COMMITTEE: Academic Standards

MEETING DATE: February 17, 2003

PERSON PRESIDING: John Tilley

REGULAR MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE: Jim Decker, Joseph Gershtenson, Catherine Rigsby, and John Tilley

EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE: Michael Bassman, Pat Dunn, Purificacion Martinez, Dorothy Muller, and Katie Sagle

OTHERS IN ATTENDANCE: Representatives from Department of English and Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures

ACTIONS OF MEETING

Agenda Item: 1: Call to order

Action Taken: Tilley called meeting to order.

Agenda Item: 2: Approval of minutes for the January 14, 2003 meeting

Action Taken: Motion for approval, motion seconded and approved without dissent.

Agenda Item: 4a: Review of the progress report delivered to the Faculty Senate on January 28, and the Senate’s response

Discussion: Tilley discussed the progress report delivered to the Faculty Senate and reactions at the meeting.

Action Taken: None

Agenda Item: 4c: Report from Tilley on his meeting with the provost of February 4

Discussion: Tilley reported on the meeting.

Action Taken: None

Agenda Item: 3: Discussion of proposals for new courses for which General Education was being requested

a. ENGL 3720

b. ENGL 4730

Discussion: Two representatives from the English department explained the rationale for requesting general education designation for their courses including attention to the content of the courses. They also discussed the distinction between ESL education and English education with regard to the courses and others taught in the School of Education.

Action Taken: Bassman moved for approval of both course proposals for General Education Credit in Humanities, motion seconded, passed without dissent.

c. ETHN 4000

Discussion: Dr. Ellen Arnold of the English department briefly explained the nature of the course and the rationale for general education designation.

Action Taken: Decker moved for approval of the course proposal for General Education Credit in Humanities, motion seconded, passed without dissent.

d. FREN 2108

Discussion: Dr. Debra Anderson of the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures briefly explained the nature of the course and the rationale for general education designation. Rigsby asked if the course was essentially a conversation course. Discussion then ensued regarding the content of the course, centering around the issue of whether it included sufficient analyses of text, culture, thinking, etc. to warrant treatment as a humanities general education course.

Action Taken: Rigsby moved to not recommend the course proposal for General Education Credit in Humanities, Gershtenson seconded, motion passed by 4 (Gershtenson, Martinez, Muller, Rigsby) to 2 (Bassman, Decker) vote. Committee suggested that the course proposal be revised and brought back to the committee for additional consideration.

e. RUSS 2120

Action Taken: Decker moved for approval of the course proposal for General Education Credit in Humanities, motion seconded, passed without dissent.

Agenda Item: 5: Other business

Discussion: Bassman presented a proposal regarding granting Math general education credit for an honors seminar course to be taught in the Fall 2003 semester. Tilley indicated that Dr. Ravi (regular committee member of the Math department not in attendance) supported the proposal. The Honors Committee had already approved the proposal. Discussion ensued regarding the possibility that students might be able to take the course to avoid any other math requirements since only three hours of math general education are needed. There was a sense that only students with strong math backgrounds should be permitted to enroll in the course.

Action Taken: Rigsby moved that the course be approved for General Education Credit in Math subject to the provision that the proposal incorporate language indicating that students enrolling in the course must have appropriate scores on the math placement exam. Motion seconded and passed without dissent.

Agenda Item: 4b Report from Decker, Slagle, and Tilley on their visit to the Student Government Association Senate on February 3

Discussion: Decker, Slagle, and Tilley indicated that the visit was productive with students appearing to be well-informed regarding issues concerning general education and offering some specific thoughts and suggestions. The SGA has referred the general education issue to its Student Welfare Committee which will discuss it at its next meeting on Monday February 24. It was also suggested by students that the committee make efforts to garner additional student feedback.

Action Taken: None

Agenda Item 6: Adjournment

Discussion: Committee discussed agenda for remaining meetings this spring and the possible need for an additional (called) meeting. Sentiment indicated that we would reassess the situation at the next regular meeting with the objective of producing a completed general education document by the end of the semester so that forums for reaction to the document could be scheduled for early in the fall semester.

Action Taken: Meeting adjourned at 4:35 p.m.

NEXT MEETING: March 17, 2003