Minutes of the General Education Committee
for December 12, 2003

 

The meeting was called to order at 12:05 P.M. by Lori Allen (Co-Chair). Also attending were Patrick Goldsmith, Gerald Greenfield, Susan Haller, Oliver Hayward, Frances Kavenik (Co-Chair), Lisa Moeller, Megan Mullen, Sue Norton, Carmel Ruffolo, Lisa White, and Evelyn Zepp.

1) The minutes of the meeting of Nov. 14, 2003 were unanimously approved.

2) Susan Haller, Director of General Education reported to the Committee.

a) Survey of departments seems positive (new Gen. Ed. requirement).

b) ICBL meeting--discussion of CBL as Gen. Ed. requirement.

c) Comm. on Advising meeting--discussion of enforcing declaring major by 60 cr. (Jan. 05).

d) Obtain from Mary Power--number of students not completing Academic Skills,Information Literacy, and F.L. by 60 hours.

e) Meet with Vice-Chancellor next Friday--willing to send team to Writing Intensity University Workshop--Friday, Jan. 30 (need a writing liaison person).

3) Reports from subcommittees:

a) Performance Outcomes Subcommittee--Pat Goldsmith (written report)

--Nine outcomes identified; analytical thinking ("quantitative literacy") added as tenth.
--Discussion of drafts of competencies:
--Discussion of measurable (vs. quantifiable?) vs. assessable
--Ultimate goal: get representative sample (from work part of a course) of all students.
--Take advantage of capstone courses in majors (optional capstone in Gen.Ed.?)
--Work on overlap between competencies.
--"Diversity"-- includes international component?
--Wording suggestions: "truth," "tolerates" ("Critical Thinking").
--"Teamwork"--opportunities for students to work in teams need to be incorporated into classes.
--"Ethics"-- focus on real-life case studies to solve.
--"Civic Engagement"--is from CBL--CBL is a pedagogical technique, civic engagement is an outcome; get rid of #3 and #5.
--"Information Technology"--looks good, "quasi" not best word. See students doing, vs. knowing how to do.
--Suggestion of competency on "Health and Wellness." Hard to assess w/o privacy issues. Total university experience vs. academic, classroom experience.
--Next steps: 3 more competencies to develop, develop measuring tools (how going to sample), who will sit down with student work.
--No class can do all of these; the more specific, the better: how it works, how I assess it.

b) General Education in the Lower Division courses--Fran Kavenik/Lori Allen

--Subcommittee going to dept. chairs--how they feel about Gen. Ed., if only had one course what would it be. Some depts wanted only 1 course—designate sections for potential majors and non-majors; other depts wanted 2 courses-- majors and BOK. Surprising number of people- dept be willing to create a new course (History is ex.)--existing courses not do the job. Considerable interest in adding a 4th credit.

--Collated, came up with list (chart of courses)--core of Gen. Ed. dynamic from depts' perspective (Lori Allen: slides) (N.B. all subcategories gone--3 categories-- 12 cr. each.)
(Diversity as a separate list)
SEE LAST PAGE FOR LIST

--Discussion of lab space and 4 cr. classes with lab component

--Discussion of "wash": shorter list Gen. Ed. courses in a dept.; more sections of course on which the dept. will focus (more students in that course). Departments can focus on the quality (pedagogy and outcomes) in that Gen. Ed. course, and my be able to develop other courses for the major.

"Have to offer every year" because of Gen. Ed. won't apply. Implications for departments that might lose students will be addressed.

--Easier advising and self-advising for students.

--Categories of knowledge--deal with these competencies: assessment from this core of courses.

--G.G.: Edward Zlotkowski here all day Feb. 4: for Foundations and Am. Dem. project: workshop for instructors of first year courses?

--Science issues: 4 cr. lab course not same as 5 cr. lab--approach teaching and learning differently (maybe week-end and evening?)

--Sequencing based on prep in H.S.--not taken lab science, students begins here... (Lab = hands on)

--Is work in progress--still depts and interdisc to interview. Talk to whole depts: what are the problems and how to deal with those.

--Target date Fall '05 to implement.

--Should not be massive redirection (courses had to be taught because on list). Space to develop other courses in major vs. cycle of repeating courses.

--Other issues: transfers: deal with categories--if bring in 6 hrs. nat. sci., than nedd 6 more.

--Articulation agreements: anyone who completes liberal arts component has done Gen.Ed.

4) Aim for March Senate meeting. Present as info item and vote next meeting.

5) Ethnic Studies timetable to get list to Gen. Ed. committee.

6) NEXT MEETING FRIDAY JANUARY 23, 2004 12:00-1:30

The meeting was adjourned at 1:55 P.M.

I. Humanities and the Arts:

Art 100 or 125 or 126
Drama 110 or * (new course)
Eng. 167 or *
Humanities 101 or 102
Music 101 or 201
Phil 101

II. Social and Behavioral Science:

Comm 107 or 108
Crim Just 101
Econ 101 or 120
Geog 100 or 110 or *
Hist *
Phy Ed 270/271
Pol Sci 100
Psych 101
Soc 100 or 101 or *
Wom. S. 110

III. Natural Sciences:

Bios 100 or 101
Chem 101 or 109
Geos 101 or 103 or 106 or 108
Comp Sci 105 or 241
Math 221
Phys 110 or *
(possible Astronomy course)