University of Minnesota, Morris

Morris, MN

MINUTES 2003-2004 CURRICULUM COMMITTEE MEETING # 10

February 25, 2004, 8:00 a.m. Behmler Conference Room

Present: John Schwaller, Mike Korth, Jooinn Lee, Judy Kuechle, Jenny Nellis, Mary Elizabeth Bezanson, Chris DeVries, Dave Roberts, Ruth Thielke, Jeri Mullin, Nancy Helsper, and Tammy Faux.

Absent: Tom Johnson, Laura Burbank, Danielle Thibido, Joe Veilleux, Jackie Thorvaldson, Dorothy DeJager, Tom McRoberts, and Matt Conner.

Schwaller explained that due to NCA requirements UMM has formed a sub-committee to look at a means of assessing our General Education objectives. The subcommittee looked at several models and found one that the committee felt they could model to their specifications. Matt Senger and John Bowers have written a program that is similar to the grading program and would allow faculty to enter completion of each specific measurable objective for each student in their class any time during the semester but with specific deadline so as not to leave the time frame open indefinitely. Currently the program is set up so that the faculty would have to submit line by line for each student however, Schwaller asked John Bowers and Matt Senger to look at the possibility of submitting the information all together for one class not line by line which would be more convenient for instructors with large classes. A member stated that students would need to be reassured that the data would not affect their graduation and Schwaller agreed. At present four classes are running this as a pilot and some disciplines are being asked to look at their measurable objectives. Schwaller reminded the Committee that NCA does not look at the measurable objectives or models; they are only concerned that we are reviewing our objectives and making changes based on our survey results. It will be five to six years before the recommendations from the surveys go back into the curriculum.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES:

Schwaller asked for approval of minutes from January 14, 2004 and February 11, 2004.

MOTION: (Bezanson, Korth) To approve the minutes for January 14, 2004 and February 11, 2004.

VOTE: (7-0-0) Motion passed.

Course Approvals:

Hist 3032 Family and Sexuality in Medieval Europe

Hist 3359 Native Strategies for Survival 1880-1920

Hist 3462 Strange Harvest: A History of Rural America

Anth 3203 Indigenous Peoples of the World: A Cultural Perspective

Soc 3203 Indigenous Peoples of the World: A Cultural Perspective

Psy 3451 Cultural and Cross-Cultural Psychology

Bio 1053 CE: Introduction to Insect Biology

CSci 4454 Systems: Robotics

CSci 4509 Theory: Cryptographic Protocols

CSci 4608 Programming Languages: Principles of Web Programming

CSci 4656 Programming Languages: Human-Computer Interaction and Interface Design

WSS 1412 Varsity Swimming & Diving (W)

WSS 1409 Varsity Wrestling

WSS 2207 Wrestling Coaching

MOTION: (Korth, DeVries) To approve all proposed new courses

and course changes.

Discussion: A member pointed out a typographical error in Hist 3462 that was corrected.

VOTE: (7-0-0) Motion passed.

A member asked if paper copies of agenda items could be distributed to committee members before the meetings. Schwaller agreed and stated that items will continue to be sent electronically and that if Committee members wish to receive paper copies they should contact Karen Van Horn.

Internships:

Schwaller explained that he had met with Sandy Olson Loy, Gary Donovan, Tom McRoberts and Paula O’Loughlin regarding internships and it has been agreed, since they are credit bearing activities, that the Curriculum Committee should look a the legal issues UMM is exposed to when students participate in internships. Other issues raised were that UMM should develop a document so students know their legal rights. There can be no discrimination on the part of an institution where a UMM student is placed or on the part of businesses recruiting on campuses. It would be best to have a sub-committee to look at this issue and there are already faculty members involved in internships that would be willing to work on the sub-committee. We also have good models from some other schools and will run it through General Counsel before CC or Campus Assembly would approve anything. A member asked what issues are of concern and Schwaller explained some issues are health insurance, injuries not covered by workman’s comp, student errors, etc. A member also stated it would be important to included information for the student explaining what they should do in the case of sexual or racial harassment during their internship. Schwaller indicated this was not part of their original document plan but it could and would be a good idea. We currently have a contractual agreement with the student and handbook for them, and this would expand on that.

MOTION: (Bezanson, Kuechle) To empower the Dean to create a

sub-committee to look at and create a document to deal with the legal

issues of student internships.

Discussion: A report will come back to Curriculum Committee before it would go to Campus Assembly. The time line would be as soon as possible as we will have students preparing for summer internships and we would like something in place for these summer internships.

VOTE: (7-0-0) Motion approved.

Judy Kuechle will present the Teacher Education Committee annual report at the April Curriculum Committee Meeting.

Meeting adjourned.

9:00 a.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Karen Van Horn