The University is auditing all of its classes in an effort reflected in President Jim Davis’ vision for curriculum, a University spokesperson said.
During Davis’ inauguration speech last week, he said UT’s vision includes value, balance and completeness in curriculum. He would like the curriculum to incorporate elements that are not being taught and educate students on more than one perspective, he said.
The audit comes after Texas Senate Bill 37 went into effect Sept. 1 and directed universities’ governing boards to review core curriculum at least once every five years. Earlier this month, the University announced the establishment of a Core Curriculum Task Force made up of faculty that will review the core curriculum and propose revisions by May.
The vision Davis outlined aims to create a balanced curriculum rid of narrow degree programs, Davis said during his inauguration.
“Some say we have splintered and specialized so much that our undergraduates miss the big picture,” Davis said. “We don’t want degree programs that are so narrow that they develop only one perspective. Instead, we must provide a balanced education — a full education — for every degree program. As we do this, we need to be honest with ourselves and, when necessary, expand the scope of learning to ensure balance.”
The University needs to have a curriculum that fills gaps in its courses for completeness, Davis said in his speech. He pointed to the School of Civic Leadership, which focuses on civic studies, open discourse and political philosophy, and welcomed its first class this fall, as an example of filling a gap.
It is unclear when the audit started, but the spokesperson said it has lasted at least one month.
Dirk Mateer, a professor in the School of Civic Leadership, said he welcomes the audit because it can improve University efficiency and identify areas that are not meeting the institution’s standards.
“Any organization that does not monitor the quality of the experience is an organization that is destined to fail,” Mateer said. “So you, of course, want to go in and monitor what faculty are doing.”
Karma Chávez, president of UT’s chapter of American Association of United Professors, said she feels an increased level of anxiety coming from smaller departments that might see their courses shrink or be removed entirely.
“I was not surprised, but of course, I was disappointed because it’s a grave threat to academic freedom,” said Chávez, a Mexican American and Latina/o Studies professor.