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Trustees decline to advance proposal to reduce college American history requirement; faculty and trustees debate impact
Summary
After extended debate, the Academic & Student Affairs Committee voted against a motion to send a recommendation to the full board that would allow students with an American history course completed in high school to take only 3 college credit hours of American history instead of 6.
Trustees debated proposed changes to Tennessee Tech's general education history requirement and voted not to forward the committee motion authorizing a reduction to the full board.
The committee considered a staff recommendation that would permit students who successfully completed an American history course in high school to meet the university's American history requirement with 3 college credit hours instead of the current 6; otherwise the requirement would remain 6 credit hours. The agenda item was presented as a request for the committee to send the proposal to the full board for approval.
"We oppose this reduction," Kent Dollar, chair of the Department of History, told trustees after being granted permission to address the committee. Dollar, speaking for the department, warned that reducing the required hours could force the removal of major historical topics from required coursework and proposed an alternative: retain 6 hours but offer rotating thematic history courses so students could choose topical classes beyond a two-course U.S. history survey.
Trustees raised several concerns. Some said American history is fundamental to civic understanding and should remain substantial in the general education core; others urged flexibility for majors with heavy technical requirements. Trustee Jeanette Luna said language in the proposal arising from state law would permit the change but cautioned the committee about timing and impacts on students already enrolled in affected programs.
A motion to send the proposed history requirement change to the full board was moved by Trustee Luna and seconded by Trustee Wilmore. Committee secretary-led roll call produced four "nay" votes: Trustee Luna (Nay), Trustee Wilmore (Nay), Trustee Rose (Nay) and Trustee Rudd (Nay). The chair announced "Motion fails." The transcript records the roll call as presented during the committee meeting.
The committee did not forward the item; Provost John Liu said the administration will continue to review general education recommendations and that history-related decisions requiring board approval will return to the board if restructured.
No formal change to the university's general education history requirement was approved at the committee meeting.
