UMM CURRICULUM COMMTTEE

2008-09 MEETING #5 Minutes

October 8, 2008, 8:00 a.m., Imholte 109

Present: Cheryl Contant (chair), Brenda Boever, Mark Collier, Janet Ericksen, Van Gooch,

Sara Haugen, Donovan Hanson, Michael Korth, Judy Kuechle, Pareena Lawrence, Axl McChesney,

Alex Murphy, Dennis Stewart, Clare Strand, Nancy Helsper

Absent: Gwen Rudney, Veronica Lei

Visiting: Jeri Squier, Jayne Blodgett, Terri Hawkinson

In these minutes: Social Sciences Division catalog changes (continued) and Humanities Division catalog changes (through English).

1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – October 1, 2008

MOTION by Lawrence/Kuechle to approve the October 1, 2008 minutes.

Discussion:

Strand announced that she and DeJager had misstated the reference to a University Senate Policy at the last meeting, in reference to a minimum 50% of upper-level coursework required in a major. The University Senate Policy on Undergraduate Residency Credit Requirements states that “students must complete at least half of upper division major work on the campus from which they are seeking to graduate.” Collier asked if there are norms on this campus, and Contant answered that there are none that can be consistently stated across the majors. This is a question that should be on a future agenda of the Committee, after the catalog work is finished.

Motion passed by unanimous voice vote.

2. SOCIAL SCIENCES DIVISION CATALOG CHANGES (continued)

MANAGEMENT (Mgmt)

Contant stated that there is a motion currently on the floor to approve management text for discipline changes. She asked that the committee quickly take action on that motion to disapprove it and consider instead the new version of management changes made since, and as a result of, the previous meeting.

VOTE: Motion failed (0-10-0)

MOTION (Ericksen/Kuechle) to approve the new version of management discipline course changes.

Discussion:

Lawrence stated that at the last meeting a concern was raised that the use of the words “areas of emphasis” might be confused with the same titled self-designed minor. The discipline has agreed to use “sub-plan” instead. They agreed for consistency purposes, since chemistry, the only other major that has tracks, calls them sub-plans. Some courses are added and deactivated. One other big change is that accounting used to be offered as a sequence of two courses, Mgmt 2101 and 2102. Each carried 4 credits. They are proposing to reduce the credits in Mgmt 2102 to 2 credits. The rationale is that many transfer students come from colleges that have a 6-credit sequence because they typically offer two 3-credit courses. The course description doesn’t change. The second course used to include a lot of financial management and managerial accounting that is covered in separate existing courses. The 2-credit course will be a half-semester course.

Collier voiced questions about the reduction of requirements in the sub-plan. Lawrence answered that management has strengthened its core by moving one course from each of two of the sub-plans into the core for the major. There is a base of knowledge all students need to have regardless of which sub-plan they choose. Collier asked what it means to do a sub-plan. Lawrence answered that a student takes 12 credits that gears them toward a particular area of interest in management. In financial management, for instance, a student takes more training in the area of corporate finance. Collier replied that taking one course does not provide a specialization. It seems to weaken the standards of what a specialization is. Stewart answered that there are more than one course providing a specialization. Calculus is also a specialized course. If a student wants to go to graduate school in financial management, they must have taken a calculus course. Collier disagreed that calculus is considered a course in financial management. Contant stated that there is a package of course listed in the electives that try to capture the themes and topics in the 3 sub-plans in management. Lawrence stated that it doesn’t change anything from the last sub-plan, other than moving two out of sub-plans and putting them into the core of the major. This ensures that all management majors are competent in issues of money and banking. McChesney asked it the discipline considered keeping the number of electives at 8 and not changing it to 4. Lawrence answered that the total credits in the management major has not changed. It is heavy in content already. Kuechle stated that this is a sub-plan and not a minor. It’s up to the major to decide how their sub-plan should look, and it is reasonable for them to know what makes up a sub-plan. Collier asked whether the charge of the Committee is to enforce the rules.

VOTE: Motion passed (8-2-0)

POLITICAL SCIENCE (Pol)

MOTION (Ericksen/Hanson) to approve the political science discipline course changes.

Discussion:

Lawrence explained that the political science changes consist of the inactivation of several courses, as well as some changes to the major. What led to the changes was losing a position in comparative politics, and they found that students appeared to be majoring in a professor. Students would choose a subfield and take almost all courses with one professor. As a result, the discipline decided to eliminate sub-fields, and instead propose requiring students to take at least one course from each of the original subfields (American Politics, International Relations and Comparative Politics, and Political Theory). The objectives and requirements have been changed to reflect the removal of sub-fields. A research methods class is also required as a prerequisite to the senior seminar. Four new courses are included:

Pol 2001-Political Science Research Methods (SS; 4 cr)

This course was added to provide a research methods course and requirement in political science. This course will replace Pol 3101-Political Analysis, which will be inactivated, due to the departure of its instructor. A required research methods course is an essential addition to their major sequence of courses. The course will be restricted to political science majors and serve as a prerequisite for Pol 4905-Senior research seminar in political science.

Boever stated that the new research course Pol 2001 might benefit from a prerequisite of 1601-Introduction to statistics. It’s not listed. Lawrence stated that the major does require it, so it should be listed. Boever stated that it will probably show up in the sample plan. Contant stated that if political science would like to include it, the Committee would view it as a minor editorial change that can be made after-the-fact. Since it’s required, it would be considered a sequencing change. Korth answered that he would not consider the change editorial, but would be agreeable to the change.

[Note that Lawrence consulted with the discipline after the meeting and reported that statistics is not a current prerequisite, nor does the discipline want it to be. The new course focuses on the research process, addressing such topics as the philosophy (and critiques) of the scientific method, how to design strong research questions and hypotheses, how to find, evaluate and cite the published scholarly research and a survey of different qualitative and quantitative methods of acquiring empirical evidence. The course is focused on the meaning and standards of good research and the ways in which strong research projects are put together rather than doing statistical work. This process-oriented approach will prepare them for the quantitative statistical analysis conducted in the major's required statistics course, which can be taken at the same time or after the research methods course.]

Pol 3354-Political Ethics (E/CR; 4 cr)

This course is designed to challenge the perceptions that political decision-making is morally questionable, on the one hand, or a neutral weighing of costs and benefits, on the other hand. This course will examine and evaluate the complex ethical decisions made by citizens and public officials on political processes and policies.

Pol 4302-International Comparative Political Theory (IP; 4 cr)

This course is designed to extend the standard curriculum for political theory beyond western political thought through a comparative form of inquiry.

Pol 4905-Senior Research Seminar in Political Science (SS; 2 cr)

This course is a revision of the senior capstone seminar and is driven by several factors. Disciplinary assessments of graduating seniors since the last catalog indicate students have had minimal experience in revising and expanding on research, an important scholarly skill. This course will provide that experience and will address students’ concerns regarding the previous senior seminar. The current model of senior seminars results in widely varying research supervision loads depending on subfields. Low enrollment numbers are no longer tenable. This course puts all the seniors together into one course.

Changes to the minor include the renaming, deactivating, and cleaning up of courses after faculty members have left. The new courses are added to the minor. The multiple course revisions include inactivation of several courses due to the loss of a comparative politics position. The hiring of a new faculty member in political theory resulted in some course title and description changes. A few courses were renumbered from the 3xxx level to the 4xxx level, and vice versa. The rationale is that if a course requires independent research on the part of the student, it has been renumbered to a 4xxx-level course.

VOTE: Motion passed (10-0-0)

PSYCHOLOGY (Psy)

MOTION (Lawrence/Ericksen) to approve the psychology discipline course changes.

Discussion:

Lawrence stated that there are only editorial or inactivation of course changes to this cycle of the catalog. This discipline made most of its major changes in the last cycle.

VOTE: Motion passed (10-0-0)

SOCIOLOGY (Soc)

MOTION (Lawrence/Ericksen) to approve the sociology discipline course changes.

Discussion:

Lawrence explained that there are no major changes to the sociology major or minor. Two courses will be inactivated. She noted one correction to the form that wasn’t caught in time: Anth 2311-American Indians of the Great Plains should have a line through it. It is being inactivated as an anthropology course. Its equivalent in English, Engl 2311, will change its course designator to AmIn 2311. The course AmIn 2311 will not be included in the electives for anthropology or sociology. Lawrence also mentioned two other corrections under the Electives heading: Anth 2103 should have an SS GenEd designator instead of HDIV, and Anth 2455 has a new number: 3455.

VOTE: Motion passed (10-0-0)

ANTHROPOLOGY (Anth) BA Major Revisit

MOTION (Lawrence/Ericksen) to approve the additional anthropology discipline course changes.

Discussion:

Lawrence stated that Anth 2103 should have a GenEd designator of SS. Also, as a result of the discussion at the last meeting regarding how many upper-level courses should be in a major, the anthropology discipline changed the electives to 4 credits in 1xxx and 2xxx, and 12 credits in 3xxx and 4xxx. AmIn 2311 is listed and should be removed because it is being taught by an English professor. Unless an anthropology professor teaches the course, it will not count toward the anthropology or sociology majors. If, in the future, an anthropology professor teaches the course, they will request an exception to have it counted toward the major. On the Anthropology Multiple Course Revision Form, Anth 2311 should be deleted. Also, Anth 2455 should be changed to 3455.

VOTE: Motion passed (10-0-0)

3. HUMANITIES DIVISION CATALOG CHANGES

ART HISTORY (ArtH)

MOTION (Ericksen/Kuechle) to approve the art history discipline course changes.

Discussion:

Ericksen stated that all the changes in art history reflect faculty specialization and changes as minor as adding the word “the” to the text. One new course is proposed:

ArtH 3133-Boundaries and Transitions in Medieval Art (FA; 4 cr)

This course replaces a course that was deactivated due to a change in staffing.

VOTE: Motion passed (10-0-0)

STUDIO ART (ArtS)

MOTION (Ericksen/Kuechle) to approve the studio art discipline course changes.

Discussion:

Ericksen asked why the underlined text appeared in the printed catalog but not in the online catalog, and if it could be in added to the major/minor section. Squier stated that she and Strand had discussed it earlier and decided that rather than duplicating what is listed elsewhere they would propose an alternative version that studio art can edit. Helsper stated that the cluster heading and description will continue in the printed catalog unless a change is submitted to her. Strand stated that Helsper was creating extra work for people by requiring that the printed catalog be updated with such changes. Ericksen asked why two different catalogs are being edited. Helsper answered that we are actually editing the last printed catalog. The only place cluster headings appear is in the printed catalog. Strand asked if there could be an understanding that changes to the online catalog are included in the printed catalog by default. Contant asked if some majors choose clusters that don’t appear in the online catalog. Ericksen answered that studio art would prefer that they match. She would welcome an alternative option that would be shorter and would come at the beginning of the major section as suggested by Strand and Squier. Helsper stated that other disciplines that have cluster headings, like history, need to know if cluster headings in the printed catalog are going away. Contant asked whether the Committee should move to have them absolutely identical for the next catalog. What we’re hearing from studio art is they would like to get this particular issue resolved so the online and printed catalogs end up identical. Contant asked if the Committee would approve the understanding that there will be a text reorganization to have it appear somewhere in the online catalog. Korth answered that it would be a bookkeeping change, and where it goes can be worked out outside of the Committee.

VOTE: Motion passed (10-0-0)

COMMUNICATION, MEDIA, AND RHETORIC (CMR)

MOTION (Ericksen/Kuechle) to approve the communication, media, and rhetoric discipline course changes.

Discussion:

Ericksen stated that there are huge changes in this discipline. The name of the discipline has changed, and the major has been reorganized into the three main areas reflected in the new title. The description of the major has also been revised to make it more engaging. The required credits have been raised to 42 (from 40), and courses have been removed which are just for majors or just for non-majors or licensure students. Now all are blended together in the same course with a larger enrollment.

Eight new courses include:

CMR 1388-College Newspaper Experience (1 cr)

CMR 1389-College Radio Experience (1 cr)

These two courses give students an opportunity to have a local, highly supervised, practical experience, somewhat like an internship. These courses had been offered as directed studies, and there is enough interest by students to offer them as regular courses.

CMR 2411-Health Communication (Hum; 4 cr)

This course gives student an opportunity to expand their learning into a new area in the communication field. The expectation is that the class will be of interest to CMR students, pre-med/pre-den/pre-nursing, LAHS, and other majors.

CMR 2421-Business and Professional Communication (E/CR; 4 cr)

This class gives CMR students and others an opportunity to enhance the communication focus of the major.

CMR 3312-Media Literacy (Hum; 4.0)

This class is gives students an opportunity to expand their learning into a new area in the communication field. The expectation is that the class will be of interest to CMR students and to students seeking CA/L licenses.

CMR 3432-Communication Research Methods (Hum; 4 cr)

This class gives students an opportunity to learn more about ways to conduct the research they will complete in their senior capstone course. The class is of special interest to majors considering graduate school.

Boever noted that research methods courses in other disciplines are offered at the 2xxx level. Strand answered that she had called the instructor with the same concern and was told that it is a 3xxx level course because they want students to take it their junior year in preparation for their senior seminar.

CMR 4341-New Media Technologies (Hum; 2 cr)

This course gives students an opportunity to complete an advanced course that builds on media requirement for majors. The course will also be of interest to digital media and journalism students.

CMR 4411- Advanced Interpersonal Communication (Hum; 4 cr)

This course gives students an opportunity to complete an advanced course that builds on the CMR 1062 requirement for majors.

Lawrence asked if the changes to the major will have an impact on management students getting into CMR 1052, the public speaking course. Students currently are concerned about not getting into the class and having to take it during the summer. Ericksen answered that the changes suggested will not lessen the difficulty to get into the class, but it will not be more difficult.

Ericksen stated that the new organization of the major into groups of electives is a positive change. Strand noted that “requirements for the major” should be “program requirements.” Also, the S/N statement cannot be changed, and the minor was approved by the Regents in September.

Lawrence asked what the rationale was for changing course levels in some courses on the multiple course revision form. Ericksen answered that the intent is to take CMR 1101 the first year and with a 2101 number, it wasn’t clear to students that it was intended as a first-year course.

VOTE: Motion passed (10-0-0), with noted editorial changes.

DANCE (Dnce)

MOTION (Ericksen/Kuechle) to approve the Dance discipline course changes.

Discussion:

Ericksen stated that the only changes include capitalizing the word “tap,” the addition of one course, and the inactivation of another. The new course is:

Dnce 3011-Dance History (FA; 4 cr)

Students have done directed studies in the history of dance, and this course will formalize the focus. It is a necessary component for students wishing to pursue an area of concentration in dance and many who pursue an area of emphasis will also need this course.

Korth stated that he had had the same concern in past years of seeing programmatic expansion in this discipline. The addition of the course is canceled as a continuing education course, so there is no true cancellation as far as resources required. Ericksen stated that she does not know what the status of dance is so she is proceeding with accepting new course proposals unless told otherwise by the dean. The discipline currently has only one 40% faculty member.

VOTE: Motion passed (7-2-1)

ENGLISH (Engl)

MOTION (Ericksen/Kuechle) to approve the English discipline course changes.

Discussion:

Ericksen stated that the description of the major was changed to make it less boring and more engaging. Some courses are being inactivated, and two new courses are being proposed:

Engl 2032-Sex, the City, and Literature (HDIV; 4 cr)

This course meets the needs of students interested in Women Studies and clarifies an understanding of postmodernism.

Korth asked if 2032 is meant to have the HDIV designator. Ericksen said that it did because it fits the Women’s Studies designator. Boever added that a lot of WS transfer courses come in as HDIV.

Engl 3253-Modern and Postmodern Love in the Novel (Hum; 4 cr)

This course was taught by the instructor at another institution, and students responded very positively.

Ericksen stated that the survey courses have title changes because when Engl 2201-British Literature Survey I and Engl 2202-British Literature Survey II are listed, some students thought that they had to be taken in sequence, which wasn’t the case. Instead dates were added to the titles, such as: Engl 2201-Survey of British Literature to the 18th century. The same was done for the American Literature Survey courses.

Under the list of electives, the online catalog was misleading in the way it referred to 2xxx-level courses. Under the required courses begins the statement about 10 courses. It is now changed to allow students to take the 4th survey as an elective. Students should be allowed to take it if they want to, particularly secondary education teachers who want to take early and late British literature and early and late English literature.

Electives used to be grouped in two ways. The line crossed out states “take 1 or more courses from the following.” They would prefer students didn’t take any of those courses. It was an option and not a requirement. English wanted them to take 5 or more and no more than 4 cr from 2xxx or Korth asked if it would be clearer to use sub-groups. Ericksen answered that she would still prefer they it stated no more than so many can count to let them see that they would prefer they not take any. It was agreed that the wording would be changed to: “Take 5....no more than 4 cr of Engl 2xxx or 1xxx or Humxxx. . .”

Gooch questioned whether Engl 2015-Introduction to Film Studies meets the objectives of the English major. If it is listed under the English discipline, it should relate to the English language. Ericksen answered that Film Studies is a Ph.D. commonly granted in English departments. It relates to literature and is in English. Gooch asked how it introduces students to a literary genre. When we talk about literary genres, are do films relate to English? In French film classes, it clearly relates to the French language and culture. Ericksen answered that the last line in the new program description “...still others cover film, creative writing, and contemporary popular literature.” includes film.

Ericksen stated that English 2061 is not a new course cluster. She asked if there could be a new prefix to mark them. Boever added that the course is sometimes confused with an intro course because of its title.

VOTE: Motion passed (10-0-0)

The Committee ran out of time and will begin with French at the next meeting.

Adjourned 9:11 a.m.

Submitted by Darla Peterson