UMM CURRICULUM COMMITTEE

MEETING #14 Minutes

April 1, 2008, 3:00 p.m., Behmler 130

Present: Roland Guyotte (chair), Escillia Allen, Van Gooch, Harold Hinds, Michael Korth, Judy Kuechle, Pareena Lawrence, Jenny Nellis, Nate Swanson, Laura Thoma, Kim Ukura, Sara Haugen, Jeri Mullin,

Clare Strand, Nancy Helsper

Absent: Ferolyn Angell, Gwen Rudney

Visiting: Brenda Boever

In these minutes: approval of courses in French, English, interdisciplinary studies, wellness and sport science, and management.

1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – March 11, 2008 and March 25, 2008

Guyotte asked for approval of minutes from the past two meetings.

Amendments: Gooch asked that the words reduce the number of new courses by deleting courses at the same time be changed to delete courses at the same rate they were adding new courses on page 3. He also requested that the words without removing them be changed to without removing others on the same page. Nellis asked that the words in the theatre discipline be deleted from page 4, and the words who will be joining the faculty in the fall be deleted from page 7.

MOTION: (Hinds/Nellis) To approve the March 11 and March 25, 2008 minutes, as amended.

VOTE: Motion passed (8-0-0)

2. APPROVAL OF COURSES

Gooch made a general comment that it seems like an awful lot of courses are being added while none are disappearing. He voiced a concern that there are not a lot of new faculty members, so it would appear faculty are taking on extra duties to cover the new courses.

French 2012-French for Professions. (IP; 4 cr)

MOTION: (Nellis/Hinds) To approve French 2012-French for Professions.

VOTE: Motion passed (8-0-0)

Discussion: Nellis stated that the French discipline is in a situation of having had a senior faculty member leave and have had a new junior faculty member join them whose area of interest is different. They are running a three-year rotation on courses and therefore they need a larger number of courses available. Some of the courses that are being added in French will be in the three-year rotation. This course is one that the faculty member has wanted to add to the curriculum for some time.

Gooch asked if in taking this course students will learn the special language for business, health professionals and international relations all together or if only a specific area of interest to the student(s) will be taught. Nellis answered that she did not know the answer because no one in the division had asked that question. If French does the same as Spanish, students will work from a series of worksheets related to different professions.

Thoma stated that it was her understanding that the course was a directed study. She asked if it was part of a lower level of courses. Nellis did not know but stated that consent is not required. There is a prerequisite or co-requisite of French 2002, which is the equivalent of two years of French. Lawrence asked what the draw would be for non-major students. It requires a 2xxx-level second year of French, If it doesn’t count toward the major, what is the draw? Strand answered that it could be applicable to the French certification program.

French 3026-Early Modern Studies: History of the French Language. (Hum; 4 cr)

MOTION: (Hinds/Nellis) To approve French 3026-Early Modern Studies: History of the French

Language.

VOTE: Motion passed (8-0-0)

Discussion: Nellis explained that this course meets the early modern requirement for the French major.

French 3027-Early Modern Studies: Real to Reel: The Middle Ages and Renaissance in Film.

(Hum; 4 cr)

MOTION: (Nellis/Hinds) To approve French 3027-Early Modern Studies: Real to Reel: The

Middle Ages and Renaissance in Film.

VOTE: Motion passed (8-0-0)

Discussion: Nellis stated that this is in fact not a film studies class as much as it is an early modern studies class that has to do with how the middle ages and the renaissance have been represented in film. Fren 1027 is an early version of this course. This course has more lengthy readings and assignments than Fren 1027, although they will use the same films. French 1027 is taught in English. This course will be taught in French.

Strand asked whether a student can take both courses for credit. She added that it is common in such courses to include a statement that no credit would be given to Fren 1027 if Fren 3027 has been taken. Nellis stated that, as proposed, nothing would prevent a student from getting credit for both courses. They are not the same course. They meet at different times, and the only time they meet together is in the evenings for the film screening, after which they go back to class to discuss the films in different contexts and languages. Nellis added that she would think that a student who took Fren 1027 might thoroughly enjoy taking Fren 3027 later on. Nellis stated that, in the meantime, Fren 1027 provides a 1xxx-level course for non-majors in French. Hinds stated that the proposal does not state that the readings are the same. Strand asked if a student can get credit for both courses. Mullin replied that a student would not be able to take both courses at the same time because the lab portions conflict with each other.

Strand stated that students should be informed if there is a restriction that you cannot get credit for both courses. If there is no restriction, there are two courses with the same description and different course numbers. Hinds disagreed with Strand’s statement which presupposes the fact that a course taught in French is insignificantly different. He added that a catalog description is not a syllabus and does not mean they are doing the same readings. Strand stated that it would be nice to get clarification before the course is approved. Kuechle added that if the intent is to not to take both, then a statement should be made that this course is for non-majors. Nellis stated that Fren 1027 does say that it is for non-majors. Korth replied that it means it’s not intended for majors. Kuechle stated that Fren 1027 does say that it is for non-majors in the long title, but does that mean majors cannot take it? Nellis answered that she didn’t suppose it meant that they could not take it. Ukura added that if someone wants to pad their senior year schedule, they could find a way to do it with or without this class.

Engl 2061-Detection and Espionage in Fiction and Film. (Hum; 4 cr)

MOTION: (Understood) To approve Engl 2061-Detection and Espionage in Fiction and Film.

VOTE: Motion passed (8-0-0)

Discussion: Nellis explained that the course is listed in the materials and ECAS form as a Humanities course, but it is really an English course. This is a class being added to reflect the interest of a fairly recent faculty member in English. This adds a course in the 2xxx-level group of English courses that might be for majors but are also intended to attract non-majors and to develop a greater variety of genres for students. Kuechle added that the prerequisite listed as 1011 refers to English 1011, not Hum 1011. Strand stated that the course was provisionally approved as Hum 2061 rather than Engl 2061 and is in the class schedule. Mullin replied that it is in the class schedule for next year and she can easily make the change.

IS 3720-Tutoring Writing Across the Disciplines. (Hum; 1-2 cr)

MOTION: (Nellis/Ukura) To approve IS 3720-Tutoring Writing Across the Disciplines.

MOTION: (Hinds/Gooch) To table IS 3720-Tutoring Writing Across the Disciplines so the repetition of the course can be revised.

VOTE: Motion passed (8-0-0)

Discussion: Kuechle noted that the form lists the repetition of the course as allowing 12 credits. The course is valuable, but that’s a lot of tutoring. Lawrence noted that if it is recognized as a skills course, an upper limit of 6 credits would be allowed. Mullin explained that the ECAS system may have automatically calculated the repetitions when the credits were changed. Strand also mentioned that if the course is taken for 1 credit, the Hum GenEd designator should be removed because the precedent is that 1-credit courses are not allowed to carry a GenEd designator.

Spch 1062–Introduction to Interpersonal and Group Communication. (Hum; 4 cr)

MOTION: (Nellis/Hinds) To approve Spch 1062-Introduction to Interpersonal and Group

Communication.

VOTE: Motion passed (8-0-0)

Discussion: Kuechle asked if this course will replace Spch 3071 (the next course on the agenda), and if the two courses are required for education teacher licensure. Strand stated that Spch 1062 will replace Spch 3071. Kuechle noted that a 1xxx-level course is replacing a 3xxx-level course. Strand also noted that students who take Spch 1062 will also have to take Spch 1042, since Spch 1062 doesn’t fulfill the public speaking requirement for Speech Communication students. Kuechle added that this adds 4 more credits required for students to get through the licensure.

Spch 3071–Principles and Practices of Speech Communication. (E/CR; 4 cr)

MOTION: (Lawrence/Nellis) To approve inactivation of Spch 3071-Principles and Practices

of Speech Communication.

VOTE: Motion passed (8-0-0)

Discussion: Nellis stated that this is a request to inactivate Spch 3071. It will be replaced by Spch 1062. She explained that this course was nearly impossible to teach because there wasn’t enough time to cover everything effectively.

Spch 3341–Communication Technology and Society. (Hum; 4 cr)

MOTION: (Hinds/Nellis) To approve Spch 3341-Communication Technology and Society.

VOTE: Motion passed (8-0-0)

Discussion: Thoma asked why there was no prerequisite listed for the course. Strand answered that it would not be the only 3xxx-level course without prerequisites. A 3xxx-level course implies that you would take it in your junior or senior year. Thoma answered that students can take it any year.

Ed 1022–Pronunciation of English. (1 cr)

MOTION: (Kuechle/Nellis) To approve Ed 1022-Pronunciation of English.

VOTE: Motion passed (8-0-0)

Discussion: Thoma asked if there are any other courses that are primarily intended for ESL students. Kuechle answered that there are courses under Education which are offered through Continuing Education.

WSS 1205–Lifeguard Training. (0.5 cr)

MOTION: (Kuechle/Nellis) To approve WSS 1205-Lifeguard Training.

VOTE: Motion passed (8-0-0)

Discussion: Kuechle stated that this course is needed for Red Cross certification for swimming. It is a skills course so it fits in the cluster of 12xx skills courses. It is a 0.5-credit course because students aren’t signing up for 1-credit skills courses. The athletic director told her that under the banding to 13 credits, a proposal may come forward in the fall to move 0.5-credit skills courses to 1-credit courses. Hinds noted that he had observed a shortage of lifeguards in the community and was glad to see the course added.

WSS 1305–Beginning Taekwondo. (1 cr)

MOTION: (Kuechle/Nellis) To approve WSS 1305-Beginning Taekwondo.

MOTION: (Gooch/Hinds) To table WSS 1305-Beginning Taekwondo until the description is

changed and/or the number of credits is dropped to 0.5 credits.

VOTE: Motion passed (9-0-0) [Swanson arrived]

Discussion: Korth noted that the curriculum committee had a discussion earlier about a proposal to change the skills courses to 1-credit courses. The committee was not convinced at that time. He stated that he did not think it should be assumed that the change will be approved next fall. Lawrence recalled that the course is more instructor-related and covers not only skills but also the eastern philosophy of martial arts, concepts and traditions.

Helsper mentioned that there needs to be some clarification about the numbering of the skills courses. There hasn’t been anything submitted in the past two catalogs identifying a cluster for skills courses. She provided a handout showing the relative pages of the course catalog. She went on to say that Continuing Education has used 13xx as their cluster for skills courses. WSS is using 12xx; and now there seems to be a hodgepodge. The handout showed one course that does not fit the skills category. 1225 is a 4-credit course and clearly a study abroad program course rather than a skills course. The 13xx courses vary from 0.5 to 1 credit. She stated that the section in the catalog under degree requirements (on pages 56-60 of the 2007-2009 UMM Catalog) needs to be updated to identify the cluster of courses that fall under the 12xx and/or 13xx skills numbers. Two catalogs ago we had a topics course and all fit under that clearly, but a cluster called skills does not currently exist.

Hinds stated that the description is not terribly convincing. It looks like it covers philosophy but then talks about techniques; or is it a technical course with a little philosophy thrown in? Gooch asked if this course was provisionally approved. Strand answered that it was provisionally approved on November 11, 2007. Gooch asked if students are getting 1 credit for taking it right now. Kuechle stated that she was not present when it was provisionally approved. Lawrence recalled that it was not unanimous. Strand expressed surprise that provisional approval by the division chairs does not require a unanimous vote. She asked how long a provision approval lasts. Helsper answered that it lasts for the life of the catalog.

Mgmt 3512–Group Dynamics. (SS; 2 cr)

Psy 3512–Group Dynamics. (SS; 2 cr)

MOTION: (Nellis/Hinds) To approve Mgmt 3512-Group Dynamics and Psy 3512-Group Dynamics.

VOTE: Motion passed (9-0-0)

Discussion: Lawrence stated the two courses are cross-listed. They were originally inactivated but will be activated for one time only in spring semester 2009.

Guyotte announced that the Curriculum Committee will not meet on April 8, but that the EDP subcommittee would meet at that time. The subcommittee’s report will be presented at the April 15 meeting.

Meeting adjourned at 3:58 p.m.

Submitted by Darla Peterson