This fall, UC Merced launches a new undergraduate education program that fully supports students in achieving the Hallmarks of the Baccalaureate Degree at UC Merced.
The program nurtures a spirit of inquiry among students, building their knowledge of disciplines, cultures and perspectives in the context of the San Joaquin Valley, General Education Implementation Team lead Erin Webb said.
“The faculty have created a program that teaches students what it means to be at a research university and to feel empowered to use what they learn here to address the local and global challenges of our changing world,” Webb said. “The approved program helps to accomplish those goals.”
The program, which rolls out to first-year, non-transfer students in the fall, includes the new Spark seminar series, Intellectual Experience Badges and an ePortfolio that can be used to showcase a student’s undergraduate work and prepare for life after graduation.
Spark seminars introduce students to the research life, focusing on the nature of inquiry. Students explore topics over the semester that aim to spark creativity and interdisciplinarity. Seminars planned for the fall include “Should I Donate a Kidney?” and “Crochet and Hyperbolic Geometry,” among others.
Intellectual Experience Badges can be achieved through coursework and co-curricular activities. There are 11 required areas of intellectual experience but numerous ways to customize the badges to suit the needs and the goals of each student.
Staff members can learn more about the program and requirements in June by attending information sessions hosted by the General Education Implementation Team. There are two sessions planned at this point:
- 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 5, on campus in Classroom and Office Building Room 102
- 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 12, at the Downtown Campus Center in Classroom 105.
The sessions will focus on the basics of the new GE requirements and how courses might be shared between different requirements. Attendees will learn about the Spark seminars and the badges. Webb encourages all to attend.
“UC Merced is known for the close relationships developed between students, faculty, and staff,” she said. “That’s why, as we embark on this journey together, it’s important everyone on staff has current, accurate information on the new GE requirements.”
For information on the workshops or to schedule a program update for your staff, email ge@ucmerced.edu.
