Liberal Studies Program

Government and Administration

A Student Discussion

As a standing committee of the Faculty Council, the Liberal Studies Council serves as the governing body of the Liberal Studies Program. The LSC’s composition include faculty, proportionately represented from each of the various undergraduate colleges in the University, and two ex officio members, the LSP Director who chairs the LSC, and a representative from the Office of Academic Affairs. The LSC considers all new proposals affecting LSP curriculum and policy, which must then receive further approval from Faculty Council and Academic Affairs, before taking effect.

The Unit Advisory Chairs of the Liberal Studies Program each represent one of the thirteen unit areas  of the LSP (i.e., seven core courses & six learning domain areas). Advisory Chairs oversee committees, largely comprised of faculty (and some staff), who teach in their relevant unit areas.  Advisory committee responsibilities include looking at new course proposals and drafting feedback on them, conducting annual assessments, reviewing syllabi, and sponsoring workshops and retreats to help develop both new and veteran instructors teaching in their LSP unit area.

The First-Year Program Office administers the Chicago Quarter Program and Focal Point Seminar. It is responsible for the enrollment of students in their CQ courses, as well as coordinating the scheduling of CQ and FPS courses. The Director of the First-Year Writing Program oversees curriculum and administration of writing requirements, and the Director of the Quantitative Reasoning Program oversees curriculum and administration associated with the Mathematical and Technological Reasoning courses.