westmont are a great idea in theory, but in practice they fall short. I am astounded at what is considered acceptable for a GE and what classes aren't. People are abroad for a semester, travel through Europe and still are do not have their thinking globally GE fulfilled. Instead, they have to take a lit. course which reads nothing but Irish writers. Which of these experiences got them to think more globally?
58 For the most part the GE Program does this, but there are some classes that are pointless and some requirements that redundant.
59 Overall, it was beneficial.
60 Westmont's mission to have students obtain a liberal arts education by giving students the chance to take courses in all educational fields worked well for me. I enjoyed learning about topics in Biology to Plato's philosophical views. I have noticed in my personal life that having a liberal arts education has given me knowledge that I would otherwise not have if I went to a different university or college. I am deeply appreciative of the opportunity I received at Westmont College. Thank you!
61 Some classes were too difficult for general education requirement... Like philosophy
62 I believe I have become a life-long learner, I have a growing curiosity for life.
63 It is broad.
64 Although it is hard to take classes outside of one's interests, it does make for a much more well rounded experience.
65 I think Westmont strives to produce a well-rounded student, capable of thinking about a wide range of topics from multiple perspectives. This base of broader study outside one's specific area of concentration of study not only enriches their major(s), but benefits the interaction they have with anyone studying fields outside of their interest. I think Westmont's orientation towards this kind of education has proven itself pivotal to my experience as a student and soon to be graduate of the college.
66 great experience, however liberal studies majors have most of their classes and GEs mapped out for them already
67 Sounds good
68 I think it is succinct and to the point and reflective of what I have experienced in my courses throughout my time at Westmont. I think it is wise to state the "lay a foundation for a faith-informed liberal arts education" mission first as that is one of the most fundamental aspects to a Westmont education. Overall, I think the statement is well-worded and appropriate to my experience.
70 Sometimes the combination of faith and learning is overdone. Although it is extremely important, it almost becomes cliche because of the overuse.
71 I think that having GE classes that explicitly discussed the connection between that discipline and other disciplines would be good. So instead of simply taking an English class and studying books, some of the English class would be dedicated to exploring how language affects other disciplines like science or business.
72 I don't feel as though I experienced a very "intercultural" education with other cultures other than my own within the GE criteria
73 I think it is important to have an introduction to a broad range of academic disciplines 1) to be able to make a more informed decision about which major to pick and 2) to have the opportunity to be exposed to other subjects outside your major and 3) to learn how to integrate and make connections between the things you are learning
74 Being a liberal arts college, students are introduced to both the breath and depth of the college's curriculum. I have taken courses in COMM, HIS, RS, SOC, SPANISH, PHY, PHI, ECON/BUS, ENG, AN, and possibly other disciplines. These have all fosters intellectual vitality.
75 I definitely have experienced most or all of the parts of the GE mission to a degree. I think its very important that you get the teachers on board with the mission if you want it to be carried out. It is their excitement about the subject matter that gets students also engaged.
76 I love the liberal arts because I feel prepared to face the world with an education in several different areas, not only the subject I specialized in. The general education program makes the liberal arts what it is.
77 I have experienced this mission manifested in only a couple of my classes at Westmont. In most cases it seems that the professors are not enthusiastic enough about the material they are teaching as it is monotonous and basic, but this factor fails to foster what the mission hopes to accomplish.
78 This is a great mission, and is exactly what the program accomplishes, whether or not the student consciously recognizes it.
79 The college has a great mission and in my experience has done a good job living up to it
80 Sounds good
81 like the broad range part
82 It is a good mission. Nice in theory, but the classes in many of the academic disciplines rather basic and uninteresting. Classes that are specialized are more interesting at the college level. For example, instead of a general sociology class, a class on deviant behavior is more appealing.
83 I like the mission, and some classes do a very good job at achieving these goals, but there have been a couple gen-ed classes I have taken at Westmont that did not seem any different from the classes I took at the community college from home.
85 I think the mission is achieved through the GE classes.
86 The general education requirement exposed me to course material and disciplines that I would not normally have chosen. This exposure, on the most part, was a Wonderful experience.
87 It's a good idea on paper, but not as good when implemented. Students don't care about the material in some of the classes, and are just trying to pass them. It would help if we had a broader range of classes to choose from (ie: don't have a Perspective on World History class AND a thinking historically class; same with the ENG comp class and the Reading Literature GE).
88 The mission of the GE Program is an excellent one and I hope that the skills I learned will truly last me a lifetime
89 It's a good mission.
90 wonderful foundation for any career, provides excellent training in basic skills and encourages me to think critically
91 I think it is strongly fulfilled through the system that is in place.
93 The courses I took did not meet every aspect of your MISSION statement. That being said, the "Ultimate goal" was achieved.
94 I feel prepared for any field I decide to enter - most importantly, I have the skills to integrate subjects and my faith.
96 I don't think they are taken as seriously because there are so many GE and not as many options of courses. Besides the religious studies requirements Christian character or faith isn't brought into the classroom very much.
97 Some classes were better than others at achieving this, and I think it would help if more of them worked on the connections between them.
98 I learned a lot about subjects I would not usually be interested in, and I think I became more of a well-rounded thinker because of it.
99 The GE class that aligned most with the MISSION statement was History of World Christianity with Dr. Rhee. I would consider making it a required course along with OT, NT, and doctrine.
100 adequate
101 Good
102 I believe the program encompassed all of the goals listed in the mission statement.
104 Very balanced. I appreciate that! One thing that is frustrating at times is professors who don't allow information from other classes to be used within their class when we are otherwise encouraged in our liberal arts integration.
105 It encompasses everything that I have experienced with my GE courses
106 General Education courses have been valuable in my college experience. They have fostered a desire to learn, even outside of my discipline. I have been exposed to many new ideas and thoughts as a result.
107 There should be an intercultural class that address ethnicity, race, and social economic classes.
109 This approach to general education is one of the main reasons that I came to Westmont in the first place.
112 The mission is great. It's the execution of the mission that sometimes falls short. Especially the last section of the GE needs to be restructured to actually encourage intercultural awareness and commitment to service. Right now they are structured so that they are part of a checklist and nothing more. Also, the names of the different categories could be simpler so the requirements are better communicated and understood.
113 The GE's at Westmont are great but there is so much busy work and they really should be easier. It takes so much energy to do well in the GE classes and takes focus away from my major courses.
114 I think a huge problem is that advisors do not know enough about the GE courses that are not in their department, so they are unable to discern whether those courses fulfill the mission. Also, some GE professors do not know how to teach students who come from different disciplines, or how they can communicate the connections between their field of study and their students' various fields of study. Other GE professors are adjunct and are not familiar enough with Westmont's mission in a larger sense, because they are only on campus to teach that one class.
115 I think it is a great mission and one that has definitely affected me in that way. I know of students who haven't had the same experience as I had, but I feel like I will walk away from Westmont having accomplished that goal. I will say, though, I had to learn about the GE's myself most of the time. I felt my adviser could and should have done more work to help me and I have heard the same from numerous others in different departments. Really educating the students in this process before they start so they know how to plan accordingly should be part of this goal (or at least an initial stage of it).
116 Although at times I felt that it was unnecessary to be taking such broad range of courses when I could be focusing on a more specialized area, I am grateful now for the knowledge I have gained about multiple disciplines and believe that the Mission is a good one and is effective in preparing students to enter the real world.
118 I agree with the mission. I think it states the importance of a broad education.
119 .
120 The mission is good; most classes fulfill some portion of this mission while others do not fulfill any portion of this mission, unfortunately.
121 I would not say i received much in the way of faith information as relating to the subject matter in my classes, or the connections between them. I think its a nice goal, but not practiced in the classroom by the professors.
122 Many of the GE classes were acceptable but there have been some throughout my
4 years that feel like a waste of time-- to be perfectly honest. They are classes that should be taken but they felt like a joke. For example, the GE history class I took was miserable. It was more of a primer in feminist writing than history. I learned NO new concepts, only facts. The christian application was very "right-winged" and unbalanced. And the actual subject material was no more in-depth than my highschool freshman history course. It was a course that should be a part of fulfilling the mission statement, but it was so poorly organized and taught. (this was one of the very few courses at Westmont that I really felt was bad though...)Psychology classes were okay. A lot of busy work though. The information was great, but it was taught too slowly. It seemed that the concepts were over-explained and not challenging enough. The religious GE's were absolutely EXCELLENT and fulfilled the mission statement SO well. I think it woudl be nice to sugest the easier GE's to underclassmen. I am in a Psychology class now and it... really feels like a waste of time at this point. Not because the class is bad, but I took it in highschool and the college version doesnt seem to add all that much.
125 Great mission statement for the GE Program. I wish there were more courses to choose from but overall, I think what is offered works out okay.
126 Its a great mission.
127 Westmont generally fulfills its mission, however some areas of the GE requirements are difficult to fulfill easily particularly as a transfer student.
128 Westmont's mission is great. However for CHM/BIO majors, we end up taking more courses outside of our discipline that any other major while trying to juggle labs and research.
129 It was good
130 I think this mission is overly ambitious for the GE program. Most of these skills will be developed within one's major discipline. Even then, Westmont only starts us off in this direction, it can't see these goals through.
131 I have come to favor the liberal arts while at Westmont so I agree with providing a broad education.
132 The mission of Westmont's General Education program is efficient and focused on a liberal arts education background. This is excellent because it allows students to have experience in all subject areas.
133 Westmont does well with encompassing an appropriate amount of religious and secular courses in its GE program.
134 I think that this is a very valuable experience for students to be exposed to various disciplines as they search for the major that fits them as well as a way to gain a broader perspective within their major.
135 Its overly verbose - your allowing academia to convolute and add unneeded complexity to what your trying to say. Loose the mission statement and get a 1-2 sentence mantra that is simple and clear instead e.x. The G.E. Program at
Westmont exists to provide students with a lifetime education, anchored in Christ that spans multiple disciplines
136 Mission is fulfilled.
137 loved it
138 Generally this mission has been accomplished well, especially in seeing the connections between disciplines. But there seems to be a large lacking in commitment to service, especially because it seems like most of my time at Westmont I have felt encouraged by my studies to not be involved in service, and that the time where I can really live out my faith is to come later, and not now in college. This has been very frustrating.
139 Some teachers and movements on campus seem to put a stronger emphasis on a politically-informed liberal arts education rather than a faith-informed liberal arts education. This is not in line with Westmont's mission, nor is it enjoyable.
140 I think that Westmont does well in achieving the goals set out by its mission statement. I have found that much cross-over occurs between my GE classes and I appreciate the variety of angles from which I can come at subjects. I think that the intercultural aspect of the statement could be emphasized more. If a GE was offered the specifically taught about cultural and racial differences, I would certainly take it.
141 I think that the mission statement fosters a good well rounded ambition for students.
142 This education program mission is very similar to my own philosophy of teaching and as such I support it 100%.
143 I have enjoyed most of my GE classes. Ofcourse there are some that ewre less fun than others, because of not being interested in philosophy, for example. However, I feel I did benefit and gain knowledge from even the GE courses I was not initially excited about. I did fulfill several GE courses off-campus, and that I think has also positively influenced how I feel about GE courses.
144 They definitely achieve their mission. They would not be achieved without all of the GE requirements, which fill each aspect of the mission.
145 -
146 being a liberal arts college the general education program is pretty broad. i enjoyed being able to take a variety of classes that i would not have otherwise.
147 I think it's a great mission and have appreciated the liberal arts program
149 the mission is admirable and ambitious but fosters true and whole education
150 I love the idea, and many classes were great... some, however, in trying to give a broad overview of a subject, tried to tackle too much. I don't remember much of what I learned from those classes, since we were moving so quickly through the material (history)
151 This is a mission and a program that I strongly embrace - to me it is fundamental to a liberal arts education. I chose Westmont for that kind of education and have been very pleased with the education I have received for the most part.
152 I agree with the mission - it's part of the reason that I chose to attend Westmont.
153 I think very highly of the mission statement however, I also believe that the GE courses could be more challenging in regards to the growth of one's faith.
154 It's not well advertised, but it's accomplished.
155 I think maybe we (students also, not just the college) tend to falter when it comes to the "commitment to service that will last a lifetime" because we believe that a 40K education should come with a Porche and a huge house.
156 The GE courses enable students to be skilled in a number of areas and provide a solid foundation for engaging in more advanced topics.
158 I imagine that's what it's supposed to do.
159 it's good
160 broad
161 It would be better if the professors who taught the GE classes were more accepting of those in their class who were taking the class simply for the GE. Most GE classes appear to have the sole function of recruiting people to that major and not actually helping students learn useful things about other majors.
162 Good in theory, but sometimes it just doesn't turn out that way. As a transfer it was really hard to get motivated for the general ed. courses required.
163 The mission encompasses many important topics, all of which were well covered in my GE courses.
164 To make us think, learn how to understand and learn, and have experiences in several different academic areas. To create an edu and allows us to have perspective on different aspects of our life and aware of different parts of our humanity.
165 sounds great and the professors really to incorporate it
166 Often there is very little done to connect courses together. Courses exist in a vacuum and no effort is made to create conceptual links between them.
167 It is the goal and success of Westmont College. The specificity of the Mission is what makes Westmont College stand out to other colleges.
168 I feel that the majority of this mission occurs in the final two years at Westmont in which one is enrolled primarily in courses for their major. Though it could be argued that the two years prior are formative and necessary, I would have loved to engage in the coursework of my GEs during these final two years and wrestled with the broad range of material during this time that I feel much more thoroughly engaged.
169 I did not completely understand the reason for the GE program until I was a senior and looked back at how much I had grown from the classes.
170 I appreciate the care of the whole person at Westmont, and not only fostering intellectual maturity but also spiritual and emotional maturity.
171 No Comment.
172 I agree that the community that the GE's are invested in portray the mission statement especially in terms of faith and broad-ranged academia. I have also felt that Christian character has been addressed well and is healthily encouraged.
173 I have gained a varied education. While I may have not wanted to take some classes initially, the majority of them were enjoyable and I learned a lot from them.
175 I think that the general education at Westmont fulfills this statement; by taking different classes in a wide range of subjects, Westmont is preparing us to go out into a world of wide experiences.
176 Most of the classes I have taken seem to be apart from this mission statement in a unique way. The instructor may state "Well, we are supposed to integrate learning so let's make this Christian." There is a divide that leaves me with unanswered questions. Also, if we say we are Christian and that keeping a healthy body (mind, body soul) is important, then why are so many professors unwilling to help a student out when he or she really is struggling. Yes, there may be the tutoring sessions, but if a student is depressed or having personal issues, the support from an instructor could be vital. We push so hard academically that we miss on the well-being of the student entirely. That student is so focused on success or making his or her way in the world that he or she may lose him or herself in the process.
177 accomplished
178 Mission is solid and encompasses many major themes/ideals that a Christian liberal arts school ought to embody
179 I think the GE courses provided a breadth of learning that was applicable to each course I took, and built upon each other. I was able to think critically about world issues, but with the ability to have an educated Christian foundation.
180 It is at the heart of the tradition of liberal arts to introduce students to the major disciplines and to demmonstrate their connections. I think Westmont does a great job of making that mission come alive, particularly drawing out the role of faith within each discipline.
181 It it is a lofty and ambitious statement, but in reality, its attitude and intentions are one of the things that initially caught my eye as I was applying for college and led to my decision in attending Westmont.
182 Westmont does an excellent job fulfilling their mission statement. Graduating I wish more language would have been required.
How has Westmont's General Education program contributed to your growth as a person and as a scholar?
It has helped me learn how to avoid doing meaningless busy work.
The accessibility of the teachers in my GE programs was wonderful - that helped a lot. The assignments were also often though provoking.
I think it has introduced me to different areas but I do not feel that it has really helped me grow...
Having come in with with several GE's already fulfilled and fulfilling many others with coursework in my major, I don't feel like the GE program has had an extensive influence on me. I found there to be very little material that was new to me in required GE courses, but I found value in them because I was taking them with students and friends from many disciples. GE courses therefore provided common ground to begin conversations outside of class. And they were a good opportunity to get to know professors from different departments. I also really appreciate the honors courses that were offered.
The General Education program here at Westmont for me was more of a source of irritation than a source of personal growth. I had taken every G.E. requirement required at the 4-year institution I transferred from, and when I arrived here, I was denied the vast majority of my G.E. credits for counting towards Westmont's requirements. I had already experienced the majority of the "personal growth" moments at my previous institution, and I had to repeat that entire experience here, including have to take Freshman English. In summary, while there is a possibility that a few of these classes would have contributed to my academic growth had I taken them all here, the experience of having to repeat all that I had accomplished before tainted whatever I could have gleaned from these classes, including the classes that were new to me.
I have a broad and expansive understanding of God's world.
It increased my knowledge outside my subject area. Had I not had to take the wide variety of GE classes, I would have not taken as many classes outside of my major because I would have been overly focused on my majorgood job of increasing my critical thinking skills and my ability to connect my major to subjects outside of my major.
General Psychology, which I took Freshman year, is the only GE class where I remember content. However, I think it has broadened the way I think somewhat.
the general education program has created a well rounded person who has had experience in all areas
I found out what I wanted to major in because of the encouragement of one of my Professors
It has broadened by range of knowledge and illuminated connections between
oftentimes contrasted disciplines.
I have loved it, especially being "forced" to take classes which I would not normally elect yet finding them extremely interesting!
It has helped be look at seemingly disparate ideas as if they were related to one another, or that they could provide meaningful insight to each other.
It hasnt.
Not much.
It's broadened my understanding of a variety of academic fields and has shown me how to be informed rather than ignorant.
Some of the classes that are GE requirements are courses that I would not have had the opportunity to take or would not have chosen to take otherwise, they have expanded my knowledge of subject area and have allowed me to having meaningful discussions
True to a liberal arts education, I feel better equipped in a broad sense due to GE requirements.
It forced me to take a broader spectrum of classes- most of which were invaluable
Taking GE classes has broaden my understanding of the world. I learned about current issues, as well as issues in the past that no one talks about. I have a general understanding about each discipline.
I was forced to take courses in areas that I would never have selected on my own. As a result, I truly believe I grew into a more well-rounded scholar and a better informed person. The curriculum left me with the realization that our world is a complex community made up of very different disciplines. The GE program gave me a chance to make contact with disciplines of which I would otherwise be ignorant or to which I would have very little exposure.
It has given me the thinking skills necessary to tackle a problem from many different angles. The program has taught me how to work outside the box, and be adaptable-which I believe I will find very helpful in life outside the college.
It has exposed me to a much wider range of disciplines and information than I would otherwise have experienced. As such, it has expanded the ways in which I think and operate in my intellectual pursuits.
It forced myself to open my eyes to things I was uninterested in; which in turn, expanded my understanding, and brought closure to my mind as everything I studied became related and interdisciplinary.
I know multiple things from different areas
I have found that because the concept of the GE program has been forced upon me for four years, I am unfortunately rather contemptuous of it now. Especially this year, I have seen more flaws than strengths... some of which
are probably unavoidable at such a small school, and in these economic times. I suppose this means that the program has succeeded in fostering critical thinking, problem solving skills, and a broader view of issues.
I appreciate the challenges of the GE program, particularly concerning the Thinking Globally and Thinking Historically classes. Those classes have pushed me to use critical, integrative thinking, and have encouraged me not to wall off my experiences from one another, challenging me instead to see the connections between disciplines and the way that Christ permeates all things.
I just look back at how over the last 4 years the way I view the world has changed, and I contribute a lot of this change to the GE program.
Little to none
Even though GE classes were not in my major, I still found it beneficial to learn and be exposed to a wide variety of subjects
to be honest it hasn't, as a transfer student i came in taking most of my GE's elsewhere, knowing what i wanted to do, so the GE's i had to take here were busy work that i just had to suffer through
Coming into to Westmont, I had a lot of personal struggles and was arrogant concerning my abilities. Westmont's General Education program shook me to a reality of needing personal and academic growth and then continued to move me to humble confidence. From the curricula of the courses I took, I was moved from personal involvement to personal investment in my community.
My knowledge has been strengthened so that I am able to use it in a variety of classes, which helps my ability to ask good questions and pursue answers that are valid to the world at large.
Taking art classes brought out the creative part of my learning experience that I didn't receive in my other classes.
It has significantly challenged me to become motivated about classes that weren't specific to my interests.
It has been incredibly formative for my concept of what it is to be a Christian citizen in the world. I have come to really cherish the GE core as an invaluable component of my education. As I am a biology/chemistry double major, courses in the humanities and social sciences are so important to round out my intellectual experience as a student. I have come to appreciate learning as a whole, not just in the sciences, and I have been humbled by the many difficult questions I have asked and been challenged with throughout these four years.
It has forced me to study in field which I would not normally have taken classes.
Westmont's General Education program has given me widespread knowledge about different areas of learning. Not only do I have knowledge of different topics but I also have a great depth of knowledge in those topics. Thanks to the wonderful professors at Westmont, my scope of knowledge has been greatly
increase by this program.
I have been able to study a breadth of topics and have pieced a greater understanding of the world together. I am more curious than I was before, and I am fascinated by ideas and how they influence society. I believe I have excercised the critical thinking side of my brain very much in the GE program.
I think it has made me a more cultured person.
It has made me aware of many things that I wouldn't have even heard about had it not been for the GE classes.
It has greatly expanded the realm of what I considered interesting, relevant, and important to my own studies, as well as given me an appreciation for all other majors.
It has educated me to become a better skilled teacher
I think it has been really rewarding to see all the connections I can make across class lines (I have found similarities between my history GE course and my psychology for example). I think this attests to the nature of a liberal arts education.
It has helped me form my worldview and think for myself. The religious studies classes have especially allowed me to create a faith of my own that I can understand.
It's given me more "lenses" that I can use to solve problems or interpret situations. It's also helped me to be able to talk coherently about topics from all over the disciplines
Some of the classes really got me excited about the subject matter, thus I pursued more classes within that major.
I have had the opportunity to take courses with professors that I wouldn't have inside my major. I feel much more prepared to graduate and enter the "real-world" because I have knowledge in a broad range of subjects in addition to my specific knowledge about my major.
As stated before, taking a broad range of academic fields but also the specialization in one field of study- Sociology.
GEs have broadened my perspective on a lot of issues.
It has given me a basis of understanding in several subjects, allowing me to pursue those which particularly interest me.
Contributed to me becoming a reason-guided Christian.
Yes it has expanded my interest in other subjects that I would not have otherwise entered into
Classes that were not general in nature, but specialized have sparked my interest in certain fields of study.
It has helped, some more than others. I really enjoyed my gen-ed classes in religious studies: Christian Doctrine, Old Testament, New Testament.
Gave me a good liberal arts education...classes I may have not wanted to take but had to take and ended up benefitting from.
I found that I had interests in other subjects beyond my major discipline of study. I was challenged to stretch academically in areas that were not easy, and this is always a benefit for any learner.
I've gotten to know a variety of professor names in different departments
It made me aware of topics as well as gave me knowledge I wouldn't have had otherwise.
I feel I've touched a broad range of subjects and acquired many interests.
it's encouraged me to think carefully about politics, current events, theology, social action, and other important topics as well as increased my ability to articulate my thoughts on these matters
The GE program has made me very well rounded student and given me an appreciation for the other majors at Westmont.
Made my faith my own, started actually enjoying learning, was finally challenged
Has given me a broader understanding of certain fields. Since we only take one class in an area though the information is soon pushed into the unconscious.
It has helped me to appreciate more types of people and their varied gifts.
I learned a lot about a lot of different subjects, and am now able to think about a lot of things in relation to my faith.
It has helped me realize the possiblity to cultivate interests in areas of study that I would not have found interesting intially.
wider range of knowledge more general ans basic understanding of many issues
broad
I have become a better writer. I learned how to form and support arguments.
I love that most classes do not try to push opinions and faith upon anyone, yet still incorporate and invite multiple opinions. That has contributed to my education and faith substantially.
I never had a semester where I only took classes in my major, I always had at least one GE course. Having those types of schedules help me relate what I was learning in my science classes to other subjects.
The GE program at Westmont has made me a life long learner. I will always look at things with a more critical eye.
It has widened my perspective to understand the world through different lenses.
The GE program has encouraged me to resist compartalizing my faith- it has shown me the necessity of integrating following Jesus into everything I do/study
It has contributed a lot to my growth as a person. I have really enjoyed the classes on the Bible and I have learned how to study the Bible and where to look when I have questions.
There were a couple GE classes that expanded my way of thinking, and helped me understand how other fields inform and are informed by my field of study (Astronomy with Dr. Sommerman especially comes to mind). But for the most part, I did not feel like my GE classes contributed very much to growth as a scholar or as a person. The only positive result I can think of, is that I had the opportunity of more interaction with students from other majors.
I have grown more at Westmont than I know I would have grown at any other college. The GEs allowed me to explore different areas that I may not have wanted to study otherwise and gave me an extremely well-rounded perspective on the world. As a scholar, I have learned to appreciate different subjects and see how they relate to my specific area of study and vice versa.
I feel more confident in participating in various conversations on a wide range of topics. I am more well-rounded and thus have more to offer to an employer and to society as a whole.
It has broadened my view of the world which is a very good thing. It lets me see things in my major in a different perspective.
The Religious studies classes have contributed to my growth as a person and as a disciple of christ, and Greek/History of World Christianity have aided in my ability to learn difficult subjects and react with my heart/mind to several difficult ecumenical issues.
I enjoyed astronomy greatly
Most of it was really great. Discovering how I should do things, work, etc. But that's also just a factor of being IN college and having all the work to do in the first place. As a person each class has had at least some one tiny little thing to offer. Some have been great. The Relig. Studies GEs were amazing. They contributed probably the most.
Some have been fascinating and totally worthwhile; some have left me bored and academically dissatisfied. I think that depends on passions and the teachers capacity to engage a class full of students.
It helps me appreciate other disciplines and not to be closed minded
Has helped to make me more well rounded
It has helped me understand that we can learn and worship God through every
subject. God's can be studied in science, music, english, and many other subject areas.
The New/Old Testament classes, Doctrine and Principles of Art are the *only* GE's outside of my majors that I've found worthwhile. Perhaps I am not the best student to answer this as coming into Westmont I had already been exposed to several disciplines via the IB and AP programs - most of my GE's were repeats of previously covered material in high school. Not to mention most of the GE's were watered down (far more than those IB and AP classes) - resulting in shallow intellectual endeavors due to the extreme amount of material expected to be covered in a semester – ex. 500 years of history in 1 semester is just silly – you can spend an entire year just on a few decades and still not have a great understanding of that period of history. Chem Culture and Society for example I found to be almost comical – in attempt to simplify the material our textbook and lectures presented simple outdated models that have long been known to be incorrect. Its college – students should be expected to be able to handle the rigor of a normal chemistry class, that doesn't dumb things down along with a lab component Furthermore the integration of faith and learning part is almost joke in most GE classes, it feels tacked on, random and disconnected – especially outside of the social sciences (where clearer connections can be found) In summary – the Biblical GE's I found to be quite formative to my growth, outside of that I feel that my time was wasted in most of my other GE classes dealing with material I had already covered in greater detail in High School.
i grew
Yes, it has expanded my interests, level of thought, and helped me become more sympathetic to other academic disciplines.
It has challenged me intellectually more than anything else and placed in me a desire to be a lifetime student.
I think with the inclusion of religious courses, Westmont education had added not only rigorous academics but faith in learning.
I have become increasingly aware in History and Religious Studies as a result of the GE requirements.
It has allowed me to see the connection between different topics- between philosophy, history, literature, music, and art. Specifically, the humanities. I never had to take an ecomics or political sceicne class, and I think that would be a godo thing to add to the GE course, a course or two that give students insight into international politics.
I feel as though from studying so many different subjects, I have been able to find and foster my interests. I feel that I know a little bit about a variety of things, which I think will help me connect with more people in life, and also has helped me to grow as a scholar-- i learned about things I never thought I would learn about, and have grown more passionate and interested in subjects
I didn't used to enjoy.
i have been able to take classes that i would not have taken otherwise given my major. it's nice to learn about other subjects from a christian perspective.
It's been helpful to learn in other subjects and I have really appreciated it. I wouldn't choose to go to a school that was any other way.
As a person I have become more sympathetic and confident, as a scholar I have become more articulate in communication
I have come to understand politics and global thinking from a christian perspective, something i had no idea about before college
I love seeing connections between my classes and feel more able to make connections in life.
Definitely spiritually, the religious G.E. classes helped me grow, mature, and ask the difficult questions, helping me to understand and be able to defend my beliefs.
The courses definitely have widened my views, but, again, I think to could challenge me more especially the religious studies courses in regards to strengthening my own faith.
The humanities courses in the GE courses have increased my curiosity in other subject areas.
By having to take courses outside of my major, I have learned to approach my courses from different perspectives. I have a foundational understanding of how topics relate and have been able to grapple with material I might not have otherwise encountered.
I feel very well rounded, but not like I know enough about my own major. Too many GE's does not make it readily able to have an emphasis in my major.
Not much
greater understanding on a wide variety of topics, improvement in comprehensive reading and effective writing
Forced me to grow in differnt ways by having to learn in different areas, learning how to learn with different profs, and how to think in different ways.
As a person, it has broadened my understanding of the world in several areas that I was unaware of.
It has broadened my horizons and helped me become a more well rounded person.
Commented on previous page. I know these classes have been formative but I would have preferred to engage in them during my more intellectually mature time at Westmont.
It has given me a great breath of knowledge.
It has significantly contributed to my growth as a whole person, including as a scholar.
It has stretched me in many ways.
I have begun to enjoy other disciplines for the lessons God can teach me through these specific lenses. Before, I was opposed to too much learning because of being burnt out in high school. Now I feel I have healed in my understanding of learning as a tool to better serve God and others. There are many different and unique ideas that can be gained more easily through A GE class such as philosophy that are completely different than what occurred in an art history class. The synthesis of both has been the real way to see.
Varied curriculum for a better world understanding.
The general education at Westmont has pushed me to reach outside my comfort zone. By practicing and constantly pushing myself, I feel much more comfortable coming to any subject and understanding it.
Indeed the GE program has allowed me to ask different questions, see through different lenses, and better integrate my discipline, however, I believe this could be pushed more. History of Non-Western Art with Lisa De Boer was one of the most foundational classes I had at Westmont because it made me question the way I view culture, society, art, identity, ect. I am not an art major, but I felt like I was actually in a liberal arts college when taking this class.
Exposure to a wide variety of disciplines has contributed to my growth as a person by widening my interests and as a scholar by broadening my awareness
I feel more knowledgeable about the world in general and have the vocabulary to articulate an educated conversation
The GE program at Westmont inspired in me a new respect for the wide-range of disciplines, many of which I had no interest in previously. I loved seeing the overlap in my major classes and my GE courses .
It's taught me the interdisciplinary nature of knowledge, but most importantly, the enjoyment you can find just out of learning, in and out of the context of the classroom.
What changes would you suggest to improve the General Education program?
11 Take out the busy work and tell professors not to take attendance. I have had many classes where I could have taken the final the first day and passed the class and yet I am forced to attend because of an attendance policy.
12 Everything to do with the Business Department - please improve! (i.e. Society, Morality, and Enterprise, Microeconomics (great content, poor instruction), Macroeconomics (same but even more so), etc.). Oh also, if the class Global Commerce and Culture continues - please consider adding it to the list of GEs for Thinking GLobally - it exposed me to thinking on a global level more than I can say. It really helped me get into the minds of current cultures foreign to my own (and in order to do it, it pulled from history well to help us really understand the best methods of conducting commerce globally).
14 Well, I just feel that the professors expect that we already know about many of the subjects in introductory level classes and it can be frustrating...
16 It seems one of the greatest challenges in GE classes that everyone has to take is that people come in at such different levels of background knowledge. Honors classes help address this, but I would encourage the Program to continue to look for ways to address this.
17 I firmly believe that Westmont has too many requirements in the General Education program. The common context courses and the common inquiries overlap the history requirement, and the common skills and the common inquiries overlap in the reasoning abstractly requirement, and having two separate lab science requirements is excessive. Multiple courses can be eliminated from this curriculum.
19 Make it clearer earlier on to First Years' how to understand how the GE works and can be filled and meshed with classes for the Major fulfillment.
20 I don't know. I must admit that I did not find the Philosophical Reflections or World History from a Christian Perspective. They both took a lot of time and taught me very little. The rest of my GE classes, however, I did appreciate the rest of my classes.
21 Doctrine should be integrated into NT and OT. Replace perspectives classes with electives
22 i would suggest that the education major and the KNS major have the same math and perspective and therefor forces each person deciding what they want to do to decide very quickly almost prematurely
23 except AP courses that passed with a 3 so GE requirements could be met before attending Westmont.
24 Further integration between service and academics through classroom requirement far beyond the measly serving society GE as it currently stands.
25 I think the writing intensive requirement for a class outside of one's major is a little silly for English majors because virtually ALL English classes are writing intensive. We get enough writing practice within our major. Writing outside of it is a breeze, yet the requirement to take a class to do so is a pain to add to the schedule
26 It is complicated and coming in as a freshman it was really hard navigating it. I felt that my advisors and professors weren't very helpful in helping me map out what I needed to take. I could have graduated a semester early if I would have taken one more GE during another semester.
27 Remove classes that waste time from being mandatory. Classes such as his 010.
28 More variety.
30 Greater flexibility with regard to scheduling conflicts.
33 More options of class times to fulfill certain requirements
34 n/a
35 I understand that many Westmont students came in with sub-par world history backgrounds- but the Perspectives on World History class should be narrowed to an era or continent
36 Nothing.
37 Even after receiving my diploma in January, I am unclear on the "double-count" policy with regards to certain GE courses. I was under the impression that only 1 course could count for two different GE requirements once during our career. Clearer explication of the "double-counting" policy might benefit younger students with questions similar to mine.
39 I think that all majors should include a senior capstone project that is interdisciplinary and community centered. I think each senior should have the opportunity in a senior project to display by means of word, deed, and thought to display the "interdisciplinary" and "commitment to service" that the GE seeks to foster.
40 The only thing I can suggest is possibly more focus on service-related classes. The serving society GE is a good program, but I did not experience widespread emphasis on serving others while I was here. It was encouraged, but there wasn't really any time when I was in a situation where there was focused discussion about serving others. It might have been nice if there had been some sort of option exploring the different aspects of serving others and how one might get involved.
41 I think it might be a little too expansive, expecting too much. The fear is that, in accomplishing well-roundedness, it will produce students that are mediocre at everything, rather than excelling at a few things
42 More choice
44 Grace. Options. Honestly, some of the decisions appear absolutely ridiculous from the student perspective. In Fall of '08 I went on Europe Semester. It had been my plan since deciding to go to Westmont, and I set aside specific GEs to fulfill that
historically have been fulfilled by Europe Semester courses. This particular semester, the decision was made to not include Thinking Globally in the GEs covered by the trip. To this day I cannot understand why a trip that took me halfway across the world, through 16 countries, and had a class titled "WORLD War II" did not fulfill a GE titled Thinking Globally. Would it honestly have taken that much effort to tweak either the requirements or the course to fit the other?
46 The GE courses do an excellent job at stimulating intellectual growth. However, some GE courses are too overwhelming or for introductory courses. I've often found myself committing more time to studying for a GE class than a class in my major.
47 incorporate greater interdisciplinary emphasis
51 make it more specific once the student has chosen the major. the only students who should have to take the general stuff are the ones who have not yet found what they want to do
52 Because of the dramatic impact the San Francisco abroad program had on me and because the cost of the semester is equivalent to that spent on campus, I would recommend incorporating the San Francisco abroad program into the General Education program. San Francisco provides a unique environment for learning about diverse cultures and urban challenges unlike whatever could be achieved within a classroom on Westmont Campus.
53 I really wish I had had a resource that would show me various possible combinations of general education within certain majors. My advisor in my first year assumed I understood the GE program. I wish I had seen possible plans of when to take GE courses. I would have -loved- something that showed what GE's various off campus programs would have completed, but all in one place... then I could have possibly been better able to go abroad.
54 GE classes are extremely difficult, especially the Religious Studies classes which takes away from the important major classes in which grades are more important.
55 More classes that fulfill requirements
56 I kind of touched on it on the previous page, but I will reiterate: significance of the GE program must be better communicated to students (from the start of our Westmont experience), and I also wish some faculty were more intentional about investing in GE classes.
57 As I have mentioned previously, there needs to be a re-examining of what classes fulfill which GE's. There needs to be a conscious effort made to have classes for each GE which are easily accessible to all students especially for areas which can be difficult to understand normally.
60 I am not sure if I would make any changes. Every class was challenging even though they were "general education" class, but that in my opinion is what separates Westmont from other educational facilities.
62 I would allow for greater flexibility or more choices for GEs. It is difficult to take
all the classes one wants while being on target with the required GEs.
63 I would make more options for classes.
64 It would be nice if more of the GE classes were offered every semester because I wasn't able to take many classes simply due to them not being offered the semester I needed them.
65 Have a course at the beginning of freshman year, that allows students to explore each of the majors/GE courses in those majors. Ask the older students (perhaps in their senior seminar classes) to tell why they chose their area of study, what it means for them in the future, and advice on what to go for looking back on their experiences. I think most students aren't exposed to how valued their GE courses can be, as far as enriching their chosen majors later on, and helping them choose what those majors will be, by means of exploration under classes they will be required to take. They often have an idea of what they want to get into, but haven't been exposed to many subjects of study that they don't know anything about yet. I think it would benefit many incoming freshman to have that kind of experience in a 2 unit course in order to give them a platform to stand on while selecting courses and a major.
66 none
68 I would suggest a more broad selection of GE classes to take especially in the art category.
70 I would allow more choices so that people who simply aren't interested in a subject would be able to opt out. Also, be careful about ad-junct professors because they don't usually do well.
71 Making sure that general ed courses were taught by top-ranked teachers in the department. Gen ed courses may be the only exposure a student gets to a given department, so if possible they should be taught by the best professors, not adjuncts or less skilled professors.
73 Include more discussion on how each class/subject enhances the GE program and integration of faith and learning in each of the classes. I had that in some classes, but it definitely was not present in others, so making the purpose of the GE program more evident and consistent would be helpful.
74 I struggled with wanting to take an English course because I took so many in high school and in high school I took AP/IB. I received 3s on the AP/IB tests I took. Those credits did not transfer over.
76 Nothing I can think of.
78 Some of the classes were very beneficial, some of the classes were classes just to check off the list.
79 Leave less options available to students in certain subjects. For example, I am not sure if it is still this way, to fulfill the philosophy requirement on could take basic philosophical perspectives or take society, morality, and enterprise and I believe one other class. However I took both of the two mentioned classes and found the
later to be a complete waste of my time and on top of that I did not learn much if anything about philosophy. All this to say I think to fulfill the philosophy requirement people should only be allowed to take philosophical perspectives to do so.
80 Offer more sections
82 Classes with more specialized material.
83 Have them really focus on relating their subjects to a faith-basis. It's cool to see how some teachers relate the most common of concepts to Chrisitanity or how we can use it to encourage our walk and use it in our everyday lives.
87 Don't make us take repetitive history or English courses if we have no interest in those. There also seems to be a lot of them, and it is hard to fit them in when you want to focus more on your major.
88 Give students a wider range of classes within the program to choose from.
89 Perhaps make more upper division classes count towards GE requirements? I've taken a number of upper division classes outside of my major as electives simply from interest, but it would have been nice to get certain seemingly relevant GE requirements checked by them (such as upper division English classes counting as reading imaginative literature).
90 easier ways of getting the requirements filled- for example, the arts component was very difficult for me to find a class at another institution that would be approved (also, because of my circumstances, fulfilling this requirement at westmont was not an option; otherwise i would have simply taken a westmont-offered class)
93 I find it troublesome that Westmont offers less intensive courses for the GE requirements that involve the natural sciences and not for other programs. For example, the GE requirement that is earned through General Chemistry or General Physics can also be earned through Earth Science or Chemistry, Culture and Society. The latter courses are much less intensive, and give the same reward for their completion. When we look at the humanities, however, we find that there are no courses comparable to CHM-004 or PHS-114. Instead, students are forced into a class designed for a student who intends to pursue a major in that field. In short, I feel that it is unfair that a English student can take a watered down physics or chemistry course just to satisfy a GE requirement while other students must work harder to satisfy a GE in a class designed for majors in that field.
94 a lot of courses that are writing intensive have not yet been approved to be - i.e. Child Development, etc.
96 Broader categories with more options. Some only have like 2 or 3 course options to fulfill the GE.
97 Try to make more connections between the classes, or the GE classes and student's majors so that they see some more of the value in the classes.
98 Make sure advisors actually know what GE entails.
104 I think there are many courses that can qualify as meeting certain requirements but don't, such as writing intensive classes. I know it takes paperwork to change, but students appreciate when a abroad programs (etc) count as thinking globally (etc).
105 Encourage students to take them through out their time at Westmont and not just in their first and second year. I appreciated my courses more the older and more mature I was.
106 For some of the categories, more classes could be offered. I know that for certain GE requirements I only had one choice during certain semesters.
107 There needs to be an intercultural class addressing race and ethnicity.
109 I just wish there was time to take more GE courses
112 Rather than having a Serving Society requirement, there should just be a community service requirement. You could require more hours (in say, no more than 5 different places). Students are serving all the time, but are unable to get credit for it right now. Also, I would make the Communicating Cross-Culturally requirement a bigger deal, especially with the recent emphasis on global learning. Finally, the AP Art History exam should get 8 units of credit (as the AP U.S. History exam gets). They both function in the same way.
113 The busy work is bothersome and the classes are too challenging. They take my energy away from my major classes and that has been hard.
114 Academic advisors definitely need a better understanding of the GE program, and they should also know more about the GE classes and professors. Also, professors who teach GE classes should be passionate about communicating their discipline to people who may be learning about that field for the first time, and should be understanding of students who have trouble with their discipline (this is particularly true of professors who teach GE math courses).
115 Like I said before, informing students thoroughly and in a way they can understand before starting at Westmont so they can plan majors/minors/abroad programs accordingly. Give them the information in a fun, easy-to-understand way. Also, I know as a freshman it is extremely difficult to get into certain GEs, so maybe giving more options to take a certain GE class that is popular?
116 More variety in classes and less of a workload, allowing students to really take advantage of enjoying and learning the material without the pressure of just trying to get the work done, therefore not really immersing themselves in the material. I can't count how many times I thought, "wow, this would be so interesting and fun to learn about if I did not have to hurry and write this paper, or do these tedious assignments."
118 Sometimes getting a bad professor for a GE class changes the whole experience compared to having a good professor. Maybe try to make the GE course good no matter the professor.
120 Teachers should not have to rotate teaching "Christian Perspective on World History", or some who have expertise in other historical areas should try to invest some more time and thought into their GE class. If a student has studied a language for 4 years and passed an AP test, they shouldn't have to fulfill the language requirement.
121 make History and English more integral into a general education, they are foundational for being an informed, capable part of society. Also fit for life should be more of a wellness class, with more emphasis on what it means to be healthy and smart, not based on how many laps or push ups one person can do
122 See comments on the previous page about the mission statement
128 Its a bit heavy handed in the non-sciences, thereby I feel that non science majors fulfill science GEs without the need to take labs which are integral to all natural science disciplines.
129 Spell out what is needed-catalog is confusing
132 I don't think that History from a Christian perspective and Philosophy from a Christian perspective are necessary. I had already taken Philosophy and History before coming to Westmont so it was like taking the same two classes over again. I feel that I could have taken other classes and learned new concepts rather than learning the same material over again.
133 Have more courses that overlap GE requirements.
135 There are several things you can do to improve the GE program at Westmont. First and foremost allow students to test out by means other than an IB and/or AP test – if they feel they have already familiar with the course material allow them to demonstrate competence in another manner – perhaps a Westmont administered test could be given – this will avoid students having to waste time repeating material from high school and allow them to spend their time learning new things. Second reduce the scope of the most general GE's this is what is causing them to be watered down – there is no way that much material can be covered in such a short amount of time, your sacrificing quality in exchange for breadth. I know liberal arts is gung ho about a broad education, but you must balance that with in depth study – a shallow education no matter how broad won't do anybody any good later in life, a rigorous education that teaches people to identify and solve problems in a “Christian” manner will however. Third increase the difficulty and rigor but reduce the busywork. I am in a GE right now that is far too easy, and yet eats up a vast amount of time due to useless homework, papers etc that are assigned. Make students think more, challenge them, but don't assign them work that is a waste of their time.
138 Maybe have some sort of class that involves spiritual formation or living a balanced and healthy life. And healthy not just in the physical fitness sense, but spiritually, emotionally, etc.
139 I wish that I could have taken more classes within my major - sometimes I felt confined to GE's and as though I was not delving into my major enough. Because of
this, now that I'm graduating I feel a bit more well-rounded, but I do not really feel prepared to work in a job.
141 I think they should add more classes that are GE but still pertain to our majors.
142 None
143 I would suggest that students are required to take a political science class. I wish I had done this on my own, and it would hae beenmuch easier ofcouse if it had been required of me.
144 I would suggest that at least a certain amount of classes have to be fulfilled by the end of sophomore year. I have heard so many stories of people who changed their major based on a General Education class, or decided that they wanted to go into a different field, but were not alloted enough time once they changed their mind. If students have the opportunity to explore all these subjects early on in their college career, I think it would minimize this problem.
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146 i have not met a single person who has agreed with the stats classes here and its requirement of the g.e. program.
147 Sometimes the classes seem to be too demanding for simple general education work. I might learn more if I was able to approach a little less material but more closely and with more time.
149 It would be good to offer more classes that satisfy the GEs
150 I'm not sure, but I know that it would be nice to have more room for students to be able to study abroad more. I had to drop one of my majors in order to be able to be on off campus programs twice, because the combo. of GE classes and the kines major was too much.
151 smaller classes, more discussion-based
152 Not so many requirements - didn't leave enough room for electives.
153 Im not sure all of the courses are necessary and/or relevant for expanding one's knowledge of God's world and His creation.
155 I would not require that humanities students take GE courses outside of the humanities, I would also not require non-humanities students to spend their time taking humanities courses. Though that information can be valuable, it limits the number of courses an english major (for example) would take in a major like history, because it would be necessary at some point for that student to get on with his/her major and stop (sadly) stop exploring other avenues. (I mean, we only have four years to get our right?)
156 To make sure that students take courses that they are interested in, make sure the popular GE courses (the ones that fill up) are offered every semester with enough sections to allow all students to take it. It is challenging to get into certain GEs due to popularity. Also, no GE course should cover three GEs.
158 Make it so that there are always NON UPPER DIVISION courses to take in each GE. Not all of us are interested in making our lives unnecessarily stressful in a discipline which is not our own.
161 I would suggest it be more flexible. I went on Europe semester and traveled to for an entire semester in Europe as well as in Israel and none of that fulfilled the "Thinking Globally" requirement. The class I took to fulfill that requirement was on Irish Literature. How can a class on Irish literature in Santa Barbara make me think more globally than my Europe classes including WWII in Europe or Narrative in the arts or Geography of the Bible. All of those European courses were taught in the context of the materiel even.
162 The expectations for general ed. is too high. These are not upper division classes they shouldn't be treated that way. they are too much like high school classes.
164 Add the special populations class from kinesiology to the GE program. Everyone has a disability of some type and we all encounter people of special populations.
166 Let literature courses count as both Literature courses and British Literature course. The way it is now, it implies that British Literature is not actually literature, and the requirement to take a Literature course and a British literature curse separately strikes me as arbitrary and unintuitive.
167 Possibly more alternates to the GE courses.
168 Space out the required time for GE courses so that one is still taking them during their final years.
169 I cannot think of anything at this time.
170 I would suggest providing more options for GE classes.
171 Make the GE classes offered during more times.
172 There is always room for improvement with GE's because of the limited nature in which they occur. There are only certain classes that can be offered because of logistics, etc. However, I feel that Westmont's balance has been strong. That said though, I would like to see some more options in serving society.
173 None
175 Better advising definitely. My advisor didn't help me at all.
176 Dive deeper. Don't tell the students you are struggling to find God in the material. Help us. Ask us questions. Be interested in the material. Show us how to work hard. I am a complete visual learning while so many of my classes have been verbal or lecture oriented. For a student like me please give something visual or at least a combination of verbal and visual.
178 Better education of its purpose at the outset of our College degree and encouragement to take electives (on the part of advisors) just for the sake of taking electives
179 I believe that more elective classes should be defined as GE, because they are very
applicable to life and the GE category. Maybe some classes can be seen as "more" GE, but at the same time, each class is extremely valuable.
180 While many of the GE courses are covered by multiple courses (I particularly enjoyed the opportunity to take Apologetics toward my thinking critically requirement) there are some courses which are limiting. For example, including developmental psych in the life sciences etc.
181 I believe there should be a stronger emphasis on the foreign language component, or at least a high standard or better program set in place. If this is a school that seeks to engage in the world, it isn't enough that students are just exposed to a foreign language. They need to use it and engage in it more deeply. I'd say there needs to be a test or an increase in the number of language units that have to be taken.
182 Require more language.
183 There are some classes that take faith based learning to a level that is unnecessary and a waste of class time. Although I understand the value of teaching in a christian way there were times when the close mindedness of a christian professor actually harmed their ability to be open and understanding of different points of view. there are also subject were incorporating faith adds nothing to the class and wastes times in a students already extremely busy schedule.
Please include any additional comments you may wish to make here.
11 Attendance policies make it feel too much like high school. I am an adult and should be allowed to make the decision about whether or not to go to class.
12 The Westmont Economics and Business program is in need of some fresh blood. Maybe you could consider turning it into a program whereby all classes are taught by adjuncts or people with relevant business experience. It's often those who walk away with their business degree that can give the most back to their school, but if the program they went to school for did little for them, it would seriously disincentive the alumni from contributing.
24 Thank you for all your hard work and love for this campus and its students!
26 Although I think the GE program is at times a burden and hard to incorporate into a major program, it has given me an exposure to a wide variety of subjects and probably kept my interest levels up over the course of four years of education.
44 I am all for a liberal arts education. However, if I am paying this much money for my education, I would like more control over the courses I can take. Going in to my senior year, I had VERY few options of courses I could take to fulfill the Thinking Globally GE or the Analytical Reasoning GE (I'm not even sure that's what it's called). I would have preferred to choose courses I was interested in AND fulfilled the GE. Only when I am interested in the subject matter will I apply myself and truly learn the material, thus making it worthwhile to have the GE system in place at all.
53 Thank you for actually asking us about this issue.
55 Liberal Arts Rocks!
63 Sometimes I think that so many requirements are a waste of time. I think my GPA has suffered due to the lack of interests i have had in classes that I had to take to fulfill GEs.
65 Its been wild. :)
66 My experience has been different due to being a liberal studies major- makes the General Education part much easier because we already have the classes mapped out for us
70 Thank you for doing a great job educating your students and being careful to create an environment of learning that is beneficial to our growth.
71 I think Westmont's GE program is valuable and necessary, but futher improvements can be made.
79 It is an excellent program that I greatly support
83 I love Westmont :-)
93 N/A
112 Try to encourage students to wait to take their Religious Studies classes until they will
appreciate them a little more. Also, it would be great if some of the GE classes were even smaller than they are now.
115 That's it. Thanks!
118 I really enjoyed my GE experience here. It's nice to not take only courses in my major. It provides variety.
121 the general education on the whole is good, and it is nice that things can count as double.
122 See comment on the previous page about the mission statement. it's been so great over all. But I feel that Westmont already knows that. If I seem negative it's just beacuse I am trying to give off the information for what needs improvement.
126 There needs to be templates that students can access for four year plans. Because advisors don't always do a great job of actually knowing what needs to be taken and then the students are the ones that have to suffer when they can't graduate on time.
128 It takes time to appreciate the GE curriculum.
139 I have enjoyed my experience at Westmont. One of the reasons that I was initially drawn to it was that it was less legalistic than other Christian colleges, but still offered faith-based learning. After being here for four years I feel as though Westmont has changed and become very secular. It seems as though many professors, faculty, and students are gravitating toward putting the reverence that we as Christians should hold for God toward politics. I feel as though Westmont has become more of an environment in which to develop one's political beliefs than a place to develop one's faith and Biblical knowledge. Because of this, I would not recommend Westmont to prospective students who are concerned about the nurturing of their faith while in college.
142 I miss you all very much.
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155 Give me the 100 dollars please. (No, I am only joking, you can give it someone else if you want)
158 Perhaps it would be nice if we could choose one of the GE's to skip or make it so that GE's could actually be applicable to our majors. For example, I have absolutely no need for logic or stats in my major, yet those were the only two GE's that I could take in that area based on the level of math that I am at.
161 I enjoy the idea of liberal arts but some portions of the execution are too caught up in the bureaucracy.
166 So much emphasis is spent on fulfilling the General Education requirements that students are often unable to take classes that they want to simply for their own curiosity and personal fulfillment. The GE program straightjackets students into a cookie-cutter education that leaves very little room for personal experimentation.
167 Having the abilty to double-dip courses is nice and allows for more freedom to take more classes of choice within ones major.
176 I have greatly appreciated my time at Westmont. I would like to make a few suggestions about the spiritual side of the school. So many friends and fellow students have had a difficult time with chapel and the worship style here. If Westmont is non-denominational, please be non-denominational. Branch out. There are so many different kinds of Christians at this school that feel alienated because of the way Christianity is approached. I came to Westmont very Charismatic and am now leaving bitter about the way Christianity is presented. We have all these programs to "reach out." I believe with that kind of language we are placing ourselves on a higher level and seeming better than those around us. No wonder people are fed up with Christians. Please work on integration. Please don't teach us to alienate others with our "great" education and "impressive" moral standing. I cannot even tell the number of people that are having sex and drinking right on campus. Of course they will never talk about it because they do not want to feel alienated. We need to teach GRACE and forgiveness. If, in fact, it is by grace that we are saved...tell us so. So many students are leaving lost because they see this Christian bar they can never reach. Teach us about redemption and how we are loved even if we get a "C" and even if we lose our virginity. I am so grateful I have been able to go to this school. I praise God I came here instead of a State School, but we are in a bubble and are leaving unprepared for failure. When we begin to hit walls and see sin so blatantly in our midst we will not know what to do. Give us more. Feed us. Show us the way. Yes, make us ask questions, but bring us back to a foundation in Christ. Thank you for your concern.
