Letter: A note about the proposed LAC changes

Thank you so much for your fine article on the proposed changes to the social science category of the LAC in the Nov. 11, 2011 issue. There is, however, one statistic that we would like to correct from the LACRSC Final Report. The faculty survey data indicates that 50.8 percent of 295 respondents would prefer to keep the LAC Category 5 the same (nine hours). When we asked faculty if they wanted to reduce the LAC, and what they would reduce if they did, 53.8 percent of the 195 people who answered the question said that they would reduce the number of hours in the social sciences.

This means that, of the 301 total survey respondents, 34.9 percent favored reducing the required hours in the social sciences. We apologize for the error and any confusion it may have caused. Please note, in addition, that students will still have ample opportunities to take courses taught from the disciplinary perspectives of the social sciences. Six hours would still be required. Moreover, if the recommendations regarding the U.S. Experience courses or the Critical Thinking courses are approved by faculty, the LACRSC would encourage social science faculty – along with faculty in other disciplines – to teach those courses, as well.

Susan Hill & Virginia Arthur

LACRSC co-chairs