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SEEDS Curriculum Mission Statement

Education is a process of self-discovery and growth. The Montclair SEEDS curriculum encourages students to uncover what excites and motivates them. Our world faces significant social, cultural, and environmental challenges and needs citizens with passion and purpose who think critically and creatively, communicate clearly, and act ethically. The Montclair SEEDS curriculum will strengthen and build upon students’ existing skills and teach them new ways to embrace the world around them.

Documentation

SEEDS VALUES.

Social Justice and Equity.

Students will learn how different forms of inequality (social, economic, environmental, racial, gender) have developed; the history of those who have struggled against injustice; and the many ways in which inequality continues to function in present day society.

Students will learn to assess, produce, and communicate knowledge as informed and responsible citizens, and learn to critically evaluate the sociopolitical structures that influence information creation.

Engagement, Agency, and Leadership.

Students will learn how to engage with issues in their communities and develop the confidence and strategies to become leaders and contribute to the public good.

Diversity and Intercultural Competency.

Students will develop the ability to understand diverse cultural contexts and to communicate and function within them.

Self-Discovery and Self-Care.

Students will be introduced to multiple disciplinary approaches towards achieving a healthy, meaningful, and productive life, and, along the way, develop a sense of self.

SEEDS Curriculum Student Learning Outcomes and Rubrics.

Montclair SEEDS Curriculum Implementation 2025-2026.

Starting in Fall 2025 Montclair SEEDS curriculum will be implemented among all new students. In preparation for these, it is important that faculty advisors become familiar with the new SEEDS curriculum. University College Advising team have prepared a training module for anyone wishing to learn about the SEEDS curriculum. You can access the Module by following this link.

Certification 2025-2026.

• A new round of certification will start on September 2nd 2025. All proposals seeking SEEDS certification can be submittedÌýusing the Course Management Inventory (CIM) system.
• Starting in Fall 2025 the Advisory Board will start the process of re-certification of courses that were given a two-year certification during the 2023-2024 academic year. The certification of these courses expires on Spring 2027.
• New courses should get SEEDS certification before they seek curriculum approval.
• Starting in Fall 2024 courses certified in the SEEDS curriculum will have a five-year certification.
• The learning goals of the course must be aligned with ONE of the Student Learning Outcomes (SLO) in the SEEDS curriculum.
• The instructor(s) of the course agrees to participate in the assessment of the SEEDS curriculum. Participation includes submitting samples of student work and distributing other indirect assessment measures.
• The purpose of the course will be aligned with one of the SEEDS Values.
• Faculty will be invited to participate in the creation of instruments to assess the SEEDS values.

SEEDS certification requests must be submitted using the Course Inventory Management (CIM) system.

If you have problems accessing CIM please email Carlin Soos.

SEEDS Curriculum Assessments.

Last year, we conducted the assessment of Foundations courses. This year, we will conduct assessment of Explorations courses according to the following schedule:

Assessment Process.

• Chairs and program heads responsible for courses due for assessment this year will be contacted by the SEEDS directors to organize the assessment process.
• If you have questions about the assessment process, please contact the SEEDS directors: Dr. Kate McCaffrey or Dr. Esperanza Brizuela-Garcia.

Future Assessments.

SEEDS Values Workshops

ENGAGEMENT, AGENCY AND LEADERSHIP.

Date and location: November 17, 1:00- 3:30pm. Cole Hall 340.

We kindly request that you pre-register .

EDUCATED CITIZENRY.

Are you teaching a course that addresses the Educated Citizenry (Critical Information Literacy) SEEDS Value?Ìý Or teaching a Foundations or Explorations course that includes (critical) information literacy skills as part of its Student Learning Outcomes?Ìý Librarians would love to work with you to guide students through different stages of the research process, such as developing a focused topic, finding credible sources, evaluating information, and more.Ìý Librarians:Ìý

• can collaborate on research assignment design and embedding learning materials into your courses.

• can teach synchronous (in-person or online) sessions for your classes;.

• can provide helpful asynchronous learning materials (e.g., guides, videos, modules).

  • For example, an Educated Citizenry guide geared towards undergraduate students has been added to many of the Libraries’ subject guides (e.g.,,,), which are already integrated into Canvas course sites under the Library Resources tab.ÌýÌý

• offer many free in-person and online Libraries workshops to students ().

• can support students who are struggling; students can with a librarian or drop-in during librarian office hours at Sprague Library (Monday-Friday, 11am-3pm).

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The University Libraries has drafted an Educated Citizenry/Critical Information LiteracyÌýandÌýfor faculty, with sample activities and assessments.Ìý We were asked to develop an assessment for the Educated Citizenry SEEDS Value and would like to invite faculty who are interested in working with us on this to reach out toÌýBonnie FongÌý(Head for Research & Reference Services).Ìý We are also happy to discuss activities and assessments further during Educated Citizenry/Critical Information Literacy Faculty Workshops & Discussions we are co-sponsoring with the SEEDS Advisory Board this academic year (register for one onÌý;Ìý; or another date/time to be determined).ÌýÌý

Cross-Disciplinary Clusters Initiative.

Click here to see what clusters will be offered as part of the of the SEEDS curriculum.

SEEDS Advisory Board

Contact Information

Professor, Anthropology

Phone

973-655-7560

Email

mccaffreyk@montclair.edu

Location

Dickson Hall, 138

Associate Professor, History

Phone

973-655-7561

Email

brizuelagare@montclair.edu

Location

Dickson Hall, 423