FAQ

Teaching GE Courses

1. What is the difference between "course design" and "course outline"?

Course design is the master framework of a course which has to be submitted by the respective course-offering unit through the online system GE Course Proposal & Inventory System (GECPI) when a course is intended for introduction. Course outline is the detailed syllabus provided by course teacher to his/her own session.

Course delivery and course outline should adhere to the original course design drawn up by the respective course-offering unit and approved by the Senate Committee on General Education (SCGE). Teaching units can retrieve the approved course design from GECPI.

2. How can I recommend books which will be used as my GE course readings for library acquisition?

Teachers are welcome to make recommendations for library acquisitions with the GE Book Fund. Recommendations should be made on the Book Recommendation Form and submitted to Office of University General Education (OUGE) by email or by post (8/F Hui Yeung Shing Building).

Proposals for introduction, revision or withdrawal of GE Courses

1. What are the procedures for proposing a new GE course or course revisions?

Invitation for course proposals is sent to teaching units every November/December. Proposals (course design) need to be endorsed by the boards of the respective proposing units before being submitted to OUGE through GECPI. All the proposals received before the deadline (to be announced every year) will be reviewed by the SCGE Standing Committee and forwarded to the SCGE for approval. Teaching units should also seek parallel endorsement from their respective faculty boards.

2. Should proposals for introduction/revision of College GE courses be submitted to OUGE or the respective Colleges?

Proposals for introduction/revision of College GE courses should be submitted directly to the respective College GE offices for endorsement of the College Committees on GE. Colleges should submit the endorsed proposals to OUGE through GECPI.

University GE Course Archive & Review

1. How do I know what course materials to be submitted for a particular University GE course under the University GE Course Review?

After receiving the course outline, an assigned OUGE colleague will inform you by email all the course materials to be submitted for the Review. Reminders will also be sent before the submission deadlines.

2. After submitting copies of sample answer scripts, how should the originals be handled?

Only photocopies of answer scripts will be kept in the University GE Course Review. Course teachers can keep or dispose of the originals as they wish.

For more information, please refer to the section of “Course Review”.

3. How is the University GE Course Review exercise conducted?

When University GE courses are scheduled for review, teaching units will be informed in writing in advance and invited to a self-assessment of alignment with the GE intended learning outcomes before the review.

The SCGE Standing Committee will review University GE courses based on the archived course materials, including course description, course outline, learning outcomes, reading list, assessment scheme, guidelines for students, Course & Teaching Evaluation findings and samples of student assignments.

The Committee will then forward recommendations to the SCGE for approval. The approved recommendations and comments will be conveyed to the teaching units concerned for further improvements after the review exercise. The teaching units will be asked to submit proposals and/ or plans for revision or improvement to the SCGE and its Standing Committee.

4. Can teaching units appeal against the resolutions of the SCGE?

Teaching units can formulate its appeal with relevant arguments and new evidence, if any, to the Chairperson of the SCGE within one month after receiving notification of the resolutions of the SCGE. The SCGE Standing Committee will first reconsider the course and deliberate a recommendation to the SCGE for final approval.

5. What follow-up actions can teaching units take if University GE courses are recommended for revision or withdrawal?

Teaching units should submit revised course design and implementation plan for consideration by the SCGE and its Standing Committee. Subject to approval by the SCGE, the revised course could be offered in the following academic year, teaching units may also overhaul withdrawn courses according to the GE goals and desired characteristics and submit the new course design to the SCGE and its Standing Committee for consideration and approval.

Visit: Proposing a new course and GE Course Proposal Inventory for the details of submitting revised course design.

Assessment Policy

1. How should teachers handle plagiarism or cheating cases in GE courses?

Academic dishonesty in GE courses shall be reported to the respective disciplinary committees of the teaching units that offer the GE courses concerned. GE course teachers are also encouraged to report the cases to the Director of OUGE in parallel.

If the course teacher makes the judgment that there is a suspected plagiarism case after reading the student’s VeriGuide report, the teacher shall inform the student of his/her observations and give the student concerned access to the relevant portion(s) of the VeriGuide report before the case is taken to any committee concerned. The matter shall not be handled by the teacher alone to regulate against inconsistent treatment.

For more information, please visit “Academic Honesty“.