In June 2021, ATI launched a case study series to highlight how members of its academic equity community of practice are using data to promote more inclusive learning environments. The second installment, Using Equity Data to Guide the Design and Implementation of the New General Education Curriculum at Ohio State, details The Ohio State University’s (Ohio State’s) quest to reimagine its general education (GE) curriculum in ways that ensure all students can make progress toward their academic and professional goals.
The brief spotlights Ohio State’s four-stage process to make good on this goal, spearheaded by a diverse design committee of students, staff, faculty, and senior leaders from across the university system. Drawing on existing surveys, insights from more than 1,000 key stakeholders across extensive listening sessions, and institutional data on participation in GE courses, the resulting curriculum will promote a better understanding of cultural competence and diversity, equity, and inclusion issues; include more relevant service and experiential learning opportunities; and encourage more widespread participation.
In addition to the design and development process, the brief spotlights core elements of such a curriculum, including:
- A holistic learning program evaluated via course-level assessments and a culminating Bookend seminar
- A laddered approach to evaluation, assessing progress in student understanding
- A reliance on baseline data to track progress toward institutional goals related to student success
- A collaborative approach to course and program-level assessment
These insights have positioned Ohio State to put a curriculum into place by Fall 2022 that reflects its growing diversity, expanding scholarship, and commitment to ensure the success of all of its students.