Students who arrive at Bennett College this fall will participate in a new series of courses designed to help them become well-rounded, successful college graduates who are engaged citizens, prepared for the workforce and the world beyond college. The Pathways in Education for Active and Rigorous Learning (PEARL) Program reshapes the college’s general education curriculum to focus on innovative, interdisciplinary course offerings that empower students to shape the future as critically engaged, globally aware, and holistically educated individuals.
The interdisciplinary PEARL Program will help students develop fundamental skills in communication, quantitative and qualitative reasoning, and critical analysis, and prepare them to make meaningful contributions to their professions, communities, and the world.
Reexamining Gen Ed
In a process that evolved over more than a year, faculty closely examined—and then deconstructed—the college’s current general education curriculum, reimagining it to better address the academic needs of today’s students.
“Our two core questions at the heart of this were: What are the big ideas and themes and values that we want our students to engage with, and what skills and knowledge do they need in order to engage with them?” says Claire Heckel, PhD, professor and director of Interdisciplinary Studies at Bennett College.
The 36 hours of courses in the PEARL Program fall into the categories of Success, Health, and Wellness; Mathematics and Sciences; Arts and Humanities; and Social and Behavioral Sciences. But that’s where the courses diverge from the traditional general education courses. Instead of meeting degree requirements by taking introductory-level courses in a number of disciplines, such as mathematics, sociology, English, or a physical science, students will develop their skills and knowledge through multidisciplinary, problem-focused courses such as: Research in Action, History and Heritage, Engaged Citizenship, Creative Expression, and Global Perspectives.
Encourage Students to Be More Passionate After College
“Our goal was to move away from the menu of discipline-specific courses toward a set of interdisciplinary seminars that serve our students in ways that faculty can see that they need to be served,” says Heckel, who chairs the Curriculum Committee.
“We wanted to look specifically at our math and our writing courses and make them more relevant and engaging, to really get students more passionate about improving their skills in those areas and seeing how doing that applies to the lives they imagine after college.”
Most courses will last seven weeks in alignment with Bennett’s current minimester system. Writing courses will last 14 weeks. “It was unanimous among the faculty that [really] engaging in thoughtful writing requires a sustained period of time,” says Heckel.
The PEARL curriculum also includes College Success courses that help new students with the so-called “hidden curriculum”—the often unspoken and untaught skills that students need to successfully transition into college life. Through these classes, students will cultivate an “academic toolkit” that includes time management, study habits, and healthy socialization. A financial literacy course that had been a free elective was redesigned and moved to the PEARL Program.
The PEARL Program equips students with academic and technical skills, as well as life skills.
“I’m hoping that, in addition to the academic rigor of the curriculum, students will see that it’s centered on them,” says Wrenn. The courses are designed for impact and relevance. “It was important to have classes that students are excited about and to cover academic topics in a way that encourages them to engage with each other – in and outside of class, on and off campus. I tell students that this new general education curriculum is going to follow them for all four years. The learning outcomes designed by faculty are rich and complex. Students will have the opportunity to engage with each outcome multiple times, from different perspectives, throughout their college career,” says Dr. Wrenn.
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Support of the Black College Fund Apportionment provides financial support to schools like Bennette College by maintaining solid, challenging academic programs; strong faculties; and well-equipped facilities to help with academic recruitment.
excerpt from a story posted by Bennett News
One of seven apportioned giving opportunities of The United Methodist Church, the Black College Fund provides financial support to maintain solid, challenging academic programs; strong faculties; and well-equipped facilities at 11 United Methodist-related historically black colleges and universities. Please encourage your leaders and congregations to support the Black College Fund apportionment at 100 percent.
