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Crossings

Our Transition to Crossings

What is changing and what is staying the same?

  • Instead of looking at everything as requirements, we have three areas of student learning:
    • Communication (6 hours) – oral and written. New student learning outcomes went into effect in 2019, but there are no major changes.
    • Ways of Knowing (19 hours) – arts & humanities, mathematics, natural science with lab, and social sciences. New learning outcomes went into effect in 2019. For fall 2022 and after, students will take one 3 hour mathematics course and one 4 hour (or 3+1 hour) natural science with laboratory course. The previous general education curriculum also required an additional mathematics or natural science course, so this is a change resulting in a decrease in hours in this area. No further changes have been proposed for the arts & humanities or social sciences credits at this time.
    • Global Challenges (6 hours) – new area for fall 2022. Students will take a minimum of 6 credit hours, selected from two different fields (unless interdisciplinary), and at least three hours at the 3000-level or above.
  • In fall 2022 and after, the cross-cultural awareness requirement and the science and technology in society requirement are no longer part of the general education curriculum for students following the 22-23 or later undergraduate catalogs. The student learning outcomes for these areas will no longer be listed in the general education section of the undergraduate catalogs.
    • Courses that fulfilled the cross-cultural awareness and science and technology in society requirements should continue to be taught using content and/or assignments that fulfilled those requirements until the spring 2025 semester. This allows us to "teach out" curricular requirements for students following older catalogs.
  • The old “academic and professional development” and “distributed coursework” components of the general education section of the undergraduate catalog will no longer be needed. All student learning outcomes are clearly tied to courses, listed in the appropriate sections of the catalog. Departments may wish to keep components of communication, critical thinking, and ethical judgement in their major courses and curricula, but this will not be required as part of the general education curriculum. (Critical thinking and ethical analysis are integrated into the learning outcomes for the new Global Challenges area.)
  • In summary, the prior general education curriculum (pre-2019) consisted of 36 credit hours of general education credits, assuming no double-counting occurred. The new Crossings curriculum consists of 31 credit hours of general education courses, all connected to student learning outcomes. (The SACSCOC minimum is 30 hours for baccalaureate degree programs.)
  • All student learning outcomes for Crossings will be in the undergraduate academic catalog published in fall 2022. All student learning outcomes and assessment rubrics are also available here.

 

Image depicting Ways of Knowing, Challenges and Communication all of which are covered in paragraphs on this page.

Creating Crossings

Previous documents that helped us create the Crossings curriculum:

Minutes from University Curriculum Committee approval, January 2021

Proposal and transition plan from General Education Committee, October 2020

Update document from General Education Committee, December 2019

White paper from General Education Task Force, May 2018

General Education Re-Envisioning Blog (active from Sept 2017 through Feb 2021)

Events & Event Archive (reverse chronological order)

  • General Education Program Retreat - August 20, 2024

    The 2024 General Education Program Retreat is scheduled from 1:30-4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, August 20 in Humanities Hall.

    LINK TO RSVP IS NOW OPEN: https://forms.office.com/r/4RvtsLtpLi

    The annual retreat is open to faculty, staff, students, and other stakeholders to engage with our general education curriculum. We will focus on the Crossings curriculum in AY23-24, the Clemson Elevate #1 Student Experience, and future plans to guide student learning and curriculum. 

    Retreat questions can be directed to Arthur Alvarez (aaalvar@clemson.edu) or Dr. Rene' Schmauder (aschmauder@clemson.edu).

    Schedule of Activities:

    12:30-1:30 pm

    Lunch (Location TBD)
     
    1:30-1:50 pm

    Welcome and Overview of Schedule 
    Location: Humanities Hall Auditorium G66
     
    2:00-3:20 pm 

    Student Learning Assessment Data Roundtables
    Location: Humanities Hall, HUM 260 and HUM 264
     
    3:30-4:30 pm

    Choice of Two Concurrent Sessions

    Session 1 - Faculty Talk Global Challenges Courses
    Location:      Humanities Hall, HUM 260

    Session 2 - Integrating Experiential Learning into Courses
    Location: Humanities Hall, HUM 264

  • General Education Program Retreat - August 16, 2023

    The 2023 General Education Program Retreat is scheduled from 1:30-4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, August 16 at the Watt Family Innovation Center.

    All are welcome, especially faculty and instructors who teach courses in the Crossings curriculum, advisors, the registrar's office, curriculum committees, assessment personnel, and students. For questions, contact Undergraduate Studies Project Manager Arthur Alvarez (aaalvar@clemson.edu). 

    Schedule of Activities:

    12:30-1:30 pm

    Lunch is available in Watt Family Innovation Center Atrium.
     
    1:30-1:50 pm

    Welcome and Overview of Schedule 
    Speakers: Dr. Sean Brittain, Associate Provost and Dean of Undergraduate Learning, and Dr. Rene' Schmauder, Director of Undergraduate Assessment
    Link to Presentation Slides
    Location: Watt Family Innovation Center Auditorium
     
    2:00-3:20 pm 

    Student Learning Assessment Data Roundtables
    Facilitators: Dr. Rene' Schmauder, Dr. Tim Brown, Dr. Allison Fecher, Dr. Leland Fecher, Dr. Anne Grant, Dr. Jennifer Holland, Dr. Jim Jeffries, Dr. Nigel Kaye, Dr. David Knox, Dr. Minory Nammouz, Dr. Becky Tugman
    About: What data do we have related to Crossings/general education learning outcomes assessment and national surveys on undergraduate learning? How can we use the data to better live out our academic mission? During these interactive roundtable sessions, attendees will have a chance to explore undergraduate educational data and make meaning.
    Link to Box Folder with Data Sets
    Location: Watt Family Innovation Center, Rooms 106 and 308
     
    3:30-4:30 pm

    Choice of Two Concurrent Sessions

    Session 1 - Faculty Talk Global Challenges Courses
    Facilitator: Dr. Claire Dancz; Faculty: Dr. Felice Manganiello, Dr. Tara Trask, Dr. Becky Tugman
    About: Hear from a panel of colleagues who have developed and/or taught Global Challenges courses across disciplines.
    Link to Box Folder with Global Challenges Resources
    Location:      Watt Family Innovation Center Room 106

    Session 2     Teaching Oral Communication
    Facilitators: Dr. Taimi Olsen, Dr. Alyssa Davis, Dr. Leland Fecher, Dr. Beth Gilmore
    About: Faculty experts from the Department of Communication and OTEI will lead a workshop about teaching oral communication. Some students complete their Crossings oral communication learning through an approved cluster of courses, a course in Honors, or a course in COMM, and this workshop helps us to engage with effective pedagogy for the learning outcome of oral communication.
    Location: Watt Family Innovation Center Room 308

  • Open Discussion - Arts & Humanities Designations, April 2023

    Invitation: The General Education Committee invites faculty, advisors, staff, students, and any other interested stakeholders to attend an open discussion.

    Topic: Designations of "Literature" & "Non-Literature" in the Arts & Humanities area of the Crossings/general education curriculum.

    Purpose: Open dialogue and consideration of different views will let the Committee know if there are curricular updates or changes that should be pursued for a future catalog year.

     Additional Information:

  • General Education Program Retreat - August 17, 2022

    Annual retreat for faculty, staff, students, and other stakeholders to engage with our general education curriculum. We will focus on current updates to the Crossings curriculum in AY22-23 and future plans to guide student learning and curriculum. All are welcome. 

    Schedule: 

    • 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM, Check-in and Lunch, Watt Family Innovation Center Lobby 
    • 12:30 PM -12:55 PM,  Overview keynote with Associate Dean Bridget Trogden, Watt Family Innovation Center Auditorium & Via Livestream 
    • 12:55 PM - 1:45 PM, Faculty Panel, Watt Family Innovation Center Auditorium & Via Livestream 
      • About: We have a faculty panel of David Foltz (English & STS), Pooja Puneet (Physics), and Mashal Saif (Religion) who will respond to questions and lead the attendees in discussing more deeply our experiences with teaching general education courses.
      • View the recording (Clemson Log-In Required)
    • 2:00 PM – 3:15 PM, Breakout Session: Student Learning Assessment Data Roundtables, Watt Family Innovation Center, Rooms 208 and 313 and Via Zoom Breakouts 
      • About: Join us as a group to analyze educational and program assessment data, allowing us to make meaning across undergraduate education and student learning outcome areas.
      • A Box folder is available with all materials. (Clemson credentials required.)
    • 3:15 PM – 3:30 PM, Wrap-up Posters and Discussion, Watt Family Innovation Center Lobby & Via Links 
      • About: Posters are available on the Watt Lobby screens all day for attendees to peruse. Electronic copies of the posters are below.
      • Poster 1: What are open educational resources at Clemson and how can we use them? (Libraries OER website link). With Dr. Yang Wu from Clemson Libraries
      • Poster 2: What are enrollments in general education/Crossings courses? Current general education curriculum dashboard. a.) Link to Tableau dashboard. b.) Link to explanatory video about how to view the dashboard. (All Clemson faculty, advisors, and academic staff should be able to access the dashboard.)
      • Poster 3: What is the democratic participation of our Clemson students and how can we improve? Link to poster is here. 
  • Global Challenges Course Design Institute - Summer 2022

    Overview:

    • The Summer 2022 Institute addresses course design and redesign for infusing global challenges into Clemson courses and curricula.
    • Throughout and by the end of the Institute, faculty will be creating or delivering revised assignments and revised syllabi for courses seeking Global Challenges general education attribution.
    • Full flyer is available here.

    Key Dates:

    • Part I. Kick-off May 16-17, in person on Clemson main campus
    • Part II. Online course, asynchronous
    • Part III. Summer check-ins, asynchronous
    • Part IV. Presentations August 11, in person on Clemson main campus

    How to Apply:

    • A short application form is available via Qualtrics and is due on April 30, 2022 at 5 pm.
    • Compensation is $2,000, transferred to a Fund 15 account (for professional development or summer salary, inclusive of fringe). Funds will be transferred upon the completion of the institute. 
    Direct questions to:
  • University Academic Advising Professional Development Sessions - May 2022

    The May 2022 University Academic Advising Professional Development Sessions included an overview of Crossings/General Education changes. 

    The slide deck is here for the session with Dr. Trogden. 

  • CI Mentor Forum - February 2022

    The spring 2022 CI Mentor Forum included a session on "Making your CI a Global Challenges CI for the Crossings Curriculum." 

    The link is here for the Forum.

    The slide deck is here for the session with Dr. Trogden.

  • General Education Program Retreat - August 12, 2021

    We had a successful retreat, thanks to all of our presenters, organizers, and attendees! Information and materials are below for those who wish to catch up.

    Schedule:

    • 8:30-9:15 am, Check-in, morning coffee and poster sessions
    • 9:30-10:30 am, Keynote with overview of Clemson general education program, where we are now, and where we are going - with Associate Dean Bridget Trogden
    • 10:45-11:45 am, Data breakouts
      • Group analysis of assessment data, promising signature assignment examples from colleagues, and making meaning from data across student learning outcome areas - communication (written and oral), mathematics, natural sciences, arts & humanities, and social sciences.
      • A Box folder is also available with all materials. (Clemson credentials required.)
    • 11:45 am-12:30 pm, Lunch 
    • 12:30-1:15 pm, Breakout Session 1: Ddesign session on Global Challenges
      • A Box folder is also available with an at-a-glance resource guide and some annotated syllabi. (Clemson credentials required.)
    • 1:30-2:15 pm and 2:30-3:15 pm - Breakout Sessions 2 and 3: Afternoon mini-conference on teaching & learning. Each session will repeat, so you can attend up to two synchronously.
        • "I'm teaching a course in natural science or math or communication in AY21-22. What should I be prepared to do for our assessment cycle?" - with Dr. Rene' Schmauder (Director of Undergraduate Assessment)
        • "Updates & discussion on a Teagle Foundation/National Endowment for the Humanities implementation grant for a core texts-based stream within the general education curriculum." - with Dr.Angela Naimou (English), Dr. Ben White (Philosophy & Religion), Dr. Andrew Mannheimer (Anthropology, Sociology, Criminal Justice), and Dr. Pam Mack (History and Science & Technology in Society)
          • A Box folder is also available with the materials. (Clemson credentials required.)
        •  "Writing and using student learning outcomes in your course syllabus." - with Dr. Taimi Olsen (OTEI) and Dr. Madeline Smith (Director of Academic Accountability & Accreditation)
        • "Incorporating nonpartisan democratic and voter engagement into our courses." - with Associate Dean Bridget Trogden & Dr. Cazembe Kennedy (OTEI)
          • A Box folder is also available with the materials. (Clemson credentials required.)
  • What is a Global Challenges Course? - April 2021

    Clemson colleagues (Dr. Taimi Olsen, Dr. Claire Dancz, Dr. Kyle Olsen, and Dr. Bridget Trogden) facilitated sessions and Q&A sessions in April 2021 to go through the faculty development page on Global Challenges. Any Clemson instructors who wish to review the recordings can contact Dr. Trogden (trogden@clemson.edu).

  • "Creating 'Wicked' Students" Keynote and Facilitated Discussion with Dr. Paul Hanstedt - March 2021

    Author & speaker Dr. Paul Hanstedt delivered a keynote on 3/26/21 on "Creating 'Wicked' Students" and facilitated a discussion. Click here for the recording. 

    Dr. Hanstedt is the author of the books Creating Wicked Students: Designing Courses for a Complex World (2018) and General Education Essentials: A Guide for College Faculty (2012). Both are excellent reads and resources for faculty teaching courses in the general education curriculum and/or creating Global Challenges courses. They are available in Cooper Library.