I was hoping that the April 1 publication of “GEP requirements are an unnecessary burden to students” was meant to be a joke, but if it was at all serious, I have an opposing opinion. It’s not just my opinion that these not-in-my-major courses play an important role in providing the basis for life as a citizen, a parent, an employee, an entrepreneur and in other life roles. I also have an opinion from someone else who I greatly admire, and whose credentials in the field of engineering are impressive—our former Chancellor Larry K. Monteith. He was a faculty member in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, became Department Head, then Dean of Engineering and later Chancellor of our university. His contributions played a significant part in NC State becoming the fine university it is today.
I was sitting in his Holladay Hall office one day back then, and he was reflecting on how well our engineering graduates do in their careers. But then he looked a bit sad and said that while they do well, they don’t do quite as well as graduates from some other more highly rated engineering schools—and that he knew why. He felt that the engineering portion of their education was equal to that of the other schools, but the graduates lacked the ability to communicate their ideas, convincingly present results to management, get credit for their full capabilities and thus to advance in responsibility and professional status.
He didn’t specifically say these important areas of education were “GEP” areas, but that’s what they are. They don’t replace courses in one’s major, but they are needed to make the most of one’s major, as well as to provide essential capabilities when one works in different areas.
Another distinguished former NC State faculty member, Professor Wushow Chou, published a book on the importance of these not-in-my-major areas: “Fast-tracking your career: soft skills for engineering and IT professionals,” which is available in our library.
People who avoid the “burden” of learning in those areas will diminish those capabilities, harm their own careers and lives, and they will be the April Fools!
Henry Schaffer
Prof. Emeritus of Genetics & Biomathematics
Coordinator of Special IT Projects & Faculty Collaboration