I just read over a lengthy e-mail from GA Perimeter College President Anthony Tricoli. By way of background, I'll mention that he began his work as President at GPC in the fall of 2006, and several months later his wife, Robin, was chosen to fill the brand new position of Associate Provost of Institutional Strategic Planning at UGA. His recent e-mail concerned the redefined mission and goals of GPC. I was struck over and over again by the overlap of language between this document and the language of Models A and B proposed by the committee seeking to reform the USG core curriculum. The GPC mission includes preparing students to "thrive in a global society" and "to compete in a global workplace." It promises to promote "cooperation across organizational boundaries" and a "culture of teamwork." These are just a few samples of the many words and phrases that intersect with Models A and B. These and many similar words and phrases are repeated over and over again like mantras. It makes me wonder if some USG presidents have received their "talking points" from the Chancellor's Office and are already working the proposed changes into the language of institutional documents, before the process of reforming the core has produced any consensus or conclusions. It makes me think that perhaps the reform has been a "done deal" from the start, regardless of what faculty say, do, or think.
Posted by: Steven Beauchamp
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