COMMITTEE:   Academic Standards Committee

MEETING DATE:   March 19, 2007

PERSON PRESIDING:   Linda Wolfe  

REGULAR MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE:  McConnell, Lorenzo, Richardson, Thomas, Wolfe

EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE:   Brown, Bailey, Sprague

OTHERS IN ATTENDANCE: Dr. Kevin Moll, Department of Theory, Composition and Musicology, Dr. John Stevens, Director of Classics, and Dr. Michael Poteat.

CALLED TO ORDER: 2:00 PM

ACTIONS OF MEETING

Agenda Item: Approval of Minutes of 2/19/07

Discussion: A few minor revisions were requested and made

Action Taken: Approved with revisions made; revised minutes to be redistributed

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Agenda Item: Date of next meeting

Action Taken: Since it is unknown at this point if the committee has any agenda items before it, the committee chair will notify committee members if a meeting is to be called in April.

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Agenda Item: Consideration of MRST 2400 (Introduction to Medieval Studies) and MRST 2500 (Introduction to Renaissance Studies) for Foundations Credit in the Humanities.

Discussion: Dr. Kevin Moll (Director of Medieval and Renaissance Studies) summarized the two courses, explaining that the previous MRST 2400 included both components and was too large so it was agreed to divide the course content into two courses: one introducing students to studies of the European Middle Ages and the other introducing students to studies of Renaissance Europe. He mentioned that it was difficult to find any materials on the Internet directly related to research methodology for these courses so he really had to create his own explanation of Goal 2 drawn from a variety of resources. He had brought a copy of the course text and an example of a case study to show to the committee. The committee agreed that discussion of the Foundation goals were clear in both requests, but committee members suggested that the goals should be included within the course syllabi (including his well-crafted explanation of Goal 2) so that students will be well informed of the goals and methodology of the course.

Action Taken: Approved with the proviso that the syllabi will be revised to include the course goals clearly stated in the request form.

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Agenda Item: Consideration of the proposed policy on Disruptive Academic Behavior

Discussion: Dr. Michael Brown provided a revised draft of a Proposed Policy on Disruptive Academic Behavior that he presented at the last meeting. The Proposed Policy includes statements that will be included in the undergraduate catalog as well as in the Faculty Manual, Part V, Section I. He explained that added the clarification that students removed from class would receive a grade of WP or WF. Another addition was in the appeal process. After some discussion with the committee members, it was agreed to remove the chair of the department’s required involvement with the student in the student’s completion of the coursework. Thus the sentence will now read “If the decision is made that the student is to return to the course then the student will be allowed to immediately return to the classroom without academic penalty and the instructor will work with the student to facilitate the completion of any missed work.”

Action Taken: The committee approved the proposed policy on Disruptive Academic Behavior. The chair of Academic Standards and the Director of Student Life will now take the policy to the Faculty Senate for discussion and approval.

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Agenda Item: Consideration of new courses for Foundations credit in the humanities: CLAS 2600 (The Power of Images in Ancient Greece and Rome), CLAS 3600 (also listed as RELI 3600 Greek and Roman Religions), GRK 4001 (Athenian Drama), and GRK 4002 (Classical Greek Prose Authors).

Discussion: Dr. John Stevens, Director of Classics, presented the new courses in his department and how the foundations goals are met for each course. When asked if minors will be expected to take these courses, Dr. Stevens replied that these would be primarily majors but that they will be open to all interested students (non-majors and minors as well a majors) and thus should be considered for Foundations credit. A question was raised concerning research methodology, and Dr. Stevens explained that the course textbook provides further in-depth information about this. Dr. Bailey explained that the comment “interrogate different kinds of original sources” illuminates the type of approach to be taken in the courses. The committee requested that the goals clearly discussed in the Request be included with each course syllabi, and Dr. Stevens agreed to make this revision.

Action Taken: Approved with the proviso that all syllabi be amended to include the Foundation goals.

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Agenda Item: Consideration of the Review of Procedures and Instruments for Peer Review of Teaching document drafted by Dr. Michael Brown and Dr. Linda Wolfe.

Discussion: Linda Wolfe and Michael Brown presented the document that details the Academic Standard Committee’s review of the procedures and instruments for Peer Review of Teaching. This is based upon the information provided to the committee from Drs. Dorothy Clayton and Dorothy Mueller, co-directors of the Center for Faculty Excellence. The review, to be presented to the Faculty Senate, was edited and approved by Drs. Clayton and Mueller. 

Action Taken: The Academic Standards committee approved the prepared Review, and the summary will now be presented to the Faculty Senate. ________________________________________________

Agenda Item: Update from Dr. Mike Poteat on the use of the CLA and preparation for the next SACS visit, which will require our assessment of Foundation courses.

Discussion: Dr. Poteat stated that there is a move in the North Carolina system to use the CLA—two schools are already using it. There will likely be a move toward it at ECU in the next couple of years as we prepare for the next SACS visit. Next fall a committee will be formed at ECU to prepare for the next SACs visit, and he would like to see someone from our committee to join him in attending the SACS meeting.

Action Taken: No action taken at this point. The committee will hear further reports on assessment from Dr. Poteat at the next scheduled meeting. In the meantime, Dr. Bailey said that he is working on a draft of outcomes assessment to be used for Foundation Credit courses.

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ADJOURNED: 4:00 p.m. 

NEXT MEETING:  TBA