The student government body voted to recommend that a curriculum subcommittee develop changes to DYAD courses.
The unofficial vote at the Sept. 30 student government meeting was taken at the request of the General Education Subcommittee. Students cast 28 votes for changes to the DYAD. Separately, 21, 20 and 15 votes were cast for the addition of diversity-based INSTs, removal of the foreign language requirement and changes to science INSTs that would put a greater emphasis on environmental studies.
The General Education Subcommittee was developed by the Curriculum Committee to examine and recommend changes to general education requirements. The committee is considering proposals to change major sizes following a vote in Senate to reduce them.
The vote was pitched by Rebecca Weinel, student senator and member of the General Education Subcommittee.
Weinel said in the meeting that the subcommittee is considering changing DYAD classes to one four-hour class taught by two professors rather from two four-hour classes.
Although the DYAD requirement received the most votes, Weinel said in an email that "[The subcommittee is] definitely not taking any of these classes off the drawing board completely."
The diversity requirement, according to Weinel, may replace the culture INST classes as a result of student demand.
“A lot of students requested at the end of last year during the different diversity meetings, a lot of students demanded a diversity requirement in general education,” said Weinel. “It’s a little bit hard to squeeze that in as we do have rules we have to follow by the state but we are looking at that being a new strain of INST-type things.”
Student senators recommended changes to the DYAD requirement and an added diversity requirement rather than removing the foreign language requirement or bringing more focus to environmental issues in science INST classes.
The next meeting of the General Education Subcommittee is scheduled for Oct. 12.
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