Minutes of the General Education Committee
for July 9, 2003

Lori Allen, Pat Goldsmith, Lisa White and I met today (even the offer of pizza couldn't elicit a bigger crowd!). We were obviously not a quorum, but we did try to define an agenda for the Fall's first official meeting, so that the committee can get going ASAP. (I believe Walt Feldt said the new committee is seated as of Aug. 16th.) We have made a big commitment for next year, and it will take considerable effort on our part to make it happen. Obviously attendance and participation will be essential for all
members. Thus, first, please note the following under UWPF Chapter 4:

Faculty Committees:
Section 4.04 Appointment and Election to Faculty Committees

(2) Appointments of faculty members to all Faculty committees shall be made by the University Committee, in consultation with the Chancellor, unless otherwise provided.

(8) Vacancies

(d) The chair of a Faculty committee or a majority of its voting members may, after three consecutive absences in an appointive seat at regularly scheduled meetings at which a quorum was present, request the appointing body to declare the seat vacant. If the seat is declared vacant, the appointing body shall make a new appointment.

Section 4.06 Organization and Procedures of Faculty Committees

(3) Committees may adopt procedures for the conduct of their business subject to the approval of the Faculty under UWPF 2.02 (2).
I read the first section (4.04) as meaning that the U.C. officially appoints all Faculty to committees (elected and appointed). The absence policy in 8 d would then apply to Gen. Ed.--an elected committee. IF that is not the case, 4.06 would allow us to adopt our own attendance policy. I'm asking WALT FELDT for clarification on this.>Walt's response:
>Ev,

> The provision on absences pertains (for some reason) only to appointive seats, as I read it. I do think that we should change this so that it clearly applies to elective positions also... but that will have to wait until the fall.>Walter
1) The first agenda item we propose is thus:The Chair of the General Education Committee or a majority of its voting members may, after 2 consecutive unexcused absences or 3 consecutive excused absences by a voting member at regularly scheduled meetings at which a quorum was present, request the University Committee to declare the voting member's seat vacant. If the seat is declared vacant, the
University Committee shall make a new appointment.2) Second agenda item:

The General Education Committee establishes four sub-committees for the 2003-4 year as follows:

a) Sub-Committee on expanding Freshman Orientation (working with the appropriate offices on campus): including logistics, university citizenship (could include an Honor Code), and socialization. Volunteers for this sub-committee were: Lisa Johnson, Steven Hawk, and Jerry Greenfield.

b) Sub-Committee on working on the General Education performance outcomes for the four identified goals of General Education. Volunteers for this sub-committee were: Sue Norton, Pat Goldsmith, and Laura Gellott.

c) Sub-Committee to explore a mode to introduce to overall goals of General Education (in place of University Seminar) (i.e. 1 cr. seminars attached to the most common Freshman courses. Volunteers for this sub-committee were: Fran Kavenik, Farida Khan, and Evelyn Zepp.

d) Megan corrected me on the nature of the 4th subcommittee: General Education courses at different levels of the
student's career. Volunteers for this sub-committee were: Megan Mullen, Lori Allen, and Farida Khan.

New members are invited to indicate an interest in one or more of these sub-committees.The original wording I had for group d was: d) Sub-Committee to work towards more cooperation between departments and "General Education" in incorporating, realizing, and assessing the General Eduation goals. Should this be a 5th sub-group?Each sub-committee should elect a Chair (a member of the Gen. Ed. Comm.) and is free to solicit additional members from the university community. Each sub-committee will establish a timetable for the goals it defines and will report to the whole committee at each regularly scheduled meeting.3) Third agenda item: Establishment of meeting timeThe General Education Committee will meet on the first Friday of each month at 12:00 (alternate time Monday 12:00--please indicate availability ASAP). If it becomes necessary, the committee will meet twice a month. It is assumed that the non-meeting Fridays will be possible meeting times for sub-committees.The FIRST MEETING is scheduled for FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2003, 12:00, CA 233. Other agenda items will include 1) approval of the report to the Senate on the 2002-3 General Education Commitee (to follow during the summer) and 2) election of Chair.

Thanks. Have a good rest of the summer.