Reenvisioning 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 reenvision 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 reenvisioning 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

• Denise Bartell, Ph.D., Associate Provost
• Charmaine Crawford, Ph.D., Associate Professor
• Edward Dauterich, Ph.D., Professor
• David Dees, Ph.D., Associate Professor
• Claudia Gomez, Ph.D., Associate Professor
• Mary Kutchin, MSN, RN, Associate Lecturer
• Jenny Marcinkiewicz, Ph.D., Associate Professor and Director
• Mandy Munro-Stasiuk, Ph.D., Dean 
• Eboni Pringle, Ph.D., Dean
• C. Lockwood Reynolds, Ph.D., Associate Professor
• 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

Throughout the 2023 academic year, the Reenvisioning Kent Core steering committee worked diligently to engage the campus community so that the Kent Core is consistent with the university’s mission and vision and prepares students for success. Learn more about the work completed over the 2023 academic year.

Phase I – Spring 2022 (January – May) 

• Develop general approach and strategy.
• Coordinate Academic Unit Listening Tour.
• Seek nominations for subcommittee membership for Fall 2022.
• Launch Reenvisioning the Kent Core website.
• Launch feedback link for website.
• Produce brief Reenvisioning the Kent Core video.

Phase II – Summer 2022 (June – August) 

• Coordinate Academic Unit Listening Tour.
• Finalize subcommittee membership for Fall 2022.
• Develop scope and goals for each subcommittee.
• Review current mission statement.
• Develop initial plan for data gathering strategies. 

Phase III – Fall 2022 (September – December) 

• Launch Academic Unit Listening Tour.
• Analyze data from Academic Unit Listening Tours.
• Subcommittees meet regularly to develop recommendations.
• Gather data.

Phase IV – Spring 2023 (January – May) 

• Academic Unit Listening Tours conclude.
• Complete data Analysis from Academic Unit Listening Tours.
• Layer NSSE data (from 2014, 2017, 2020) and Advisor data (from 2018) into the Academic Unit Listening Tour data.
• Subcommittees continue to meet regularly and provide recommendations.
• Co-chairs report out subcommittee progress to:
  • Academic Leadership Group (including Regional Campuses)
  • Chairs and Directors
  • Educational Policies Council
  • Faculty Senate
  • Faculty Senate Executive Committee
  • Undergraduate Advising Deans
  • Undergraduate Deans Council
• End of Semester Appreciation Event.
• Preperation for Alumni Phone Campaign.

Phase V – Summer 2023 (June – August) 

• Design and launch Advisor Listening Tour.
• Use subcommittees recommendations to begin research on infrastructure and implementation.
• Develop strategy to conduct Student Listening Tours.
• Complete data analysis of Academic Unit Listening Tour, NSSE data (2014, 2017, 2020) and Advisor data (2018).
• Launch Alumni Phone Campaign.

Phase VI – Fall 2023 (September – December) 

• Fall Kickoff Summit (details TBD).
• Finalize initial phase of Budgetary Reform, Design and Distinctiveness subcommittee work. 
• Subcommittee work focusing on:
  • Diversity Requirement
  • Experiential Learning Requirement (ELR)
  • Writing Intensive Requirement
  • Integrative and Interdisciplinary Experiences
  • Competency and Skill-Based Learning
  • College Credit Plus (CCP), Transfer Credits, and Associate Degrees
• Create Core Sustainability Subcommittee.
• Develop initial Pilot Implementation Strategy.
  • Present Pilot Implementation Strategy to Academic Units and stakeholders.

Phase VII – Spring 2024 (January – May) 

• Begin Pilot phase (contingent on feedback from Faculty Senate).
• Begin assessment of Pilot with AAC&U Assessment Rubrics.

Phase VIII – Summer 2024 (June – August) 

• To be determined.

Phase IX – Fall 2024 (September – December) 

• Present Implementation Strategy to Faculty Senate. 

Phase X – Spring 2025 (January – May) 

• To be determined.

Phase XI – Summer 2025 (June – August) 

• To be determined.

Phase XII – Fall 2025 (September – December) 

• Implementation for Freshman Fall 2025 Cohort through Fall 2028. 

This timeline is subject to change and will continue to be updated.

The three subcommittees of the Re-envisioning Kent Core steering committee accomplished a great deal this year, including a focus on developing:

• Distinctiveness – Recommendations regarding a Kent State distinctive general education program that is consistent with the university’s mission, vision, and values.
• Design – Recommendations regarding the organization and structure of the general education program. 
• Budgetary Reform – Recommendations regarding the budgeting model for the general education program.
• To get further information about the re-envision Kent Core process and to get updates, go to https://www.kent.edu/provost/reenvisioning-kent-core.

Access the Report Highlights

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 reenvisioning the Kent Core