UCGE Meeting Minutes

6 April 2017; Commons Panorama Room

Meeting called to order at 3:30PM by Chair Prorak.

Members present: Diane Prorak (chair), Kenton Bird, Tom Bitterwolf, Ro Afatchao, Kristen McMullin, Zachary Spence, Phil Mead, Feng Li, Javier Rodriguez, Cassidy Hall, Dan Hickman, Mark Nielsen, Rebecca Frost

Guests present: GEAC representatives Helen Joyner (phone) and Dan Campbell

As we wait for enough members to form a quorum, Prorak informs group that there are currently no applicants for the position of Director of General Education. UCGE members are encouraged to solicit applications from those in their respective departments/colleges.

Minutes from meetings on March 9, 2017 and March 23, 2017

-Motion to approve by Hickman, Hall seconds – minutes accepted

Old Business

  1. Draft memo of statement requiring all students to take the UI General Education requirements (unless they have 58+ credits) for circulation to colleges
  2. Bird discusses the latest on the discussion from meeting on March 23rd. No proposed policy changesat this time, just draft of a memo to share information with UI community and generate discussion.
  3. Discussion: concerns are raised about not exempting students from ISEM 101 until 58credits, is ISEM 101 appropriate (for example) for those that transfer in with 30 credits? Another concern that is voiced is that this will drive away transfer students during period in which enrollment growth is a priority. Alternative concerns are raised about whether we want graduates that haven’t fulfilled the General Education requirements because of transfer status. Registrar’s office will see what kinds of reports they could get to see how big of an issue this would be.
  4. A suggestion is put forth to change exemption from ISEM 101 to those that come in with 26 or more credits after high school. A straw vote is taken and the majority of members approve of this change to wording.
  5. A draft will be circulated to UCGE members to distribute with those in their area. Issue will be discussed again at meeting on April 20th, with an intention to have a vote on the matter during meeting on May 4th.

New Business

  1. Senior experience proposal: JAMM 476.
  2. No representative available to attend meeting, so will wait on this agenda item until future meeting.
  1. Proposed changes to function of General Education Assessment Committee
  2. Welcome to representatives of GEAC joining meeting: Cassidy Hall (joint member), Dan Campbell, Helen Joyner (via phone)
  3. Bird provides overview of why we need to more precisely define function of GEAC. Proposed changes to GEAC function in Faculty Staff Handbook are discussed. Previous language is too narrow and does not accurately describe what committee actually does. There is a need to recognize the role of the General Education Task Force to assess GEM courses
  4. GEAC representatives present are comfortable with the changes to language being proposed.
  5. An amendment is proposed to change language of A-2-c to provide more formal guidance on when GEAC will report findings to UCGE. The wording would be amended to stipulate GEAC will make recommendations to UCGE annually.
  6. Motion by Bitterwolf to approve document as amended for submission to Committee on Committees. Hickman seconds. Motion passes unanimously with one abstention.

Informational Items

  1. GEAC report on survey of GEM instructors
  2. GEAC member Dan Campbell speaks on charge to look at SBOE guidelines on GEM competencies, design survey to evaluate if these are being addressed and how. Not necessarily assessing how well the guidelines are being addressed at this point in the process.
  3. A handout is distributed which demonstrates how the survey will be formatted, administered to GEM instructors.
  4. Campbell speaks on the survey mechanics. Will go out by Monday April 10th to all instructors of GEM courses in spring 2017. Standard follow-up requests will be sent. Results sent digitally when available. Possible we may have report by May 4th meeting.
  1. Director of General Education search
  2. Prorak reiterates need to find interested, qualified candidates for this position.
  1. Next meeting to be held April 20, 2017.

Meeting adjourned at 4:21PM

Minutes recorded by Dan Hickman