Opinions divided on BSC 101

Buffalo State students and staff divided over the current Foundations of Inquiry (BSC 101) requirement, according to a recently completed review of the Intellectual Foundations Program.

As part of the study, the Senate Intellectual Foundations Oversight Committee administered surveys to faculty, professional staff and students to gather feedback to serve as a basis to make recommendations. Respondents were given the option to indicate whether courses should be six credits, three credits or eliminated.

According to the report, approximately 49 percent of faculty respondents indicated BSC 101 should be eliminated, while 46 percent said it should remain at three credits and 4 percent said it should increase to six credits.

History professor Gary Marotta said he appreciates what the college is trying to accomplish through BSC 101, but thinks the program needs to be more focused.

"If students get a scent of the joys of inquiry, then I'm for it. But if not, we should abandon it," he said. "If all the teachers are doing something different, then what's the course about?"

In contrast, 59 percent of student respondents were in favor of keeping BSC 101 at its current three-credit requirement, while only 39 percent said it should be eliminated.

Paul Hajewski, a sophomore history major, said despite complaints from other students, he found his BSC 101 course very beneficial.

"I feel like I learned a lot about myself in that class," he said.

BSC 101 is an introduction to Intellectual Foundations, and is designed to stress the importance of critical and creative thinking applied to interdisciplinary topics. It is required of all students with the exception of transfers with 60 or more credits, and most students take it within their first year.

Junior social studies education major Casey Brescia said although he is an advocate of critical thinking, he wishes BSC 101 was a more comprehensive program.

"If they find an effective way to teach logic, respect for evidence and parsimony, I think it could be worthwhile," he said. "But I don't know if the BSC program is accomplishing that."

In all Intellectual Foundations areas except BSC 101, 55 percent or more of faculty responded in favor of keeping current credit requirements. 

Students agreed, with the exception of natural sciences. A little over half of student respondents said the natural sciences requirement should be dropped from six credits to three credits.

The report also includes recommendations based on the study's findings, specific to each Intellectual Foundations area. Chair of the College Senate Curriculum Committee Michael Lazich said these recommendations are only preliminary, and deal more with administrative policies than credit requirements and other program restructuring.

Assistant Dean of Intellectual Foundations Lisa Hunter added, "It is too early to determine specifically how students and faculty will be affected because we do not yet know if any changes will be made to the current program, or what any changes will entail."

In addition to internal adjustments, Intellectual Foundations must adhere to SUNY General Education requirements. Since SUNY updated its General Education policy in July of 2010, Lazich said this will be considered when final recommendations are being drafted.

"The fact that (General Education) has been revised somewhat, will lead us to reconsider whether our program corresponds sufficiently with the new state guidelines," he said. "If it doesn't, we may have to make some additional changes, if it does, then we'll be OK."

Currently, Intellectual Foundations requires students to complete a minimum of 39 credit hours in the areas of mathematics, natural and social sciences, arts and humanities, writing, civilizations, technology and society, diversity, oral communication, and foreign language along with BSC 101. This meets and exceeds the SUNY General Education requirement of only 30 credits in those areas.

According to Lazich, this is the first review of Intellectual Foundations since it was instituted in the fall of 2005. In addition to this year's review, Lazich said reviews of Intellectual Foundations will continue to take place every five years.

Through the upcoming weeks, Hunter said the oversight committee will be deliberating over data, and drafting revised recommendations. Their final report will be officially presented and voted on in the next College Senate meeting on Nov. 18.

Brian Alexander can be reached by email at alexander.record@live.com.