University of
CURRICULUM COMMITTEE
FOR 2003-04
The Curriculum Committee (CC) held 12 regular
meetings during the academic year 2003-04. There were seven (7) meetings during
fall semester, and five (5) meetings during spring semester.
Motion to approve the proposed new course WSS 1351 CE:
Beginning Tap Dance. Motion passed.
ECAS:
Schwaller informed the committee that the approvals will be
coming to CC in a new format printed directly from the ECAS (Electronic Course
Authorization System). Instead of typing the information on the RC, NC or TC
forms and sending a hard copy through for the approval process the information
will be entered online into ECAS and forwarded on for approval, editing and be
uploaded into PeopleSoft. Schwaller indicated that he believes the ECAS system
will make for a more efficient process and eliminate errors and/or lost
information.
Schwaller indicated that the information was being entered
3-4 times by different people in different programs including ECAS and
PeopleSoft. This will not eliminate all errors but will reduce the amount of
errors along with duplication of work. All the information that goes into the
catalog is pulled from ECAS.
Even though there is no specific spot for the rationale,
goals and assessment, or faculty sponsor information on the ECAS form at this
time, it will be added in the Editors Comments section and the History
Information going forward.
Teacher Education Committee Report:
Schwaller asked Kuechle to address the committee about the
Teacher Education Committee report and the recommendation that the committee be
disbanded. Kuechle indicated that the purpose for the
committee was for accreditation and UMM must show a link between the teacher
education program and the liberal arts. A member asked how essential this
committee is for the teacher education program and Kuechle indicated that it is
very essential. Motion to approve the report and reject the recommendation to
abolish the committee. Motion passed.
Catalog Changes:
This course is being changed from a 1xxx course to a 2xxx
course because the workload does not correspond with a 1xxx level course.
Motion to approve Geog 2001. Motion passed. Members suggested including a
statement that the course is: designed for students seeking secondary education teacher
licensure. Motion to
approve Geog 2001 as amended. Motion passed.
Topic Courses and Course Approval:
Schwaller reviewed Mike Korth’s proposal.
I. All courses
must receive Curriculum Committee approval (either provisional or regular)
before being offered.
II.
Courses
receiving provisional approval may be offered a maximum of two times. If a
course is to be offered a third time, it must be presented to Curriculum Committee
for regular approval in time for Campus Assembly approval to be granted before
the third offering.
III. All variable
topics courses xx00 will either be converted to course cluster headings or be
eliminated from the catalog, as each discipline thinks best.
Korth explained that number II in the proposal increases the
number of times a provisionally approved course can be offered and asked if
other members had concerns with the issue. A suggested that instead of saying
two times, which would be hard to keep track of, keep the course active for the
current catalog. When asked if that would be easier to track and the member
stated that it would since courses in PeopleSoft can be made inactive on a
future date. After discussion among the members it was agreed to revise the
proposal to state that a provisionally approved course would remain active for
the duration of the current catalog.
The committee members also discussed the issue of changing
variable topics courses to regular courses and to have courses clustered under
a header without a variable topic umbrella occupying a course number. Topic
Course umbrellas will default to cluster headings. Motion for CC to approve new
cluster headings. Motion passed. Motion to approve the three proposals as
amended. Motion passed.
Maximum Credit Limit:
Helsper explained that currently the defaults for the
maximum credits allowed for a directed study is 999. Schwaller suggested 16
credits, as that is the maximum on the TC range. Helsper explained that this
credit limit is for the lifetime of the student not the maximum for the
semester. This would be the maximum number of credits a student could take
repeating the same directed study course number. Helsper explained again that
the maximum being discussed is not the number of times a course can be taken in
a single semester but the maximum number of credits for the career of the
student. A member asked if this change was in response to a problem and Helsper
stated that it has not been an issue before because the maximum limit was
stated “behind the scenes” now it shows up where students can see it. Motion to
set the maximum credit limit for Directed Studies at 10 cr. for the life of the
student. Motion passed.
Ed 1201 Perspectives on Young Adult Literature: Schooling,
Society, and Culture:
Kuechle noted that the discipline had gone back and forth
regarding the number level of the course and even though it is presented as a
1xxx level course the faculty sponsor would not be opposed to moving the course
to a 2xxx level. Motion to move the course from the 1xxx level to the 2xxx
level.
Mus 1300 Concert Band, Mus 1310 University Choir, Mus 1320
Concert Choir, Mus 1330 Jazz Ensemble, and Mus 1340 Orchestra:
Nellis explained that this group of courses has had the
grading option changed from S-N to Student Option. Schwaller reminded the
committee that this is the result of a request by CC last spring to have the
grading changed to Student Option on these courses. Motion to approve the
changes for the series of courses.
Th 1060 Production Experience:
There was discussion among the members about the concern
that Th 1060 does not have an ArtP designator. To avoid confusion the Th 1060
should have a statement such as “participation in other than performing” added
to the description. Motion to send Th 1060 back to the discipline for
clarification on the GER, concurrent registration or co-req, addition of
statement to the description “participation in other than performing” and
assessment information.
Chemistry Proposals:
Bioorganic Chemistry is added to the list of electives for
the major and the minor requirements will now include Organic Chemistry. The
course changes proposed are credit changes to stay within in the 40-credit
limit. Korth stated that these changes would be effective Fall 04. There was
considerable discussion among the members regarding major and minor changes
effective between catalog years. Motion to approve all proposed changes in
chemistry major and minor requirements and course changes. Motion passed.
Mgmt 4602 Advanced Corporate Finance I and Mgmt 4603
Advanced Corporate Finance II:
Lee explained that the courses were set-up as two
half-semester courses to allow flexibility for the students. After some
discussion among the members, the courses will be sent back to Management for
clarification on the following issues: pre-reqs, when the courses will be
offered, clarification on the description to match the intent of the course and
the rationale for having two 2-credit courses instead of one 4-credit course.
Fall Semester Curriculum Proposals:
Passed: To approve the following
curricular change proposals.
Division
of Education
Wellness and Sport Science
WSS
1351 CE: Beginning Tap Dance
Division of Humanities
Music
Mus
1045 Class Guitar
Mus
1300 Concert Band
Mus
1310 University Choir
Mus
1320 Concert Choir
Mus
1330 Jazz Ensemble
Mus
1340 Orchestra
Mus
1401 English Italian, German, and French Diction for Singers
Spanish
Span
1052 Variable Topics in Associated Languages: Beginning Nahautl I
Span
1053 Variable Topics in Associated Languages: Beginning Nahautl II
Theater
Th
1070 Performance Experience
Division
of Science and Math
Chemistry
Chem
2302 Organic Chemistry II
Chem
3701 Inorganic Chemistry
Chem
3801 History of Chemistry
Chem
3811 Macromolecules
Chem
3901 Chemistry Seminar I
Chem
4351 Bioorganic Chemistry
Chem
4352 Synthesis
Chem
4551 Theoretical Chemistry
Chem
4552 Molecular Spectroscopy
Chem
4751 Advanced Inorganic Chemistry
Chem
4901 Chemistry Seminar I
Chem
4902 Chemistry Seminar II
Division
of Social Science
Geography
Geog
2001 Problems in Geography
History
Hist 3041 Indigenous People 1500-Present
Political Science
Pol
3201 Legislative Process
Psychology
Psy
3403 Developmental Psychology III: Adulthood, Aging and Death
Interdisciplinary Studies
IS 1001 First Year Seminar: Human Diversity
IS
1331 CE: Disability in
SPRING SEMESTER
EDP Sub-Committee:
Schwaller called for volunteers for the EDP
subcommittee. Dave Roberts and Jackie Thorvaldson volunteered and Schwaller
nominated Jenny Nellis as chair.
NSSE Survey Discussion:
Schwaller explained he was attending a meeting in
Washington DC when CC was supposed to meet last and one of the panel
discussions he attended was “Working Toward a Shared Vision of Liberal Arts
Education: Adding Value Through Student Engagement “ by George Kuh the founder
of NSSE. The presentation was on DEEP, Documenting Effective Educational
Practice. Twenty schools were selected that were particularly exemplary: that
had higher than predicted graduation rates and higher than predicted scores on
the NSSE benchmarks. These schools were chosen for more in-depth study to see
what was going on there. The schools we would be most interested in would be
Macalester, The Evergreen State College, and the U of Maine,
Features of Liberal Education at DEEP Schools (NSSE)
· Writing intensive (writing across the
curriculum)
· Peer teachers and mentors
· Practical applications of learning
· “Seminaring” - students are equal
participants in classroom dialogue
· Common academic and intellectual experiences
· Emphasis on social responsibility
· Socialization to liberal education
· Celebrations of scholarship
Practical
applications such as the 8 abilities of
1. Communicate (in writing and in speech)
2. Analyze situations
3. Solve problems
4. Apply values consistently
5. Interact with others effectively
6. Act responsibly in the global environment
7. Fulfill the obligations of citizenship
8. Engage in artistic experiences
Traits
common to DEEP schools:
·
· Improvement oriented ethos
· Leadership
· Collaborative ethic
· Data guides improvement
Helsper notified the committee that UMM will be
doing NSSE again this spring and it will be interesting to see the results from
a different group of students. These results will be available Fall of 2004.
Schwaller
explained that of the DEEP characteristics, the principal problem for UMM is
writing and then socializing. Schwaller explained that we cannot rely solely on
the NSSE results and that it will be difficult for this large of a group to
move forward. He suggested forming a sub-committee to look at the issue and
make recommendations to the committee. Mary Elizabeth Bezanson, Tom Johnson, and Dorothy
DeJager volunteered to be on the sub-committee and Schwaller indicated he would
like Jenny Nellis, one member from each division and a MCSA representative.
Schwaller asked Mike Korth to choose someone from his area and he will ask Judy
Kuechle to do the same. The sub-committee will also include someone from the
English discipline.
Schwaller will prepare the charge for the
sub-committee, which will include exploring the problems and pointing the
curriculum committee in the right direction with recommendations.
Sub-Committee to Look at Internships and Legal Issues
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 to empower the Dean to create a sub-committee to look at and
create a document with the legal issues of student internships
Resident Credit for Study Abroad Programs
Schwaller explained that the item of Residential Credit for
Study Abroad is an informational item that has been heard by the Scholastic
Committee and is going forward to Campus Assembly. The Scholastic Committee is
asking for Curriculum Committee’s endorsement. After
considerable discussion, Schwaller
explained that CC could make a motion to endorse the recommendation from
Scholastic Committee before they forward it on to Campus Assembly.
Karla Klinger explained that she is here for Scholastic
Committee with Leslie Meek and Tom McRoberts. She comes with the unanimous
endorsement from the Scholastic Committee on this matter and is asking for
endorsement from the Curriculum Committee. International Programs Committee has
also given their approval and endorsement of this change to the residential
credit policy with regard to our Study Abroad programs. Klinger read the
current policy and explained that the Scholastic Committee has listened to all
the arguments for and against this change and have been convinced by the
rationale. She also stated that all Study Abroad programs that this change will
apply to have been reviewed and approved by U of M.
Klinger explained that other colleges are doing this
including the Big 10 and many private liberal arts schools. This is also an all
University Policy and large parts of it cannot be changed without going through
SCEP. Faculty will continue to have control of majors, minors and critical
courses, and as such going this way will not dilute the programs.
Schwaller explained that it would be a good step for CC to
endorse this before it goes to Campus Assembly. Motion to endorse the
Scholastic Committee’s recommendation of resident credit for study abroad
programs. Motion passed.
EDP Proposals
Nellis reviewed the proposals for the committee explaining
that again this year more proposals were received than there were dollars
available to fund all of them. The sub-committee chose not to fund one project,
as the principal investigator will be leaving campus. There were not enough
funds to fund every project at the level requested.
We the EDP Subcommittee, Jenny Nellis, Dave Roberts and Jackie
Thorvaldson, reviewed seven proposals submitted for funding by the EDP program.
The total amount requested was $21,144.
The Sub Committee reviewed the seven proposals submitted and recommends
approval of six proposals based on the criteria set forth by the Curriculum
Committee. Four of the proposals we recommend funding at the level requested
and two proposals we recommend funding at a lower level than requested. This
would bring the total funding to $12,000. One proposal we recommend not
funding.
We, the Subcommittee make a motion to the Curriculum
Committee to approve the recommended EDP Grant Proposals.
Motion of the proposal from the sub-committee
Nellis, Roberts, and Thorvaldson. Motion passed.
Dance from WSS
to Humanities with New Designator
Nellis explained that this proposal comes after many years
of discussion and work. All areas involved are happy with this plan. Students
who want teacher licensure in Theater need Dance courses. With change in
licensure, Judy Kuechle, Tom McRoberts, Ferolyn Angell and Tap Payne, tried to
figure out how to change the way a UMM handles Dance courses by remaining
financially neutral. They recommend approval as soon as possible to show Dance
and not Sports on the students APAS and transcript. DeVries indicated it would
not affect WSS because the courses were just housed there.
McRoberts explained that the process is actually two parts.
The first part is to move the Dance courses to Humanities from WSS with a Dance
designator. The courses would not actually move until the next catalog. Right
now they are asking to approve the move and create the designator.
A member questioned if there has been any thought as to what
designator would be given. Helsper explained that the Twin Cities uses DNCE and
Helsper made a point of clarification that the catalog
becomes effective Fall of 2005 and that it is understood that McRoberts is
asking for these courses to be effective immediately after Campus Assembly
approval in Fall 2004 for Spring 2005 instead of waiting for Fall 2005 when the
new catalog is effective.
Proposal: Move dance courses from the Division of
Education to the Division of Humanities and assign them a new dance designator.
Motion for proposal from Tom McRoberts, Jenny Nellis, Judy
Kuechle and Ferolyn Angell. Motion passed
Fall Semester Curriculum Proposals:
Passed: To approve the following
curricular change proposals.
Division
of Education
Wellness and Sports Science
WSS
1412 Varsity Swimming and Diving (W)
WSS
1409 Varsity Wrestling
WSS
2207 Wrestling Coaching
Division of Humanities
Theater
Th
2111 Creative Drama with Children
Division
of Science and Math
Biology
Bio
1053 CE: Introduction to Insect Biology
Computer Science
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
Division
of Social Science
Anthropology
Anth 3203 Indigenous Peoples of the World: A Cultural Perspective
History
Hist 3032 Family and
Sexuality in Medieval
Hist
3359 Native Strategies for Survival 1880-1920
Hist
3462 Strange Harvest: A History of Rural
Psychology
Psy
3451 Cultural and Cross-Cultural Psychology
Sociology
Soc
3203 Indigenous Peoples of the World: A Cultural Perspective