Essential Education Newsblog

Category: Resources

Join Us for the Essential Education Symposium

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Calling all faculty, staff, academic advisors, and campus partners—don’t miss the upcoming Essential Education Symposium on Wednesday, April 30, from 8 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. in the Memorial Union Building (MUB).

This full-day event is your opportunity to dive deeper into Michigan Tech’s Essential Education program, ask questions, explore best practices, and build meaningful connections across campus and beyond.

Why Attend?

Whether you’re directly involved in teaching Essential Education (EssEd) courses or simply want to better understand how this initiative impacts our university community, this symposium was designed for you. With training sessions, panel discussions, and collaborative working sessions, there’s something for everyone—from seasoned faculty to new advisors to campus partners and staff.

Featuring Keynote Speaker: Shane Sutherland

We’re excited to welcome Shane Sutherland, Founder, CEO, and Chief Mischief Maker of PebblePad, as our keynote speaker. Shane brings a global perspective to reflective learning and will share insights on: “How are other higher education institutions around the world using this powerful reflective tool?” Don’t miss this chance to hear from a leader in the field of e-portfolios and learning design.

Agenda Overview

  • Registration and Breakfast – 8:00 am
  • Opening Presentation – 9:00 am
    • “Why Essential Education”
  • Block 1 – 9:30 am
    • “Question Assumptions, Communicate Quantitatively – Strategies For Teaching And Assessment”
    • “Profiles Of Incoming Students And Current Graduates” 
    • “Coaching Students To Success In Essential Education” 
  • Block 2 – 10:30 am
    • “Getting Started With Pebblepad”
    • “Panel: Building Community Partnerships For Essential Education Experiences”
    • “Don’t Panic, It’s Organic! Strategies For Embedding Essential Ed Minor Themes In Your Course”
  • Block 3 – 11:30 am
    • “Engage, Reflect, Storytell”
    • “Welcoming Challenge: talking about failure”
    • “Community Partner & Faculty Mixer”
  • Lunch – Keynote – 12:30 pm
    • Shane Sutherland, Founder, CEO, and Chief Mischief Maker of PebblePad
      • “The Power of ePortfolios Around the World”
  • Block 4 – 1:30 pm
    • “The Success Toolkit: Developing Practical Activities For MTU’s First-Year Seminars”
    • “What Is An Eportfolio?”
    • “Build-A-Minor Workshop: Centering The U.P. In An Essential Ed Minor” 
  • Closing Panel – 2:30 pm
    • Industry Representatives & Deans
      • “What Is The Value Of Essential Education To Future Students/Employers?”
  • Wrap-Up – Awards & Recognitions – 3:00 pm

Ready to Join Us? Register by April 25

We’re excited to host a day of learning, reflection, and community-building. Whether you’re new to Essential Education or already involved, your voice matters—and your presence will help shape the future of teaching and learning at Michigan Tech.

Questions? Reach out to us at essential-ed-l@mtu.edu.

Let’s shape what’s essential—together.

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Registration Now Open for Michigan Tech Essential Education Symposium

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Registration is now open for the Michigan Tech Essential Education Symposium, which will be held on April 30 in the Memorial Union Building. This free event is open to all Michigan Tech faculty and staff, as well as guests from local community organizations.

Check-in and breakfast begin at 8 a.m. with the opening welcome address starting at 9 a.m. Lunch will feature a keynote address from Shane Sutherland, founder, CEO and “chief mischief maker” of PebblePad, Michigan Tech’s ePortfolio platform.

The symposium will offer 12 sessions throughout the day with themes such as:

  • Industry and student generational experts discussing trends in student attributes and industry talent needs.
  • Reflection as storytelling.
  • Using Husky Folio to connect student experiences to development of Essential Abilities.
  • Embedding Essential Education minor themes into existing classes.
  • Building partnerships between faculty and community organizations to develop Essential Education Experiences.
  • What students can learn from us when we get comfortable talking about failure.
  • Question assumptions and communicate quantitatively — strategies for teaching, Husky Folio, and assessment.
  • Resources for academic advisors — coaching students to success in Essential Education.
  • Building a U.P.-themed Essential Ed minor.

The symposium will conclude at 3:15 p.m. A panel of industry representatives and deans will conclude the event by discussing the value of Essential Education to our future graduates and their future careers, followed by an awards and recognition ceremony.

Session titles, more defined session content, and presenters will be communicated as the event progresses. Please contact the Essential Education Implementation Leadership Team at essential-ed-l@mtu.edu with any questions.

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New Essential Education Steering Committee Announced

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by Office of the Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education

In light of the fall 2025 launch of Michigan Tech’s Essential Education program, Provost Andrew Storer has charged a new standing committee, the Essential Education Steering Committee, with overseeing and administering this new program.

The committee launched this fall and replaces the previous General Education Council. Storer and Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education Marika Seigel sincerely thank the outgoing members of the General Education Council for their service to the University and dedication to providing the best educational experience possible to undergraduate students at Michigan Tech.

The Essential Education Steering Committee is charged with “oversight of Essential Education curriculum development, assessment, and continuous improvement.” Activities include developing and implementing a course review and approval process and timeline, providing input and oversight regarding assessment and continuous improvement of the Essential Education curriculum, giving feedback to Essential Education instructors and units regarding curricular needs and possible modifications, and assisting in planning an annual Essential Education Symposium.

Membership of the new Essential Education Steering Committee includes:

  • Marika Seigel (APUE/PHC), chair
  • Steve Patchin (APUE)
  • Jean DeClerck (APUE)
  • Nancy Barr (APUE)
  • Cassandra Reed-VanDam (APUE)
  • Darren Bausano (Registrar’s Office)
  • Anna McClatchy (DOS)
  • Steven Holloway (COB)
  • Laura Rouleau (SS)
  • Holly Hassel (HU)
  • AJ Hamlin (EF)
  • Valoree Gagnon (CFRES)
  • Mike Maxwell (VPA)
  • Mike Meyer (Physics)
  • Yu Cai (CC)
  • Leonard Bohmann (COE)

The committee began meeting on Sept. 18 and has completed its first item of business: creating a proposal process to include new courses on the Essential Education course lists and to switch courses between lists. The Essential Education Proposal & List Change Form is now available online. The committee has also developed a Requirements for Course Lists document that provides a list of required and desirable elements for each Essential Ed course list.

“Thank you to all those who have agreed to serve on the new Essential Education Steering Committee,” said Storer. “Their contributions to our new general education program and its successful launch will positively impact thousands of students’ lives in the years to come.”

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Essential Education Announces Office Hours for Fall Semester

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The Essential Ed Leadership Team is setting up weekly “Office Hours” to support our campus community as we implement the new Essential Education curriculum. Individuals, department committees, and other working groups are welcome to attend for consultations, including (but not limited to) the following topics:

  • Revising degree audits and flowcharts to make the most of Essential Ed requirements
  • Tips for Building an Essential Ed Minor
  • How to Build an Essential Education Experience Course
  • What are in Essential Ed Seminar Modules
  • How is Essential Education Assessed
  • How have Wellbeing and Success Courses changed
  • What is Folio Thinking, and how do ePortfolios support Folio Thinking

The first two Essential Ed Office Hours will be in Library Conference Room 103 from 12:00 – 1:00 pm on Wednesday, September 4, and Thursday, September 12. The complete calendar of Office Hour Dates for the Fall Semester can be found below. Note the Special Guests and Topics noted on the calendar. For further information or questions, contact Steve Patchin – Project Manager for Essential Ed Implementation, at shpatchi@mtu.edu.

Library Conference Room 103 – Noon to 1 pm
Date Day Special Guest & Topic
September 4 Wednesday
September 12 Thursday
September 18 Wednesday
September 26 Thursday Nancy Barr – Folio Thinking & PebblePad
October 2 Wednesday Jeannie DeClerck – Assessment & Essentail Ed
October 10 Thursday
October 16 Wednesday
October 24 Thursday
October 30 Wednesday
November 7 Thursday
November 13 Wednesday Jeannie DeClerck – Assessment & Essential Ed
November 21 Thursday Nancy Barr – Folio Thinking & PebblePad
November 27 Wednesday
December 5 Thursday
December 11 Wednesday
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Michigan Tech Essential Education launches website

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Michigan Tech’s Essential Education initiative was developed to prepare students to be leaders in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Essential Education signals that the skills, abilities, and mindsets facilitated by a broad education in the foundational disciplinary areas of the sciences, math, social sciences, arts, and humanities are essential to students’ educational and professional development. This forward-thinking curriculum prepares students for careers students for careers that don’t exist today.

Michigan Tech’s Essential Education website has just gone live. You can visit the new website here: https://www.mtu.edu/essential-ed/. This public-facing site provides more information on the why and how of Michigan Tech’s Essential Education program, which formally launches in the Fall of 2025 for our first-year students and scales to capacity by the 2027-28 academic year.

Special thanks to Michigan Tech’s University Marketing and Communications team, as well as Michigan Tech’s Essential Education Marketing and Communication Advisory Board, and the Essential Education Implementation Leadership Team for their work on constructing this website.

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RECAP: CTL and Essential Education Lunch and Learn: ‘Mastering the Essentials of Essential Education’

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Last week, the William G. Jackson Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) partnered with the Essential Education Implementation Team to host a dynamic Lunch and Learn session, drawing the attention of faculty and staff eager to delve into the latest updates surrounding Michigan Tech’s Essential Education program. Held on March 7th from 12-1 p.m. in MUB Ballroom A1, the event provided an enriching exploration into the essentials of the Essential Education implementation process.

Attendees were greeted with an atmosphere buzzing with enthusiasm as they gathered to gain insights into the progress of the Essential Education initiative. Spearheaded by faculty and staff from the Essential Education working groups, the session offered a comprehensive overview of the program’s evolution and upcoming endeavors.

The event provided a platform for discussions and ideation around Essential Education Minors, Essential Education Experiences, Michigan Tech Seminars, and Activities for Wellbeing and Success. Attendees seized the opportunity to contribute their thoughts and perspectives, fostering a collaborative environment aimed at enhancing the holistic development of students.

As a testament to their commitment to the cause, attendees were among the first on campus to earn Essential Education swag, symbolizing their dedication to supporting the program’s mission of nurturing well-rounded individuals equipped for success in an ever-evolving world.

The “Mastering the Essentials of Essential Education” Lunch and Learn was an opportunity for all members of our campus community to learn about the program, contribute ideas, and support the success of Essential Education.

Were you unable to attend? Review the informative slides below.

Questions? Contact the Essential Education Implementation Leadership Team: essential-ed-l@mtu.edu or reach out to Steve Patchin: shpatchi@mtu.edu

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Essential Education Implementation: Working Group Report-Outs (Part 2)

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On June 27, 2023, University Senate Proposal 18-23, “Proposal to Revise General Education Requirements (Essential Education) for Bachelor Degrees,” received final administrative approval. At the end of the fall 2023 semester, eight faculty and staff cross-curricular working groups were assembled and began full operation to implement the various components of the new Essential Education curriculum per the Senate proposal.

Following are mission descriptions for four of the eight Essential Education Implementation working groups. The other four working groups’ report-outs were published on Jan. 31.

If you have any questions, comments, or feedback about any of these working groups or about the implementation process, please contact the Essential Education Implementation Leadership Team at essential-ed-l@mtu.edu.

  • Activities for Well-Being & Success Working Group
    Activities for well-being and success foster students to connect with others, be active, restore their minds and bodies, and expand learning beyond the traditional classroom. This working group is reviewing the binning list created by the Course List Working Group to identify current courses that align with these goals, developing a process for the campus community to suggest activities, determining training/resource needs for instructors and liaising with the Assessment Working Group to determine assessment requirements for these courses. The group is developing a process for new course suggestions and a list of training and resources.
  • Essential Education Minors Working Group
    This group is tasked with proposing 15 minor themes for development (or revision) into SHAPE Essential Education minors by spring 2025. These Essential Ed minors, an alternative to the Distribution Pathway courses, will be housed in SHAPE departments. This group will create a timeline for the development of these Essential Ed minors, a risk analysis report, a minor audit template, and a proposal for working groups for each minor. The group is currently analyzing the output of an interdisciplinary task force and previous working groups to identify recurring themes for potential Essential Ed minors. Meetings are being conducted with SHAPE units to assess interest and capacity as hosts and collaborators for these minors. They are also developing processes for reviewing minors for compliance with requirements and ensuring continued evaluation, support, and potential revisions to the minors.
    • The minors working group will submit an announcement in Tech Today later in February regarding preliminary themes identified for Essential Ed minor development, on which we encourage your feedback.
  • Assessment Working Group
    The group envisions a future state where faculty and staff appreciate that helping students learn is a collective activity: everyone does their part, and students grow in the Essential Education arena in ways that complement their degrees and positively impact their careers and other personal journeys after graduation. The group’s mission is to propose an overall structure for assessment, an implementation timeline, and a schedule that supports that future state. The group is reviewing previous Essential Ed work, as well as information about the current approach to general education assessment (including challenges, opportunities, issues, and recent pilots).
  • Marketing and Communication Advisory Board
    This group’s role is to serve as an internal advisory board for University Marketing and Communications (UMC), liaising with other working groups and identifying communication and resource needs for advisors, faculty, students (current and prospective), and employers throughout the Essential Ed implementation process. The group’s current focus is assisting UMC’s first communication priority, which is a new series of pages on the Registrar’s website. These pages will serve as the “user manual” for Essential Ed, housing detailed program information and key advising materials.
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Essential Education Implementation: Working Group Report-Outs (Part 1)

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On June 27, 2023, University Senate Proposal 18-23, “Proposal to Revise General Education Requirements (Essential Education) for Bachelor Degrees,” received final administrative approval. At the end of the fall 2023 semester, eight faculty and staff cross-curricular working groups were assembled and began full operation to implement the various components of the new Essential Education curriculum per the Senate proposal.

Following are mission descriptions for four of the eight Essential Education Implementation working groups.

If you have any questions, comments, or feedback about any of these working groups or about the implementation process, please contact the Essential Education Implementation Leadership Team at essential-ed-l@mtu.edu.

  • Course List Working Group
    Deliverables include completing the binning of Essential Education courses by academic departments to support the development of the Essential Education minors, identifying the capacity of each category of courses by semester, and making recommendations on courses that could potentially be moved to different categories or areas of development. This working group is currently working with academic department liaisons to complete the binning process.
  • Essential Ed Experience Working Group
    The group is tasked with identifying a list of current courses that align with the Essential Ed Experience vision, developing a sample syllabus for the three broad types of courses, and liaising with the e-Portfolios Working Group to integrate that into the courses. It is developing an RFP for Experience courses, including wrapper courses and ones that can accommodate larger sections. A timeline will be developed for the implementation of these courses and include suggestions on the development of future Experiences. Recommendations will also be provided for the job description for the Essential Ed Experience coordinator, including training/resource needs for instructors. Currently, the group is establishing a working definition of the Essential Ed Experience, benchmarking against peer higher education institutions.
  • Michigan Tech Seminar Working Group
    This group is finalizing the required learning objectives and course elements of Michigan Tech seminar courses. This includes developing a syllabus template, proposing new modules to support the seminars, evaluating fall 2024 pilot offerings of required modules in existing courses, and proposing a transfer-student-specific version of the seminar course. Currently, the group is reviewing the goals, objectives, materials and campus resources already piloted or developed across campus.
  • e-Portfolios Working Group
    This group will provide a recommendation for an e-Portfolio platform, craft an RFP to develop resources to help faculty and students adopt e-Portfolios, and coordinate the rollout of e-Portfolio throughout Essential Ed courses. E-Portfolios provide a method and framework for students to share their learning and achievements throughout their Michigan Tech journey. Building showcase e-Portfolios can help them secure their next professional steps beyond MTU. The group is piloting e-Portfolios started in fall 2023 and continuing this spring to provide recommendations. They are developing a statement of requirements/priorities for e-Portfolios at MTU.
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