Gen. Ed. Subcommittee Meeting Minutes for Feb. 22nd, 2017

3:15-4:15 Room 009 RVAC

Present: Mark Jackson (Subcommittee chair; Biology), Mary Anne Nunn (English), Rati Kumar (Subcommittee Secretary; Communication), Shizuko Tomoda (Modern Languages), Beth Merenstein (Curriculum Committee Chair; ), Dan D’Addio (Music), Laura Bowman (Psychological Science), Marian Anton (Math), Kate McGrath (History), Briana McGuckin (Library), Don Adams (CLASS Dean), Michael Bartone (Literacy, Elementary & Early Childhood Education)

Meeting called to order at 3:19 p.m. in RVAC 009

Type / Name / Action / Additonal Notes
Course change / MATH 218 and 217 Discrete Mathematics / Approved for Skill II credit / Essentially have two versions of this “proofs-based” course 218 and 217 (but 217 is not in the catalog yet) These courses don’t have Ged SA II designation. To give this course (and 217) a Skill Area II designation
217 is for computer sc. And 218 is for mathematics.
These courses meet the requirements of a Skill II (Mathematical Thinking)
Course change / MATH 344 Mathematics and Diverse Cultures / Approved for Reaffirming international (I) credit designation and title
from “Math in diverse cultures” to “Math and diverse cultures” / Change language in title and description
Discussion / Idea from the Chair of the NEASC Self-Study Group On General Education (NEASC Standard 4.16-18)
* Idea #3: amend the Curriculum Committee bylaws by changing article 5.3.5 to 5.3.6 and adding a new 5.3.5 as follows, “The subcommittee shall ensure that the sum total of all requirements in General Education does not exceed x credits, and that there are no more than y requirements or restrictions in General Education (individual programs may exceed these limits).”
o NEASC 4.18 requires that x ≥ 40 credits (currently, x = 44-52)
o NEASC 4.17 requires that y ≥ 3 (currently, y = 19) / Approved for discussion at the full curriculum committee
Suggested to provide larger programs more flexibility / This bylaw should entail a campus wide discussion –voted yes to this going through the full curriculum procedure and campus wide discussion.
Intent is not to change the study areas or the skill areas (unless the campus wide community proposed such action during discussions)

Adjourned 4:15 p.m.