Over the next two years, Houghton College’s Integrative Studies (IS) curriculum will be restructured to better meet the needs of students.
According to Susan Bruxvoort Lipscomb, Director of Integrative Studies, the current IS system has caused issues. According to Lipscomb, students often have trouble creating their schedules, and the system is at once “excessively complex and generic.”
In June Lipscomb and a group of faculty attended an institute in Oklahoma to study ideas about general education revision. Lipscomb said the vision proposed by the faculty returning from the institute is of a curriculum that is simple, unique, and works well for students. She said general education could be spread over all four years, rather than it being something to “get out of the way” as soon as possible. Lipscomb wants to make IS meaningful to students and to make it “reflect Houghton’s identity and mission.” She noted one way to accomplish this could be to allow experiences outside of the classroom to fulfill general education requirements, for example students could volunteer for Journey’s End Tutoring as part of fulfilling an outcome for global engagement.
However, not all faculty members feel these changes are necessary. “I am not entirely persuaded that it [the current IS system] didn’t work,” said former director of IS, professor Peter Meilaender. “I would be quite happy for things to stay the way they are.” Meilaender also said he does not think the system is as confusing as some have suggested.
Both Meilaender and Lipscomb agreed making changes will be difficult because “so much is at stake.” The new proposal will have to be approved by faculty government.
Senior James Pratt agreed with Lipscomb saying, “Every semester I have trouble with my schedule.” However, sophomore Alanna Paris, disagreed and said,“Overall I’ve found Integrative Studies straightforward and attainable to achieve. The general education courses are usually interesting and make my overall experience more enriching.”