A seat in R&C for every student
In an effort to help students develop key skills early in their academic careers, the campus has allocated new funding to departments to increase the number of Reading and Composition (R&C) courses beginning in fall 2010. The new expanded curriculum is intended to provide a seat in R&C for every incoming freshman, as well as for all sophomores, juniors and seniors who have not yet fulfilled the requirement.
The initiative will be implemented in a two-pronged approach. Over the next two years, a one-time allocation of $1.3 million will enable the campus to reserve seats for all upper division students needing to complete their R&C requirement. Beginning in fall 2012, all students will be held to a requirement that the R&C sequence be completed by the end of the sophomore year and all R&C seats will be reserved for lower-division students. An annual increase in steady state R&C funding of $770,000 will ensure that R&C will no longer be treated as a graduation requirement but will be viewed as a prerequisite to upper division coursework, helping students develop the solid foundation in the reading, critical thinking and writing necessary to support their academic success.
The $770,000 annual increase in funding for R&C courses, plus the one-time allocation of $1.3 million, was announced on March 10. This decision is part of a comprehensive campus effort to ensure that undergraduate students have access to the common-good courses they need.
Janet Broughton, dean of the Arts and Humanities Division in L&S, praised the decision:
“I'm delighted the campus is increasing its support for R&C courses, which help our students to become sharp-eyed readers and lucid writers. Students need these skills to make the most of their time at Berkeley and to succeed after graduation.”
Completing the R&C requirement
Students who have not completed their R&C requirement can search for available Reading and Composition courses online by entering "SATISFIES READING AND COMPOSITION REQUIREMENT" in the "Additional Information" field of the online schedule.
Berkeley Summer Sessions will be offering 60 R&C courses this summer 2010.
For additional information and a long FAQ section, visit the Office of the Registrar
