ERIC Number: ED242371
Record Type: RIE
Publication Date: 1984-Mar-29
Reference Count: 0
General Education in Community College Vocational Programs.
Greenfield, Richard K.
In analyzing the role of general education in community college vocational programs, one must begin by defining general education as part of the overall community college mission. Broadly defined, general education involves the study of the basic liberal arts and sciences; stresses a breadth of understanding of human knowledge; strives to foster integration and synthesis of knowledge; encourages the appreciation of one's own and others' heritage; examines values; and fosters the development of personal qualities. Given this definition and its goals, the general education curriculum would include advanced learning skills courses, breadth or discipline distribution courses, and integrative courses. Critics of the community college general education curriculum express concern over the neglect of advanced learning skills in English, language, and computation; the lack of general education courses deliberately designed for vocational and nonmajor students; and the paucity of truly effective integrative/interdisciplinary courses. Obstacles to general education reform include definitional problems, faculty resistance, lack of administrative support, lack of student interest, red tape, few working models, and stress on maximum occupational preparation. To overcome these obstacles, educational leaders and faculty must be willing to take risks and invest the time and energy necessary to approach the ideal of excellence and equity in mass higher education. (LAL)
Publication Type: Opinion Papers; Reports - Descriptive; Speeches/Meeting Papers
Education Level: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Note: Paper presented at the National Workshop on General Education and Mission of the Community College (Princeton University, NJ, March 29, 1984).