UMM CURRICULUM COMMITTEE

MEETING # 5 Minutes

October 3, 2006, 10:00 a.m., Prairie Lounge

Present: Judy Kuechle (chair), Michael Korth, Jooinn Lee, Jenny Nellis, Gwen Rudney, Ferolyn Angell, Harold Hinds, Escillia Allen, Isaac Linehan-Clodfelter, Nancy Helsper, Jeri Mullin, Mary Elizabeth Bezanson

Absent: Van Gooch, Sara Haugen, Clare Strand, two students yet to be named

Visiting: Pam Solvie, Tom McRoberts, Brenda Boever

Kuechle opened the meeting.

Approval of Minutes from September 26, 2006

Kuechle asked for approval of minutes from the September 26, 2006 meeting.

MOTION (Nellis/Hinds): To approve the minutes of September 26, 2006

VOTE: Motion passed (7-0-0)

REGULAR APPROVAL OF New COURSE

IS 2037: CE China: Traditions and Transformations (new course)

MOTION (Hinds/Angell): To approve the new course (IS 2037).

VOTE: Motion passed (8-0-0)

EDUCATION DiVISION CATALOG CHANGES

EDUCATION (Ed)

Rudney presented the Education Discipline changes, which included inactivation of one course and request of approval for a new course.

New Course: Ed 2301-Environmental Science and Place-Based Education

This course will be offered as a May term course linked to the Prairie Wetlands Learning Center.

Korth asked whether the course teaches environmental science or if it teaches the teaching of environmental science. Kuechle answered that the course is based on science concepts and principles. Korth stated that the description is very non-specific.

Nellis asked why Ed 3102-Ethics and Decision Making in Education II is being dropped. Rudney answered that this was the second course in a two course sequence. The first course (Ed 3101) will remain. What is being dropped is the in-depth experience follow-up.

Bezanson asked if Ed 2201 will be offered only in the summer. She added that the course is critical in licensure and asked that it be put into a regular schedule. Rudney replied that Education would gladly offer this course on a regular basis if faculty could arrange schedules.

MOTION (Angell/Hinds): To approve new Ed course (Ed 2301) and approve catalog changes.

VOTE: Motion passed (7-1-0)

ELEMENTARY EDUCATION (ElEd)

Rudney presented the ElEd catalog changes. Proposed changes meet program approval for licensure. State license standards require adding specific courses in the major rather than only listing electives. Math 1001-Survey of Math was listed as a specific requirement rather than an elective in the major. An analysis of student enrollment showed that most were taking Math 1001 anyway, so the change will not affect staffing.

Bezanson noted that middle level communication arts and literature list a requirement of Spch 2071. Communication arts and literature will not accept Spch 1042 or 1052; students must take 2071. An earlier requirement gives the option of Spch 1042 or Spch 1052, so students may have already taken one of those courses by the time they realize they really need Spch 2071. Rudney answered that it will be handled on a case-by-case basis. Bezanson said that if it is not clear in the catalog, it will be misleading to faculty who advise students. Bezanson added that students should not double-dip because there are other students who have a demand for a public speaking course. Bezanson recommended that a sentence be added that a student completing the middle level specialty in communication arts and literature must take Spch 2701. Rudney added that similar wording could be made in math to note that a student must have a math minor or take Math 1001. By taking Math 1001 they meet all the requirements of math in the K-6 standards.

MOTION (Linehan-Clodfelter /Nellis): To approve the Elementary Education catalog changes.

VOTE: Motion passed (8-0-0)

SECONDARY EDUCATION (SeEd)

Rudney presented catalog changes for Secondary Education. Major changes include the deletion of the theater/dance license and two new courses. She added that the list of specific liberal arts courses needed for each of the Secondary Ed license areas is still being mapped out and will be confirmed once all license areas have presented their majors to the curriculum committee.

New Course: SeEd 4104-Teaching Diverse Learners

New Course: SeEd 4105-Reading and Literacy in the Content Areas

The two new 2-credit courses are being proposed in Secondary Education to replace SeEd 4101. Bezanson asked if a 2 credit class in a semester can cover everything in the course description. Kuechle stated that the course has always had a breadth of topics and not a depth of each topic.

Angell asked if students currently seeking licensure will be affected by the deletion of the theatre/dance license. Kuechle answered that we are still authorized to recommend for licensure any students currently in the program.

Bezanson asked if we are still offering geography. Kuechle answered that a course is being offered through Social Science.

Bezanson recommended that #1 under Student Teaching Requirements be changed to add “if taking communication arts and literature, then Spch 2701.”

MOTION (Nellis/Linehan-Clodfelter): To approve the new SeEd courses (SeEd 4104, SeEd 4105) and catalog changes.

VOTE: Motion passed (8-0-0)

WELLNESS & SPORT SCIENCE (WSS)

Rudney presented the catalog changes in the Wellness & Sport Science program. Changes include the inactivation of one course; WSS 2208-Soccer Coaching and a catalog print change to reflect the previous inactivation of WSS 4901-Senior Seminar.

Hinds stated that it did not make a lot of sense to eliminate WSS 2208 at the same time that we are adding a men’s soccer program. Rudney explained that the course is not being taught because students aren’t taking the course. Hinds suggested waiting to see if there isn’t more demand now that we have a men’s soccer program. Rudney asked if the committee wanted her to take the proposed change back to WSS for reconsideration. The committee recommended she do that.

Linehan-Clodfelter asked if other areas of concentration have actual course designators like WSS. Helsper noted that it is unique because we once had a physical education major that has been replaced by an area of concentration in WSS. Hinds asked whether we could list all the areas of concentration that have been created since we are going online and the number of printed pages is no longer a deterrent. It can increase their visibility so people will see them as options to pursue. Helsper noted that there is already a link to them on the Web site.

Bezanson stated that it seemed an odd moment to remove WSS 4901-Senior Seminar since the Strategic Plan includes a movement toward requiring a capstone experience in all majors. Helsper answered that the course was actually inactivated a year or two ago and is now being removed from the catalog. Hinds stated that the discussion has now changed and the decision should be revisited.

Hinds stated that Rudney should ask the discipline to consider the discussion of keeping WSS 2208-Soccer Coaching and activating WSS 4901-Senior Seminar. The committee agreed to table the vote on WSS until a future meeting.

OLD BUSINESS

At the September 12 meeting of the Curriculum Committee, Kuechle asked Leslie Meek, chair of the Scholastic Committee, to prepare a statement for the Curriculum Committee to consider regarding F grades and GPA calculations. Kuechle handed out the following recommendation from the Scholastic Committee for the 2007-09 catalog.

RECOMMENDED CATALOG TEXT FOR 2007-09 REVISIONS

1. All majors or areas of concentration/minors or areas of emphasis/licensure should include the following:

“A minimum GPA of 2.0 [or__ insert if higher] in University of Minnesota courses used to meet these requirements is required. Grades of ‘F’ are included in GPA calculation until they are replaced.”

(Note: this excludes transfer courses from other institutions and includes “transfer” courses from other campuses of the University)

2. Any specific limitation that refers to D grade should be amended to say:

“D or D+”

(Note: this is where text reads 8.0 credits of D are allowed if… etc.)

3. When D grades are not allowed catalog text should read:

“No grades below C- are allowed.”

Bezanson asked whether an F grade counts as a zero in a student’s GPA. Kuechle answered that it counts as a zero but the credits are counted in the calculation. Korth asked if this was being proposed as a recommendation only or as a replacement text for the catalog. Bezanson asked if it had to be approved by campus assembly. Helsper answered that if the committee approves it, it does go to the assembly. Kuechle added that this will be the language that Helsper will then use in the new catalog.

MOTION (Hinds/Angell): To approve the proposed changes to the catalog text.

VOTE: Motion passed (8-0-0)

Kuechle thanked Rudney for the well-organized presentation of courses and catalog changes from the Division of Education. Kuechle reminded the committee that they will consider catalog changes of the Division of the Social Sciences and vote on the WSS changes at a future meeting.

The meeting was adjourned at 10:55 a.m.

Submitted by Darla Peterson