1) The 4x4 Committee ratified by a vote of 20-1 our overall "Goal"
statement:

At the undergraduate level, GW intends to increase student engagement and
learning through academic challenge and a rigorous intellectual environment that permeates all aspects of student life [See GW's Strategic Plan for Academic Excellence]. This goal can best be realized through a fundamental cultural change that has its foundation in committed faculty members and curricula (general education requirements as well as within the major) that challenge all students in all courses through active
course participation, reading, research, writing, critical thinking, analyzing, and collaborating. We believe that a rigorous intellectual environment should treat all students as adults who are required to think independently, come to their own conclusions, and communicate their thoughts and conclusions precisely to others.

2) The 4x4 Committee adopted the following Scenario by a vote of 13-8 as their recommendation for achieving the above goal:

To enhance learning and retention through rigorous, in-depth examination and application of knowledge by reducing the number of courses taken each semester, a 4x4 or 32-course curriculum model will be implemented. Conversion to this model will require faculty members in all academic units to revise curricula and carefully construct outcomes and valid assessment methods at the university, school, and department levels.

It is clear that we must not go to a 4x4 structure without a simultaneous commitment by the faculties and administration to serious curricular changes. The discussion of the changed curriculum must go to the faculties before any transition to 4x4 is enacted. Though 4x4 makes sense coupled with curricular change, it would be a useless and expensive nuisance without such change.

We see reconfiguring of the general education requirements as a critical first step so that first- and second-year students will have some common courses or, at any rate, courses that are in conversation with each other. Not only do we envision connectivity among courses, we envision integrating internship experiences with the curriculum. With a
restructured general education system and an enhanced internship approach, a 4x4 curricular structure makes good sense. We want to start students off with courses that require extensive reading/writing/analysis. As each course is now one quarter of the academic load, it will require proportionately more effort and attention. With skillful
rethinking of majors, the same habits/attitudes required by the general education
requirements would be carried on into all other courses.

This particular scenario does not necessarily envision an increase in seat time per course. Rather, this scenario incorporates the principles of "course redesign" that seek to promote enhanced learning through carefully developed and explicitly stated learning outcomes,
learner-centered pedagogies, more rigorous assessment of learning, and the creative application of technology.

A shift to the 4x4 model is expected to release resources to be reallocated to the academic enterprise through faculty incentives, transition costs, and investment in academic programs and associated faculty lines. In particular, it will allow the schools to have
greater flexibility when considering issues including the following: reducing reliance
on part-time faculty members, adjusting faculty teaching loads, establishing optimal class sizes on a course-by-course basis, and providing incentives for faculty-student collaboration in research projects.

Faculty support is essential for this transformation to achieve its goals. Faculty members will provide resources through their time investment in the major changes called for - both at the departmental and course levels. To be forthcoming, their investment must be expected, recognized, and compensated.

Conversion to a 4x4 model is best accomplished through a carefully managed project executed over a 24-36 month period. A critical path with appropriate milestones and time intervals needs to be established.