AUSTIN, Texas—A 20-member Task Force on Curricular Reform, chaired by William C. Powers, dean of the School of Law, was announced today (Dec. 13) by Dr. Larry R. Faulkner, president of The University of Texas at Austin.
The task force, composed of faculty and students, will meet for the first time on Dec. 14 to begin development of a new undergraduate core curriculum. The core curriculum was last revised in 1981. The task force is expected to submit a written report to the president by the end of October 2005.
The task force’s recommendations will be presented to the university community and the Faculty Council for consideration and comment.
Other members of the committee are:
- Professor Lawrence D. Abraham, College of Education, Curriculum and Instruction
- Andrew Carls, student, College of Liberal Arts, Government
- Professor Evan B. Carton, College of Liberal Arts, English
- Professor Isabella C. Cunningham, College of Communication, Advertising
- Professor Linda D. Henderson, College of Fine Arts, Art and Art History
- Professor David M. Hillis, College of Natural Sciences, Integrative Biology
- Professor Archie L. Holmes, College of Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering
- Professor Brent L. Iverson, College of Natural Sciences, Chemistry and Biochemistry
- Professor Benjamin J. Kuipers, College of Natural Sciences, Computer Sciences
- Professor Judith H. Langlois, College of Liberal Arts, Psychology
- Professor Desmond F. Lawler, College of Engineering, Civil Engineering
- Charles Cale McDowell, student, McCombs School of Business, Finance
- Professor Maggie Rivas-Rodriguez, College of Communication, Journalism
- Dr. Megan Seaholm, College of Liberal Arts, History
- Professor Lawrence W. Speck, School of Architecture
- Professor Michael P. Starbird, College of Natural Sciences, Mathematics
- Professor Laura T. Starks, McCombs School of Business, Finance
- Professor Samuel M. Wilson, College of Liberal Arts, Anthropology
- Professor Paul B. Woodruff, College of Liberal Arts, Philosophy.
The task force was created from recommendations issued earlier this year by the Commission of 125, the Task Force on Enrollment Strategy and the Task Force on Racial Respect and Fairness, to appraise the core curriculum. Faculty members on the task force were selected by Faulkner, Executive Vice President and Provost Sheldon Ekland-Olson and the Faculty Council from a list of more than 150 nominees.
“This project will involve a sizable effort, but it can also have extraordinary impact on the university’s ability to carry out its mission with distinction,” Faulkner said in a letter to committee members.
For more information contact: Geoffrey Leavenworth, Office of the President, 512-471-6080.
