Korth Appointed as Provost's Faculty Fellow for General Education at the U of A

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The Office of the Provost and the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences are pleased to announce that Deborah Korth has been named the new Provost's Faculty Fellow for General Education in a partnership between the two areas.

In this role, Korth, who also is a teaching professor and director of student success for Fulbright College, will assist with the assessment of the university's General Education Learning Outcomes.

Developed by the General Education and Core Curriculum Committee in consultation with the Provost's Office, the General Education Learning Outcomes are intended to establish more meaningful and purpose-driven learning goals for students as they fulfill their general education requirements.

"In May 2018, the faculty senate approved our General Education Goals, which include the learning outcomes our faculty want students to be able to demonstrate after completing their collegiate education at the U of A as they pursue their careers," said Kate Mamiseishvili, interim vice provost for academic affairs.

"Dr. Korth, as a long-time champion of student success and member of the Fulbright College faculty, is uniquely suited for this role. We're excited to have her help and vision as we support our students as they rise to achieve these learning outcomes," she added.

Mamiseishvili said Korth will work with the General Education and Core Curriculum Committee and the Provost's Office to help implement a multi-semester assessment timeline with learning outcomes, and to assist instructors who are teaching courses that align with the U of A's General Education Learning Outcomes.

During the Spring 2022 semester, the team's goal will be to obtain evidence of students demonstrating three learning outcomes focused on writing, quantitative literacy and the arts.

In her expanded role, Korth will also work with Global Campus, the Teaching Innovation and Pedagogical Support (TIPS) team, general education champions, course champions, department chairs and faculty across campus to collect and analyze data to determine if students successfully meet the learning outcomes.    

"I am excited to be working with so many of my friends and colleagues on this important project - making sure that our students are learning the critical knowledge and obtaining the important skills that we want them to acquire while they are at the university," Korth said.

Korth said that as she and colleagues across the U of A gather the assessment evidence, the Fulbright College Student Success Team will also be piloting a system to help students appreciate the relevance of the General Education Learning Outcomes.

Todd Shields, dean of Fulbright College, said he is excited for both Korth and the students who will greatly benefit from this system.

"Having Deb and her colleagues take on this new challenge will create far-reaching success for students in our college and across the U of A," Shields said. "Deb is constantly finding new, interesting and engaging ways to help our students achieve their educational dreams. We've been so lucky to have her, and now the whole campus will further benefit from her insight, creativity and passion for education."

Shields said within the college, Korth also will work with his leadership team to create a Fulbright College General Education Task Force to guide and assess the implementation of the General Education Outcomes in the college curriculum. This task force will assist with preparing the student learning assessment section of the Higher Learning Commission's comprehensive evaluation report for accreditation reaffirmation. 

About Deborah Korth: Korth arrived at the U of A in 2000 to pursue her doctoral degree in higher education administration and college teaching. After graduating with her doctorate, she led the university's Enhanced Learning Center before being named director of the Math Resource and Teaching Center in the Department of Mathematical Sciences in May 2005. During her time in the Department of Mathematical Sciences, Korth also served as vice chair from 2010-2016 and as an associate clinical professor. In 2017, she became the director of student success for Fulbright College. She currently serves in this role still, and as a teaching professor. Korth earned her Master of Education in secondary mathematics education from North Carolina State University and bachelor's in teaching from the University of Nebraska. Korth previously also served as an adviser, program coordinator and instructor for East Central University at the Ardmore Higher Education Center in Oklahoma.