General Education Committee

Unlike other governance committees at MJC, GEC committee representation is by GE breadth pattern areas rather than schools or disciplines. Since multiple schools can be represented in a single GE area, this configuration centers the work of the GEC on the GE standard as opposed to a focusing from the perspective of a given school or department. This means that disciplines with courses approved for a specific GE area are eligible to be faculty representatives for that GE pattern area.

What is General Education?

"General Education breadth" (or GE) is a core requirement of associate and baccalaureate degrees and is central to a college education. GE breadth, in itself, is a learning experience with its own targeted learning outcomes. GE breadth strives for "breadth" of academic understanding, unlike a student's chosen major where coursework tends to fall in the same discipline or subject, focusing on a particular interest area. Therefore, the GE-educated student has been exposed to a wealth of subjects helping the student understand the role and application of the various academic disciplines with regards to self, one's community, and the world.

What does the GEC do?

The GEC, a committee of the Curriculum Committee in cooperation with Academic Senate, provides oversight and makes appropriate recommendations to the Curriculum Committee concerning the development, implementation, and periodic review of local and transferable general education curriculum courses and pathways with the intent of supporting faculty in the development of relevant, quality general education curriculum for MJC students.

According to the "Charge of the General Education Committee" (adopted by the MJC Curriculum Committee, February 27, 2024), the GEC is responsible for:

• Establishing and recommending definitions, criteria, and area standards for each MJC general education (MJC-GE) area, ensuring alignment with any/all established GE policies*
• Review of proposed General Education CORs against all available general education technical requirements, standards, and criteria in order and provide support and feedback to course author(s), curriculum representatives and deans
• Making official course-by-course recommendations to the MJC curriculum committee as to which course proposals meet or exceed MJC-GE and Cal-GETC general education standards; and, when appropriate, providing rationales for the recommendations
• Facilitating and supporting the ongoing review, assessment, and modification of the MJC general education curriculum.
• When appropriate, and in accordance with Academic Senate 10+1 purview, ensure that any institutional policies pertaining to General Education be approved by the Curriculum Committee and forwarded to the Academic Senate for final approval

* In its Spring 2024 convenings, the GEC prioritized drafting final recommendations regarding the implementation of local graduation requirements, local General Education curriculum, and any applicable standards for those areas

GEC Resources on Sharepoint