UCGE Meeting Minutes

April 20, 2017; 3:33 pmCommons Panorama Room

Meeting called to order at 3:33PM by Chair Prorak.

Members present: Diane Prorak (chair), Kenton Bird, Tom Bitterwolf, Ro Afatchao, Kristen McMullin, Phil Mead, Feng Li, Javier Rodriguez, Cassidy Hall, Dan Hickman, Mark Coleman, Rebecca Frost, Brennan Smith, Samantha Ramsay

Guests present: Russel Meeuf and Jim Gregson

Approval of April 6, 2017Minutes

  • Motion to approve by Afatcho, Bitterwolf seconds
  • No discussion or edits
  • Minutes accepted (unanimous)

New Business

New business was discussed prior to old business to accommodate guests’ schedules

Senior experience proposal: JAMM476, Russell Meeuf

This course is open to all majors targeting film and television production. The course is the capstone course for a new Film & Television Studies major that ismodeled off a nationally used “film school model.” The new major will be the only film school in Idaho. Using a hands on interdisciplinary approach, students will be guided through the production of a short film. Students will not be making documentaries or broadcasting. Instead, short films will be fictional narratives. The current digital media course (JAMM475) is required as a prerequisite. JAMM476 has been preapproved by UCC.

  • Motion to approve by Coleman, Ramsay seconds
  • Discussion
  • The course and its proposed designations are essential for the new major
  • Unanimously approved

Education for Sustainability: ISEM301, Jim Gregson (COE Curriculum and Instruction)

The course looks at what education would look like if we infused sustainability into curriculums. Students will build upon their discipline/major and address one or more challenges related to global sustainability.

Dr. Gregson mentioned the title was not ideal due to character restrictions. Kenton Bird suggested a few options for abbreviating the title to obtain a more accurate descriptor while maintaining the character limit.

Dr. Gregson was asked what was meant by sustainability? He replied that aspects of global sustainability will be covered as well as sustainability within a school. Dr. Gregson used Washington’s green schools as an example to follow and discuss.

  • Motion to approve by Afatcho, Hickman seconds
  • Discussion - Modify title to Higher Ed/sustainability to differentiate from proposed K-12 course
  • Unanimously approved with suggestion of title modification

K-12 Schooling for Sustainability: ISEM301 Jim Gregson (COE Curriculum and Instruction)

The course is open for all student populations but is designed for students interested in K-12 education. The course addresses the five university learning outcomes. It is based on the reality that students in K-12 will encounter escalating loss of biodiversity, natural resources, and an increase of environmentally related health issues. As a result the course will focus on smart by nature eco literacy. The course is not currently connected to a university event, but Dr. Gregson has several events in mind. The first offering is slated for spring 2018 and will use the UI campus as an active learning laboratory. Different disciplines will be represented through application of biology, history, sociology, nutrition, through school gardens, and SLOs. The course will also promote physical activities through active learning exercises.

Dr. Gregson mentioned both ISEM301 courses were a little heavy on assignments. All agreed, and it was suggested that he may consider reducing assignment loads to better represent a one credit course.

  • Motion to approve by Mead, Bitterwolf seconds
  • Discussion – Important current issue that will have a broad interest from students
  • Suggestions (not required)
  • Concern on number and length of assignments
  • Concern on number of student interested
  • May need to advertise with snappy course description to attract broader students
  • Sustainability in the course only pertains to agriculture and production.Waste is also an issue of interest.
  • Title may need to match better with content
  • Unanimously approved –Kenton Bird will provide feedback

IoT: Energy, Communications, and Microelectronics: ISEM301, Mohsen Guizani (ECE)

Mohsen Guizaniwas unable to attend. Kenton Bird presented the course proposal so the committee could provide feedback and suggestions. No vote was made.

Discussion:there is concern that typical undergraduates would not know that IoT means “internet of things.” Many faculty and advisors may also not know what IoT means. This may lead to low enrollment. A better title might be: “Internet of Things.” The course is slated for its first offering in the spring of 2018 and will tie into the engineering expo with some type of presentation or demonstration. A better description of course products may strengthen the proposal and future enrollments.It is currently unclear if presentations will be made by the students or presented to the students. It is currently difficult to determine what the course content and objectives are. The course outline could use more detail to mitigate this. Examples of course reading materials would also be good to include. It is suggested that a greater number of speakers be used. The committee thought the course could be a valuable addition to the ISEM301 curriculum. Kenton Bird will provide feedback and examples of approved ISEM301 proposals for Mohsen Guizani reference. UCGE encourages Dr. Guizani to pursue the course and discuss it at the May 4thUCGE meeting.

Old Business

Continued discussion of draft memo statement requiring all students to take the UI General Education requirements (unless they have 58+ credits) for circulation to colleges

  • Currently on 3rd draft. UCGE is not going to vote at this time. A member of the committee requested comment, but could not be present for the April 20th meeting.
  • Discussion – Kenton Bird asked Rebecca Frost if the proposed changes would trip up transfer students without American Diversity. Rebecca did not think it would be an issue. She did have concerns on transfer students from out of state institutions. She stated that WSU humanities do not count at UIdueto catalog wording and would require a petition. Rebecca expressed a need to include language in the catalog to accommodate. There were some questions on how/why foreign languages count in other states for humanities but not in Idaho. Questions on the matter pertained to transferability of humanities. Rebecca stated that foreign languages already count for state board requirements. There was also discussion on why some higher level humanities (ie. 400 history courses with no prereqs.) don’t count for humanities. Some felt that the catalog should be “opened up” so all courses in disciplines traditionally considered humanities would count towards students’ humanities requirements. There was no debate, but Kenton Bird mentioned that some of these departments have courses under both social science & humanities designations.Kenton and Rebecca are going to work on catalog language and will bring back suggestions on a later date.

Informational Items

  • Director of General Education search
  • Some interest, but again Diane Prorak encouraged all to solicit applications from their qualified peers.
  • Kenton Bird - Information from International Programs Office about Study Abroad fulfilling the International requirement for General Education
  • Study Abroad changed to Education Abroad
  • Process has been streamlined through Course Planning Form (CPF)
  • The form now puts greater responsibility on the students and requires them to fill out the CPF prior to their education abroad experience. Students will have to check a box stating, “I want my study abroad experience to fulfill the International General Education requirement.” The change will alleviate the need for students to petition through the GE director. Under new system the registrar could take care of it
  • Courses abroad that are articulated as a social science course in the course description will not cause issue. If they are not articulated as such, the GE director would need to review in advance to avoid a petition. When available, course syllabi will be used to determine acceptability.
  • Students are made to understand credit transfers, transcripts request, etc. via instructions on CPF
  • Registrar’s office approval:At this point Rebecca does not see major issues but still needs to go through approval process.

Vice Provost for Academic Initiatives candidates:

*Presentations available online*

  • Kenneth Bartlett:1:30-2:30 p.m.April 20, TLC 032
  • Mark Stewart: 10:30-11:30 a.m. April 21,Admin Auditorium
  • Cheryl Torsney:10:30-11:30 a.m. April 24, Admin Auditorium
  • Cher Hendricks: 10:30-11:30 a.m. April 25, Admin Auditorium

Meeting adjourned 4:45

Nextand last meeting of this academic year: May 4, 2017