Director of General Education

The Director of General Education works collaboratively with the Colleges and General Education Council to implement the FGCU General Education program.  Specific responsibilities include:

• Using accreditation standards and assessment data in planning and implementing the General Education program.
• Collaborating with faculty to develop validation processes for Academic Learning Compact outcomes related to university-wide communication and critical thinking skills.
• Coordinating assessment of the General Education program with faculty teaching general education courses and the General Education Council.
• Developing policies for the General Education program based on university-wide feedback, assessment data, and best practices.
• Serving as a liaison between the Academic Advising Council, the Articulating Committee, and the Colleges.
• Serving as an ex-officio member of the University Undergraduate Curriculum Team.
• Developing and maintaining a General Education resource center that can be utilized by the academic community.
• Ensuring a university-wide approach to General Education.

Director of General Education (2007-2008):

Scott Karakas (skarakas@fgcu.edu)

A native of Minnesota, Scott Karakas received his PhD from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2002.  Dr. Karakas has been a member of the faculty at FGCU since 2003, teaching courses in ancient and medieval art history, along with a large-enrollment introductory online course in the visual and performing arts.  Research interests include new classroom technology and pedagogy, online and e-learning, creative and critical thinking, and issues in general education and assessment.