New for the 2024-25 academic year, NIU is implementing the Enriching the Design of General Education (EDGE) initiative to promote and support excellence in general education teaching. EDGE will help build and enhance a thriving and supportive community of practice among faculty, while emphasizing the unique philosophy of general education courses.
The general education program at NIU is built on three fundamental purposes:
- Skills: Developing foundational, transferable skills and career-ready competencies including critical thinking, teamwork, analytical skills and expressive abilities.
- Knowledge: Developing basic knowledge and broader insights about the world around us, including how individuals fit into that world and what individuals can do to address complex issues.
- Exploration: Unleashing students’ curiosity beyond their major to identify and address issues from multiple perspectives.
General education courses are designed to challenge students’ assumptions while recognizing their expansive background and experiences. Designing and teaching a general education course requires faculty to balance the fundamental purposes and adopt a student-centered, inclusive approach.
“General education courses are an important foundation of students’ college education,” vice provost for Academic Affairs Alicia Schatteman said. “By starting this initiative, we are taking steps to elevate these courses and further develop our culture of student and faculty success at NIU.”
EDGE will provide pedagogical resources along with support through monthly in-person and online brown bag discussion events. The initiative’s holistic approach empowers educators to collaborate with colleagues and share insights on innovative, evidence-based teaching strategies. Faculty who are active and consistent members of the EDGE community will be recognized in the spring.
A kickoff event is scheduled for 1 p.m. Friday, Aug. 23 to introduce this program to the university community. This event will include presentations on general education philosophy and assessment, followed by a faculty panel and discussion on excellence in teaching. Visit the EDGE website to sign up and learn more about this initiative.
