LANCASTER — The Academics Committee gathered Thursday to examine general education requirements and accreditation standards.
Dennis Irwin, dean of OU's Russ College of Engineering and Technology, spoke to the Board of Trustees about the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology at Thursday's Lancaster meeting.
ABET’s vision is to “provide world leadership in assuring quality and in stimulating innovation in applied science, computer, engineering, and technology education,” Irwin said.
In addition to discussing various accreditation programs throughout OU, the board went over general education requirements for the college.
For the past two centuries, the overarching purpose of an Ohio University education has remained the same, Executive Vice President and Provost Pam Benoit said.
“Our goal is to equip individuals with the skills and knowledge necessary to be good governors of self and society,” Benoit said.
The board also discussed general education.
“General education is really something that a university does that is unique,” Board of Trustees Secretary Tom Davis said. “Our general education is really what represents Ohio University.”
Trustees said they are trying to get students engaged in their general education courses.
“I was talking to some of my peers about general education courses, and at times they might say that they don’t want to engage, but I think that you get so much more out of a class if you do get involved,” Student Trustee Allison Arnold said. “It just works.”
Benoit discussed OU's current student-faculty ratio from last year, which was 19:1.
“We are doing very well in student faculty engagements in comparison to other institutions,” Benoit said.
Tricia Turley-Brandenburg, senior associate athletic director for compliance and student services at OU, updated trustees on intercollegiate athletics at OU.
“Eighty-nine student-athletes at OU were on the dean’s list, and 28 of these students had a 4.0,” Turley-Brandenburg said. “We are very proud of these numbers.”
Brandenburg also announced that Ohio Athletics has not had any major violations or infractions.
“We have reported between 10-12 secondary violations this year, which are very minor,” Brandenburg said. “For example, we had to report when we accidently listed a student athlete as a senior in a pamphlet when he was actually a junior.”
The Board of Trustees will meet again in April.
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