Letter from the Chair - 2018

Greetings from the Cal Poly Liberal Studies Department where our highly motivated students and accomplished alumni continue to be our inspiration. 

I have the privilege of working with some of our 106 new students in our introductory service learning courses. I am impressed with their dedication, their strong high school community service records, and their current involvement in our local community.

They remind me that Liberal studies students and alumni have a strong call to service and to Learn by Doing Good. 
 
Following their example, the department continues to partner with the local community. We’re helping local teachers implement the Next Generation Science Standards, offering professional development workshops, supporting school STEM nights, and sharing science kits with teachers.

We also have a new partnership with the Performing Arts Center youth program developed by Professor Loraine McCann (Liberal Studies, ‘81). This program allows liberal studies students to attend educational performances at Cal Poly and local schools. 

One of our students said of a recent performance, “It was so fun and entertaining and allowed for the children's creativity and imagination to freely flow. I recommend it. I was in awe of all of the dinosaur costumes and models and the incorporation of technology to create the production.” 

To support our students’ arts education, we welcomed Samuel Shalhoub to the department this year. He brings his passion for and knowledge of music, theater and dance to teaching the performing arts. California is considering adopting the National Core Arts Standards, and Samuel’s expertise will ensure our students will be prepared to implement those standards. 

Speaking of standards, last year we took a good look at our curriculum and found that it is well-aligned with the standards that the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing sets to demonstrate proficiency. Because of the alignment, we applied for the CSET waiver, which means our graduates will not need to take the CSET to continue in a credential program. We’re hopeful and will let you know the results of the review. 
 
Finally, I want to mention how proud we are that our own Professor Anne Marie Bergen (Biological Sciences, ’85) was a featured teacher for the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Congratulations, Anne Marie!

We are so grateful for all the support we receive from our alumni, donors and friends. You help us provide a strong Learn by Doing education to our students every day. Please drop us a line and let us know what you’re up to.

 

Wishing you all the best,
Lola Berber-Jiménez, Chair
Liberal Studies Department