Re-envisioning the Kent Core

Dear Colleagues,

I am happy to announce the launch of a new strategic planning process in the Division of Academic Affairs to re-envision the Kent Core, the university’s general education program. The planning process will be guided by a steering committee comprised of faculty, administrators and students from around the University.

This multi-year process will begin over the next several months and will include opportunities for our University community to assist with the development of this re-envisioning by providing critical insight and perspectives in considering the future of the Kent Core. Key questions to be answered from this process include:

• What is the significance of a general education program and how do we ensure that the Kent Core delivers on the significant values we espouse?
• What can we do to make our Kent Core distinct and aligned with our own university mission and core values?
• What are the experiences associated with the Kent Core that are critical for Kent State students?
• How do we better align the Kent Core with academic majors? 

In the coming weeks, you will receive invitations to participate in departmental and college conversations regarding the Kent Core. Please encourage colleagues in each of your divisions and colleges to take part in these opportunities when they arise. The inclusivity of this process is paramount in ensuring that we have a strategic plan for the Kent Core that we can all be proud of. 

My best,

Melody Tankersley, PhD
Senior Vice President and Provost

• Charmaine Crawford, Ph.D., Associate Professor
• Edward Dauterich, Ph.D., Professor
• David Dees, Ph.D., Dean and Chief Administrative Officer
• Claudia Gomez, Ph.D., Associate Professor
• Mary Kutchin, MSN, RN, Associate Lecturer
• Jenny Marcinkiewicz, Ph.D., Associate Professor and Director
• Eboni Pringle, Ph.D., Dean
• Alison Smith, Ph.D., Dean, (Co-Chair)
• Manfred van Dulmen, Ph.D., Senior Associate Provost and Dean, (Co-Chair)
• Robin Vande Zande, Ph.D., Professor
• Sean Veney, Ph.D., Associate Professor
• Kathy Zarges, Assistant Dean, Advising Student Success and Licensure
• Brandon Allen, Director, Undergraduate Student Senate
• Sydney Maller, Senator, Undergraduate Student Senate

Dear Colleagues:

Earlier this semester Provost Tankersley announced the launch of the strategic planning process of Re-envisioning the Kent Core, the university's general education program. This past semester the steering committee has focused on developing the multi-year process and strategy to re-envision our general education program.

A key and important part of the re-envisioning general education process is community engagement. In September the steering committee will engage in conversations with academic units across all campus locations. In addition, we will have several student forums and additional opportunities for you to provide input and feedback.

This Fall semester we also will have three subcommittees work on three important topics:  distinctiveness, design, and budgetary reform. It is critical we have representation from across the campus community in conversations on these topics. Therefore, we seek nominations including self-nominations for faculty, staff, and students from all campus locations to serve on one of three subcommittees this coming academic year:

• Distinctiveness
  • Develop recommendations around a KSU distinctive general education program that is consistent with the university’s mission, vision, and values.  
• Design
  • Develop recommendations around the organization and structure of the general education program.  
• Budgetary Reform
  • Develop recommendations around the budgeting model for the general education program.  

Committees are expected to meet biweekly during the Fall semester and potentially into early Spring 2023. Nominations, including self-nominations, closed May 31, 2022. 

These three subcommittees are the initial set of a series of committees that will focus on key questions we need to address as part of Re-envisioning the Kent Core at Kent State University. For further questions, please feel free to reach out to the committee co-chairs or leave your feedback on the Leave Feedback tab.

Listening Tour Dates Coming Soon.

Phase I – Spring 2022 (January – May) 

• Develop General Approach and Strategy 
• Coordinate Listening Tour
• Seek nominations for subcommittee membership for Fall 2022
• Launch Kent Core website
• Create feedback link for website
• Produce brief Kent Core video

Phase II – Summer 2022 (June – August) 

• Coordinate Listening Tour
• Finalize subcommittee membership for Fall 2022
• Develop scope and goals for each subcommittee 

More details about the timeline coming later this summer.
This timeline is subject to change.

Updates:

• Coming Soon

Resources:

• Guidelines & Procedures for Academic Program Review, Ohio Department of Higher Education
• Kent Core (General Education Requirement)
• Kent Core
• American Association of Colleges and Universities
• What Liberal Education Looks Like, AAC&U

1983: Kent State establishes the General Education Requirements. Previously, each college had separate and different general education requirements. The structure for the university-wide requirement is modeled after the one in the College of Arts and Sciences.

1985: The General Education Requirements is renamed the Liberal Education Requirements.

1990: The state-wide Ohio Transfer Module is implemented, patterned after Kent State’s general education requirements. The Ohio Transfer Module (now called Ohio Transfer 36) comprises 36-40 credit hours from five categories: English Composition (minimum 3 credit hours); Mathematics, Statistics and Logic (minimum 3 semester); Arts and Humanities (minimum 6 credit hours); Social and Behavioral Sciences (minimum 6 credit hours); and Natural Sciences (minimum 6 credit hours).

1999: The Liberal Education Requirements is reduced in total credit hours, and more course options added.

2006: The Liberal Education Requirements is revised to comply with a state mandate to align with the Ohio Transfer Module, specifically in the mathematics (foreign languages removed) and natural sciences (one lab required) categories. The mathematics category is renamed, and the Additional category is created to allow two courses from separate categories to be applied.

2010: The Liberal Education Requirements is revised to remove the restriction that students’ major courses cannot count toward the requirement. The requirement is renamed the Kent Core.

2011: Following a mandate from the state, an abbreviated Kent Core is required for all applied associate degrees (e.g., A.A.B., A.A.S., A.T.S.).

2013: The Kent Core is revised to allow courses from any category to count toward the Additional category.

2021: For the past 10 years, Faculty Senate has attempted to minimize growth of the Kent Core by requiring any new additions to be accompanied by removals, except for mathematics courses mandated by the state.

University Catalog Kent CorE (gENERAL eDUCATION REQUIREMENT)

We Want to Hear What You Have to Say

All university community members are encouraged to use this feedback form. Your insights are invaluable. In addition to providing general feedback, this form allows users to share their ideas, ask questions or share a concern. The steering committee looks forward to reading your feedback and using it to support our efforts. 

Leave Feedback regarding re-envisioning the Kent Core