Curriculum Committee Meeting Minutes
November 30, 2011
2:30-3:30 pm, EBH 7
In attendance: Suzanne Wilhelm (chair), Pam Arbeeny, John Baranski, Sherry Barnes, Paul Booth, Olivia Burkhart, Gerald Crawford, John Gadbois, Nathan Guss, Katherine Jetter, Stephanie Vie
Absent: Kristine Greer
Business:
· We are looking good on our timeline for proposals. We can possibly finish our work next week.
o However, Barbara Morris has requested a full meeting; we may have her attend next week’s meeting if possible. It may be the first week of next semester however.
· ENVS update: Peter McCormick has gathered a core group of faculty to discuss the issues. He wanted to know about a timeline: Suzanne suggests having him put in another proposal next year. Jerry let us know that in past years, when a proposal was rejected, individuals would resubmit and Records would let us know if we had time to consider it. Sherry suggests if we could get it resolved sooner, that might be best. Suzanne suggested an end-of-January deadline to resubmit the proposal; if we need Pete to re-attend a meeting, it would likely be in February.
· Freshman Math: Remains tabled. Suzanne will email Sandy and ask how this course is different from the tutoring happening in the Algebra Alcove. We also would need to know how this aligned with the original Title III grant. Finally, we would like to see the data collected and the development of lectures for the course.
o Sandy Gilpin responded that she took out the option to repeat the course. She could make a policy change that students needing to complete remediation, they would take the course at the TRS level. The course would be instructor permission only.
o Sandy did not feel “lab” was an appropriate designation for this course: “This course is based on a certain amount (770 minutes) of seat-time per credit hour and there is a minimum of 10 homework assignments above and beyond the 770 minutes.” She changed it to lecture/demonstration in the database. Committee members wondered whether the students were doing the work through a pre-made online homework system or whether the lectures were being newly developed.
o Sandy noted that she was currently collecting data on all students who enroll in the course. A committee member wanted to see some of the data that has been collected to help make a decision about this course.
Decisions:
· Business Program Proposals
o Discussion: The changes in the programs are all related to changes at the course level. ECON courses have been pulled out.
o Business Administration -Engineering Management
o Business Administration-Business Administration-Finance Option
o Business Administration-Business Administration-International Business Opt
o Business Administration-Business Administration Option
o Business Administration-BA-Tourism & Hospitality Management Option
o Business Administration-Business Administration-Management Option
o Accounting-Accounting
§ Approved as a group.
· ECON 263 (Applied Principles-Microeconom) and ECON 273 (Applied Principles-Mcroeconom): New courses.
o Looking for a way for faculty to be able to meet a 12-credit load. Modeled on what was done in Chemistry. Might get students who want to know more about economics but not want to take an entire course. These are companion courses (1 hour) to ECON 262 and 272 but are not required.
o Concurrent enrollment in ECON 263 and 273 would be okay as they have no pre-requisites and are not required. Would a student who enrolled without having taken (or being enrolled concurrently in) ECON 262 and/or 272 have trouble? John Gadbois explained that the ECON 263 and 273 classes are intended to be standalone in that sense.
o How much is the cost for the Aplia or MyEconLab software? They come bundled with the textbook as part of the cost or could be purchased separately for about $35. If someone who was taking ECON 263 or 273 and therefore didn’t have the book, would they have to purchase the license for the software separately? It depends on the instructor. Some might require it; others might teach it just using online readings from newspapers, etc.
§ Approved.
· Mountain Studies-Minor: Deletion.
o Very low enrollment (5 students currently) and those students will be notified individually of their options.
§ Approved.
· EGC 3XX (The World’s Big Ideas): New course. Tabled along with the other EGC courses seeking credit changes (EGC 304, 308, and 311).
o No typical week, contact hours, etc. Those need to be added.
o More EGC classes are good; additional variety is helpful.
o Hard time knowing what the class is about. However, EGC courses are “owned” so there should be consistency in the topics. Also, the EGC subcommittee has presumably discussed these courses before signing off.
· Theatre-Theatre-Arts Administration Option
o “Students may not take more than 30 credits in Accounting, Business Administration, Economics, and marketing due to SOBA accreditation standards.” We’re not sure where this came from, but it may come out of SOBA needing to ensure seats. John Gadbois and Sherry Barnes both are unsure of the origins of this requirement.
o Approved.
Respectfully submitted,
Stephanie Vie