Submitted by: Suzanne Massey, smassey@uca.edu on 06/08/2026
Dear Campus Community,
Following a year-long effort, the BTÌìÌÃCore Council voted unanimously at its May meeting to adopt newly revised goals and assessment rubrics for general education at UCA. This accomplishment marks a significant step forward in updating our general education curriculum, the BTÌìÌÃCore.
The Revision Process
This revision process was initiated in response to our recent 10-year self-study and external review of the BTÌìÌÃCore. Throughout the 2025–2026 academic year, four subcommittees of the BTÌìÌÃCore Council worked to refine the existing assessment rubrics. To ensure the new framework accurately reflects our shared educational vision, the Council engaged in a rigorous feedback process, distributing campus-wide surveys and hosting town hall meetings across campus.
Key Changes to the BTÌìÌÃCore
The newly approved rubrics simplify the BTÌìÌÃCore by consolidating each competency area under a single goal and a single rubric. These revisions better encapsulate the foundational learning experiences that our campus community recognizes as essential to undergraduate education.
The updated general education framework is organized across four core competency areas:
- Effective Communication
- Critical Inquiry
- Responsible Living
- Global Learning (formerly Diversity)
The finalized rubrics are posted on the BTÌìÌÃCore website (/core/assessment/).
Sincere Thanks to Our Committee Members
The BTÌìÌÃCore Council extends its gratitude to the campus community for your valuable contributions and feedback throughout this process.
I would like to extend my personal thanks to the members of the BTÌìÌÃCore Council subcommittees listed below. They dedicated a great deal of time and energy to drafting, revising, and collaborating with stakeholders across campus to accomplish this task. The success of this endeavor is a testament to their dedication and commitment to this university and our students.
Sincerely,
Jake Held
Assistant Provost for Academic Assessment and General Education/ Professor of Philosophy
BTÌìÌÃCore Council Subcommittee Members
Global Learning
- Patricia Smith (Honors 2026)
- Amy Baldwin (FYS Coordinator)
- Allison Freed (CoE 2027)
- Jacob Bundrick (CoB 2027)
Responsible Living
- Denise Demers (CHBS 2026)
- Cheryl Massey (CHBS 2028)
- Stephanie Watson (CoB 2028)
- Mark Mullenbach (CAHSS 2026)
Effective Communication
- Saifur Bhuiyan (CoB 2026)
- Brandy Walthall (CoE 2026)
- Ashley Wilson (CoE 2028)
- Betty Hubbard (CHBS 2027)
Critical Inquiry
- Sharon Mason (CAHSS 2028)
- Marsha Massey (CoSE 2026)
- Mick Yoder (CoSE 2028)
- Stephen O’Connell (CoSE 2027)
- Patrick Casey (CAHSS 2027)