UMM CURRICULUM COMMITTEE

MEETING # 7 Minutes

October 24, 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, Mary Elizabeth Bezanson, Van Gooch, Isaac Linehan-Clodfelter, Nancy Helsper, Jeri Mullin, Sara Haugen, Clare Strand

Absent: Two students yet to be named

Visiting: Tom McRoberts, Brenda Boever, Dorothy DeJager, Jayne Hacker

Kuechle opened the meeting.

Approval of Minutes from october 10, 2006

Kuechle asked for approval of minutes from the October 10, 2006 meeting.

MOTION (Nellis/Bezanson) to approve the minutes of October 10, 2006.

VOTE: Motion passed (10-0-0)

CONTINUATION OF Social Sciences DiVISION CATALOG CHANGES

ANTHROPOLOGY (Anth)

At the October 10 meeting, the committee had agreed to send back to the discipline the proposed course change of Anth 3201 for clarification of the rationale for keeping the GER of Envt. This is a reactivated course. The GER was not proposed to change. However, with the description wording changes, curriculum committee members thought the new course description did not fit Envt. Lee explained that he spoke to the instructor and was told that it is not a new course, but the Envt GER still accurately describes the course. He shared a handout with the committee that showed a revised description of the course that resurrected part of the old description and added it to the new description, to make a clearer description.

Korth stated that the new description was even more confusing because the catalog describes Envt as “People and the Environment.” To have that designator, the course should be about the interaction of human society with the natural world. Hinds explained that the relationship now involves much more than simple geography. It does fit the physical environment (geological or biological environment). It was pointed out that the revised course description does refer to “physical environment.” Lee stated that it is the social environment that will be considered. Korth added that according to the explanation for the rationale, the natural environment is an extremely small part of the course. Hinds stated that if you look at any geography introductory textbook today, the environment is defined much broader that in the past, because of the concept that we alter the environment in many significant ways. The idea that there is a natural world we have not messed with is no longer accepted.

MOTION (understood) to accept the rationale for the GER of ENVT for Anth 3201.

VOTE: (7-3-0)

HISTORY (Hist)

At the October 10 meeting, the committee had agreed to send back Hist 3207 to the discipline for clarification of the rationale to change the GER from Hist to IP; and courses Hist 3551 and Hist 3552 for clarification of the rationale for changing the GER from IP to Hist. Lee explained that with the instructor change, the focus of the course is different.

MOTION (understood) to accept the rationale for the GER change from Hist to IP for Hist 3207 and from IP to Hist for Hist 3551 and Hist 3552.

VOTE: (10-0-0)

DeJager shared her concern (from her perspective working with GenEd and as one who hears petitions for the Scholastic Committee) that the change would have an adverse effect on student planning. She was concerned that the decision would set a dangerous precedent. Lee assured her that the number of petitions would be minimal. Hinds agreed that it would be a rare occurrence.

Additional multiple course revisions were considered for both history and psychology. The changes were either inactivation of courses or minor wording changes.

SOCIAL SCIENCE MAJOR

Lee stated that there are few changes. Bezanson asked if this major exists because of teacher licensure. Lee answered that any student may complete this major, however students wishing to receive a license to teach social science must complete this major. He went on to say that there were no changes other than course changes in other disciplines that would be incorporated into the Social Science major.

MOTION (Gooch/Bezanson) to approve the Social Science Major catalog changes.

VOTE: (10-0-0)

SOCIOLOGY (Soc)

Lee presented the catalog changes in the sociology major. Most of the changes were discussed when anthropology was considered because they are double-listed.

Rudney asked whether Soc 3101-Research Methodology I and Soc 3102-Research Methodology II are sequence courses. They are numbered to suggest that 3101 is a prereq for 3102. Lee answered that the instructor said that they are no longer sequence courses. Helsper mentioned that Soc 3101 has a prereq of Soc 1101, but Soc 3102 does not list any prereqs now that the Soc 3101 prereq is being dropped. Strand stated that it appears that Soc 3101 and Soc 3102 can be taken independently. Bezanson suggested that the Roman numeral II after the course description for Soc 3102 be removed if the two courses are not sequential. The committee agreed to send Soc 3101 and Soc 3102 back to the discipline for clarification.

Korth mentioned that the Description of Requirements for a Minor on Form B states, “three electives.” He suggested adding the word “sociology” after “three,” if that is the intent. Strand stated that the current catalog is worded exactly the way it is on Form B. Kuechle asked Lee to check with the discipline to confirm that it is their intent to require three electives in sociology.

Gooch asked if sociology intended to use the grading requirement of C-, D+, and D. Strand answered that it was agreed by the committee at an earlier meeting that a uniform standard will replace the grading language across disciplines. Lee stated that the discipline is in agreement with the wording that will be used uniformly.

New Course: Soc 3122-Sociology of Childhoods

Bezanson questioned the use of a plural in the word “Childhoods.” Lee answered that it was intended to be plural.

New Course: Soc 4901-Independent Project Seminar I

Mullin informed the committee that under “Course Prerequisites for Catalog” the words “completion of” will be stricken. The faculty member who sponsored the course had approved the change.

New Course: Soc 4902-Independent Project Seminar II

MOTION (Bezanson/Hinds) to approve new Sociology courses (Soc 3122-Sociology of Childhoods, Soc 4901-Independent Project Seminar I, and Soc 4902-Independent Project Seminar II) and the catalog changes, with the exception of Soc 3101 and Soc 3102, which will be sent back to the discipline for clarification.

VOTE: (10-0-0)

WOMEN’S STUDIES (WoSt)

Lee presented the Women’s Studies course changes to the committee. He stated that course changes in other disciplines are reflected in this discipline.

Bezanson mentioned that Form A was not completely filled out, including the intent of proposed changes. A member asked why Women’s Studies is housed in the Social Science Division now, but was at one time in Humanities. Helsper answered that the discipline always stays in the Social Science Division, even though some years the coordinator may come from another division.

MOTION (Hinds/Bezanson) to approve the Women’s Studies catalog changes.

VOTE: (10-0-0)

Korth stated that if the committee does not require that all of the boxes on Form A be completed, the boxes should be taken off. It would save time for those disciplines that take the time to fill them out. Kuechle answered that this is the last year that Form A will be used. PCAS will take the place of the form in future years. The information requested in the boxes on Form A is required on PCAS.

Lee announced that the requested changes in psychology to reflect course number changes in biology have been made.

HUMANITIES DIVISION CATALOG CHANGES

ART HISTORY (ArtH)

Nellis presented the Art History course changes. She began by stating that at the division meeting it was agreed that grade change terminology will be applied uniformly as the committee approved, unless otherwise mentioned. Since there were no curriculum changes, no vote was necessary.

DANCE (Dnce)

Nellis presented the Dance course changes. Some of the courses offered in Dance are part of Humanities and others are in Continuing Education. Three new courses and changes to prerequisites and descriptions were proposed. Financial implications of adding courses in this discipline were questioned. Committee members were informed that adding these new courses does not cause financial or staffing implications, however facilities for dance classes and rehearsals continues to be a problem.

New Course: Dnce 2011-Dance in Society

New Course: Dnce 2331-Ballet II

Rudney mentioned that the term “low intermediate” in the course description struck her as a contradiction. She asked if the word “low” is necessary. Angell replied that this class is taken after the introductory class and before the intermediate class. Rudney suggested that it might have an understood meaning in the dance field. Angell agreed that it did.

New Course: Dnce 2333-Modern Dance II

Kuechle asked if the new courses will be offered only by Humanities. McRoberts answered that everything proposed today is from the Division of the Humanities, however the courses may be taught through Continuing Education at some time. Korth asked why the dance course titles no longer have the CE prefix on them. Helsper explained that a year or more ago selected dance courses were moved to Humanities, when the curriculum committee established a dance discipline. Korth noted that when the committee was persuaded to establish the dance discipline, the committee was told that the courses would continue to be offered through CE, and no budget or salary funds would be needed. Nellis explained that the previous dean added a part-time dance position in Humanities. Kuechle reminded the committee that it deals with courses and curriculum. Budgetary concerns are not the committee’s charge. Bezanson answered that, although the committee is charged with only focusing on curriculum, the truth is that curriculum and budgets are interlocked. If the campus wants dance, there must be a discussion about how it fits in the overall perspective of the liberal arts and how the campus will provide resources to support it.

Hinds stated that since all programs are under review, the vote should be taken with the understanding that dance, like all other disciplines, is under review and may be changed. Angell stated that dance is proposing changes that will not expand the number of courses that will be taught, nor will the changes have a financial or staffing effect. Bezanson asked how many additional CE courses in dance will come forward. McRoberts answered that a couple of courses will be brought forward that reflect the expertise of the new CE instructor. Angell added that availability of space will play a role in determining whether and when a course will be offered.

MOTION (Hinds/Bezanson) to approve new Dance courses (Dnce 2011-Dance in Society, Dnce 2331-Ballet II, and Dnce 2333-Modern Dance II) and the catalog changes.

VOTE: (8-2-0)

Nellis mentioned that some interesting changes will come forward in Studio Art and advised the members to take extra time to review that discipline’s forms. Kuechle added that at the next meeting the committee will start with WSS, continue with Humanities, and then go to Continuing Education and Interdisciplinary Studies.

Bezanson asked if Areas of Concentration ever come before the curriculum committee for approval. Helsper answered that they were considered by the curriculum committee if they are in the catalog (example: Sports Management). Korth added that they are not approved by the committee because they are self-designed programs, created by students.

Meeting adjourned at 10:58 a.m.

Submitted by Darla Peterson