Sam Dunaway | News Editor
Western is currently the only public university in Oregon that requires a minor for all students. However, beginning fall 2018, many students will have the opportunity to opt out of a minor while still working toward obtaining 180 credits.
This policy was proposed and approved by Faculty Senate, a representative group of faculty members who oversee the development of curriculum and strive to improve the learning environment for Western students.
The proposal for this policy change stated that required minors place a burden on many students, particularly transfer students, exploratory majors and individuals with military credit. Minors can create a barrier to graduation in four years and often result in students taking more than the required 180 credits.
Erin Baumgartner, senator and professor of biology, explained that the minor was created so that students can build a broad foundation of knowledge in multiple subject areas. But according to the policy change proposal, less than 40 percent of Western student graduates from 2013 to 2016 minored in a field that was significantly different from their major.
“The minor was no longer doing what we originally intended it to do,” commented Baumgartner.
Have no fear — minors aren’t completely going away. Instead, specific majors within departments will decide whether or not to keep a required minor for their students. Other students may choose to declare a minor if they wish. Students without a minor must still complete 180 credits for graduation, but they have more flexibility in the classes they choose to take.
“For many students, they are now going to have access to a set of credits that previously would’ve been part of a required minor,” Baumgartner explained. “A lot of students may still choose to do a minor … Now, they have a little bit more autonomy in making that choice.”
This policy change doesn’t only affect incoming freshman. All Western students have the choice to switch to the 2018 catalog year requirements by filling out a form in the registrar’s office. This may allow upperclass students to opt out of a previously required minor.
The committee hopes that this change will be positive for students.
“No one will delay their graduation because they didn’t finish minor requirements,” Faculty Senate Vice President Paul Disney remarked.
Baumgartner mentioned, “I think all of us are going to reexamine our minors and think about — What are we offering in these minors that will really be meaningful and attractive to students and really add value to their degrees? … It gives us a chance to reflect and engage in that continuous improvement that’s really important to offering the best possible programs we can.”
For more information, contact Faculty Senate President Adele Schepige at schepia@wou.edu.
Contact the author at journalnews@wou.edu
Photo by: Paul F. Davis
