Students in Seminar Present Views on Curriculum

Students, who earned an hour of pass/D/fail credit for participating, expressed mixed feelings on the proposal.

Students unanimously opposed the elimination of the swim test and physical education requirement, saying they are longstanding traditions that set UNC apart from other schools.

The proposed curriculum would replace the physical education requirement with a wellness course.

Sophomore Matthew Calabria and freshman Arielle Pacer said the requirement would be repetitive, playing off what students learned in high school health classes. "At a time when obesity is skyrocketing, it makes more sense to keep the physical education requirement than to lower it," said junior Matthew Tepper.

Laurie McNeil, steering committee chairwoman, said the proposal would permit students to take another course in wellness or physical education that would count as a one-credit elective toward the 120-credit minimum for graduation.

Karen Gil, senior associate dean for undergraduate education, said students won't lose the diversity of physical education classes offered and compared the proposal to science classes. "My vision is that you can take the class with a lab or you can take the class without a lab," she said.

Though it was clear to students that the mission of the new curriculum is to provide a liberal education, it was unclear how this goal would be achieved.

Students disagreed over the proposed Connection courses, which link together a variety of fields. While they agreed that the courses were too confusing and that there were not enough courses offered to students, there was debate as to whether UNC should have courses that work in an inclusive circle.

Tepper said that he does not think all courses needed to be connected and that the outlying classes are valuable to a well-rounded education.

But sophomore Ashley Castevens said she prefers a strong connection between classes over fragmentation.

There also was debate over the Foreign Language Integration requirement, which would would increase the semesters in which students would be required to take a foreign language from three to four.

Overall, the students seemed to be in favor of the proposed curriculum, but they all said some kinks still need to be worked out.

After the seminar, Academic Affairs Chairwoman Kim Sexton and interim Student Body Secretary Matthew Compton said it couldn't have been more valuable. Compton said disagreements seen within the students and faculty were expected. "With any movement this big, there are going to be disagreements."

The proposal now is under review by the Education Policy Committee of the Faculty Council, Sexton said. "It is not in anyone's interest to rush this decision."

Proposal review by the full Faculty Council is scheduled for March, April or May, but it is unknown if it will have passed through the committee by then.

The University Editor can be reached at udesk@unc.edu.