GUR Reform: Power, Equity, and Justice Task Force

Background

In May 2021, the Committee on Undergraduate Education (CUE), with support from the Academic Coordinating Commission (ACC), convened the work of re-envisioning the Comparative, Gender, and Multicultural Studies (CGM) requirement. This proposal has since been referred to as the Power, Equity, and Justice (PEJ) initiative. 

During the 2024-2025 academic year, a task force was charged to, 1) determine whether to continue moving forward with the General University Requirement (GUR) revisions for the PEJ, 2) propose how to move forward with this initiative, and 3) identify a timeline for moving forward. This resulted in the task force recommending “a new, more inclusive revision process be undertaken” (PEJ Task Force Report, 2025, p. 1).

In October 2025, the Academic Coordinating Commission (ACC) and Faculty Senate passed motions to authorize a CUE GUR Review and PEJ Task Force and to approve its charge. 

Task Force Charge

As part of the CUE’s GUR Reform initiative, members of the Power, Equity, and Justice (PEJ) task force are charged with the following: 

  • Reconsider the Geographic Distinctions in the Existing ACGM/BCGM Requirement - The primary distinction between ACGM and BCGM involves geographic location…[which] reinforces a false dichotomy between the East and the West, or the US and the rest of the world, rather than recognizing the interconnectedness of global histories, power structures, and social issues.
  • Revise the existing ACGM/BCGM descriptions to incorporate the ideals of the May 2021 proposal with a clearer description of what the requirement should accomplish.
  • Identify learning objectives for the revised requirement in collaboration with the Committee for Undergraduate Education (CUE) in order to align with their current learning objectives assessment initiative.
  • Propose a syllabus review process and rubric that could be used during the 2026-2027 academic year to determine which courses will fulfill the revised requirement; this should be done in collaboration with CUE.

Membership

Composition of the task force should include the following representatives: 

  • Three faculty from different departments who teach existing ACGM/BCGM courses.
  • Two faculty and/or staff with demonstrated knowledge and expertise related to topics of power, equity, and justice.
  • One ASWWU Senate student representative with demonstrated knowledge and interest in topics of power, equity, and justice.
  • Representatives with expertise related to accreditation and the navigation of the GUR requirements including:
    • Academic Advising
    • Registrar’s Office
    • Associate VP for Academic Affairs 

As the task force works to identify recommendations that address the above considerations, they should engage university stakeholders beyond the Faculty Senate and the Academic Coordinating Commission (ACC) in order to collect a diversity of insights that help guide decisions, ensure relevance, and consider impact. As needed, the task force should consult with appropriate parties (e.g. IT staff, CUE, ACC) to ensure the feasibility of their final recommendations.

Deliverables

A final report addressing the above considerations should be submitted to the CUE, ACC, and the Faculty Senate no later than Friday, May 15, 2026. The final report should consider the feasibility of the university’s resources and budgetary implications. Additionally, the final document should include suggestions for how the recommendations may be implemented within a reasonable timeframe.