MINUTES
CAS CURRICULUM COMMITTEE
Wed., Nov. 26, 1997, Pamplin Room, Watzek, 3:15-5:00
Present: Jane Atkinson, Mine Eder, Jack Hart, Curtis Johnson, Curt Keedy, Bob Owens, Roger Paget, Anne Price, Bill Randall, David Savage, Tom Schoeneman, Phyllis Yes. Student Representative: Eric Johnson. Recorder: Eleanor Leonard
Absent: Student Representative: Elizabeth Thiel.
Call to Order
1/ The meeting was called to order at 3:17 pm.
Approval of Minutes
2/ Jack Hart moved to accept the Nov. 19, 1997, minutes. Phyllis Yes seconded. Vote to accept unanimous.
Grade Distribution and memo to the Faculty
3/ Bill Randall distributed the new "Average Grades" (dated 11/21/97) report from Mervyn Brockett. Bill Randall said that this information was good and that it would be distributed to the CAS faculty along with his memo.
4/ Bob Owens recommended that the first two sentences of the second paragraph of the memo read as follows: "Mervyn Brockett kindly ran the statistics and provided them to the committee this fall. We are distributing these statistics to all faculty members in the College of Arts and Sciences." Tom Schoeneman moved to approve the memo with Bob Owens's change. Jack Hart seconded. Vote to approve memo with changes unanimous.
Subcommittee Issues
Course Proposal Subcommittee
Psychology:
5/ 97.15 Sp99 Psy 298 Psychology and Theatre (Carlson). One time only course for Spring 1999 Ireland OS Program. Tom Schoeneman explained that this course was not part of the normal PSY curriculum and that it was taught for the Ireland program only. David Savage said that the 298 designation was appropriate for the course and told the committee that if it is offered on a one-time only basis it will have to be approved again the next time it was taught. Bob Owens recommended approval. Vote to approve unanimous.
6/ Bob Owens recommended approval of the following PSY courses which were dealt with as a package for the proposed restructuring of the psychology major:
7/ 97.47 F98 Psy 220 Thinking, Memory, and Problem Solving (Nilsen, Shapiro). New course to be offered annually. No relation to Gen Ed.
8/ 97.48 F98 Psy 250 Change name from Basic Concepts of Learning and Motivation to Learning and Motivation (Holloway).
9/ 97.49 F98 Psy 255/Gend 255 Psychology of Sex. Drop course.
10/ 97.50 F98 Psy 310 Cognition (Shapiro). Alter frequency from annually to alternate years.
11/ 97.51 F98 Psy 330 Psychology of Aging (Davidson). Drop Psy 230 as prerequisite; retain 3 other prerequisites.
12/ 97.52 F98 Psy 370 Clinical Techniques. Drop course; course has not been offered in 10 years.
13/ 97.53 F98 Psy. Add Math 115 (Elementary Functions) as prerequisite for Psy 111, 122, and all 300- & 400-level courses.
14/ A lengthy discussion followed:
15/ A cover sheet explaining the proposed restructuring of the psychology major was distributed. Tom Schoeneman explained that some of these courses are new, some involve name changes, and others being dropped. By restructuring, the Psychology Department will be able to give more guidance to students as to what the psychology major is. The current requirements are more open and students may progress through the major with skewed course work. Students are loading up on 100- & 200-level courses while the 300-level courses remain under enrolled. The new requirements will give a more even distribution across the board and ensure that psych majors get sufficient breadth in the discipline. Tom Schoeneman also said that the department does not want to endorse psychology as just a soft-fuzzy science but wants students to be aware that it is a serious hard science too.
16/ Math 115 (97.53): Tom Schoeneman explained that the Psychology Department wants to increase its math requirements because mathematical thinking is good habit for students and because students will encounter elementary mathematical functions in their work in the major. He conducted a spot survey which showed that 40% of the students going into the statistics course do not meet the requirements. This is problematic.
17/ Bill Randall asked if the Psychology Department offers enough 400-level courses to handle its majors. Tom Schoeneman answered that the department offers approximately 6 400-level courses per year and that was plenty.
18/ Roger Paget wanted to know if changing the program would cause an overburden to other departments if students can no longer take psychology courses without the prerequisites. Tom Schoeneman felt that the major would have to make distorted changes to get students to leave.
19/ David Savage and Eric Johnson both wanted to know if there would be any 200-level courses that could be taken without the Psy 100 prerequisite once Psy 255 is dropped. Tom Schoeneman said that there would be none. Psy 100 will become a prerequisite for all 200-level courses and every effort will be made to check students' records before they can enroll in a 200-level course.
20/ Eric Johnson asked if a student with Junior standing could enroll in a 200-level class without the prerequisite: and Bob Owens added that the registration process does not check prerequisites. Curtis Johnson suggested "Psych 100 or permission of the instructor." David Savage pointed that the 300-level courses say "permission of instructor." Tom Schoeneman told the CC that he did not want to add "permission of instructor" to the 200-level courses because they are heavily enrolled now and the idea is to disperse a more equal enrollment over the curriculum. Jane Atkinson agreed with Tom Schoeneman and pointed out that students needed the beginning knowledge of Psy 100 in order to be prepared for more advanced psychology courses.
21/ Curt Keedy felt that this was an excellent modification because it has students focus on several areas and it better prepares them for graduate work. Jack Hart agreed but was bothered by the Math 115 requirement because it may take away a quantitative methods resource from other students. Curtis Johnson reassured him that Economics, Political Science and Communication would all welcome students into their quantitative methods courses. Bob Owens also approved of this modification because it is getting students to take prerequisites and thus a college graduation requirement earlier in their college careers.
22/ Bob Owens pointed out that item F on the cover sheet contained an error. The wording will have to be changed. Tom Schoeneman said that the intent of F was meant to say that some students will meet the Math 115 requirement by placing into or out of calculus.
23/ Bob Owens moved to approve 97.53 Mine Eder seconded. Vote to approve unanimous.
24/ Bob Owens recommended approval of 97.47-97.52. Vote to approve unanimous.
Gender Studies:
25/ Jean Ward attended the CC meeting to explain the following Gender Studies courses which were dealt with as a package:
26/ 97.65 F98 Gend 310 Sex Differences & Social Inequality. Drop course. (Staffing is not available for this course except on an adjunct basis. Appropriate content can be incorporated into Gend 200.)
27/ 97.66 F98 Gend 200 Women & Men in American Society. (1) Add to content statement: "Contemporary debates concerning biological bases for sex differences in reproductive functions and in physical, sexual, and psychological development"; (2) make Gend 200 a requirement for the minor in Gender Studies, thereby replacing the current requirement of Gend 255/Psy 255 or Gender 310, both of which will be deleted from the curriculum. These proposed changes in Gend 200 were first identified through our involvement in a three-year national study of Women's Studies/Gender Studies programs. The fall of 1998 appears to be the appropriate time to institute the changes.
28/ David Savage saw this as a logical way of supporting a gender studies minor that is currently receiving shrinking support. In future planning where can we address the problem of shrinking resources in Gender Studies? Jane Atkinson said that it was not so much staffing levels but finding staff with the expertise in biology or psychology to teach the courses.
29/ Bill Randall wanted to know how many alternate courses were available. Jean Ward said 38-40, but not all of them are taught every year.
30/ Roger Paget moved to approve 97.65 and 97.66. Tom Schoeneman seconded. Vote to approve unanimous.
Communication:
31/ The following Comm courses were dealt with as a package for the proposed restructuring of the communication major and minor:
32/ 97.23 F98 Comm 220 Mass Media Messages: Design and Analysis (Christenson, Kaplan). Offer each semester rather than annually.
33/ 97.24 F98 Comm 205 Small Group Behavior. Drop course; material to be integrated into Comm 100.
34/ 97.25 F98 Comm 210 Public Discourse (Hunt, Ward). Revise content statement to say "Development of basic public speaking skills, listener-critic abilities, and appreciation for the role of public discourse in society. Library research, organization and outlining, language style, presentation skills, and rhetorical/communication criticism." Drop prerequisite of Comm 100. Offer each semester rather than annually.
35/ 97.26 F98 Comm 220 Rational Conflict: Argument in a Free Society. Drop course; material to be integrated into Comm 210 and 360.
36/ 97.27 F98 Comm 244/444 Practicum. Alter content statement for clarity: After "May be repeated for credit;" ADD "maximum of 4 semester credits, total, in practicum and/or independent study may be counted toward the major."
37/ 97.28 F98 Comm 260 Quantitative Research Methods (Christenson). Add prerequisite of Comm 100. Alter content statement to include the words "the logic and application of common statistical tests."
38/ 97.29 F98 Comm 265 Communication Criticism (Kaplan). Clarify content statement relative to frequency of offering: "Taught: At least every other year."
39/ 97.30 F98 Comm 270 Qualitative Methods in Communication Research (Kinsella). New course. Alternate years. No relation to Gen Ed.
40/ 97.31 F98 Comm 299/499 Independent Study. Alter content statement for clarity: After "1-4 semester credits." Add "Maximum of 4 semester credits, total, in independent study and/or practicum may be counted toward the major."
41/ 97.32 F98 Comm 300 Interactive Media and Persuasive Discourse. Drop course; material to be integrated into Comm 460. 2 credit course; credit absorbed into Comm 325--see 97.36.
42/ 97.33 F98 Comm 305 Theory and Philosophy of Communication (Kinsella). New course. Alternate years. No relation to Gen Ed.
43/ 97.34 F98 Comm 315 Interpersonal Communication (Kinsella). Alter course description.
44/ 97.35 F98 Comm 320 Organizational Communication (Kinsella). Alter course description.
45/ 97.36 F98 Comm 325 The Documentary Form (Kaplan). Alter course description. Increase credit from 2 to 4 semester credits.
46/ 97.37 F98 Comm 326 Communication & Gender (Ward). Drop "junior standing" as prerequisite. Clarify content statement relative to frequency of offering: "Taught: At least every other year."
47/ 97.38 F98 Comm 354 Legal Communication (Hunt). Drop "junior standing" and Comm 320 as prerequisites.
48/ 97.39 F98 Comm 355 Political Communication (Hunt). Drop "junior standing" as prerequisite.
49/ 97.40 F98 Comm 356 Rhetoric of Women (Ward). Alter prerequisites to be Comm 100 or consent of instructor; Comm 265 recommended. Offer alternate years rather than annually.
50/ 97.41 F98 Comm 360 Persuasive Communication (Hunt, Ward). Drop "junior standing" as prerequisite.
51/ 97.42 F98 Comm 385 Rhetoric of Science and Technology (Kinsella). New course. Alternate years. No relation to Gen Ed.
52/ 97.44 F98 Comm 406 Rhetoric of American Social Conflicts (Hunt, Ward). Alter prerequisites to be Comm 100 or consent of instructor; Comm 265 recommended. Offer alternate years rather than annually.
53/ 97.45 +GE F98 Comm 430 Communication & Culture (Kinsella). Revise content description. Proposed to fulfill International Studies: Transnational Studies requirement for Gen Ed.
54/ 97.46 F98 Comm 480 Senior Seminar. Revise wording of content statement and clarify grading of course.
55/ 97.67 F98 Comm 304 Classical Rhetorical Theory (Hunt, Ward). New course. Alternate years. No relation to Gen Ed.
56/ Jean Ward explained that the Communication department has been focusing on how they should approach the revision of their curriculum by looking at other schools and graduate programs, etc. There will still be 16 Comm electives and 3 courses must be taken at the 300-400 level. Two communication theory and praxis courses will have to be taken: Comm 200 & 210. Comm 210 is a course that will develop students' public speaking skills. The Communication department would also like to require that a 2.0 GPA be achieved in all courses applied to the major. A discussion followed.
57/ Mine Eder asked if it was possible to get rid of the prerequisite for quantitative reasoning. Jean Ward explained that instructors preferred the prerequisite because students need to have the same basic background knowledge. Curtis Johnson suggested saying "Comm 100 or permission." Jean Ward said that it currently only required Comm 100 but she did not have a problem with adding "or permission."
58/ David Savage was concerned with the wording of the Comm 305 course description. It appears to be all in terms of concepts. Will students looking at that course description know what they are getting into? Would it be possible to indicate content in addition to theoretical constructs? Jane Atkinson agreed that clearer language for the students should be added. Jean Ward felt that by the time students enrolled in Comm 305 they would be able to understand the course description.
59/ Jean Ward feels very comfortable with this restructuring of the Communication major because it is designed to meet the needs of students at the 100-200 level and 300-400 level. All 15 of the 300-level courses will be taught in alternate years and not every third year.
60/ Tom Schoeneman moved to accept the package. Roger Paget seconded with the following changes:
61/ Comm 305 will change to Contemporary Communication Theory and a clearer description of what the course will cover will be printed in the catalog. Additional content for the catalog copy will be sent to the registrar's office after CC approval.
62/ There was an amendment to delete reference to a minimum GPA for courses in the major. Roger Paget moved. Bob Owens seconded. Bill Randall indicated that the CC will take up this issue later. Vote to amend unanimous
63/ Prerequisite for Comm 354 should be Comm 220 and not 320.
64/ Discussion followed. Eric Johnson said he would like to see "or permission" added to the prerequisite of Comm 260.
65/ Did the Communication department look at enrollment data? Jean Ward said that the department was not driven by enrollment issues alone and that teaching courses on an alternate basis seemed best because enrollments had dropped.
66/ Vote to accept the package unanimous.
Economics:
67/ Due to time constraints, Bill Randall asked Anne Price when the absolute deadline was for getting the Econ course proposal information to the registrar. Anne Price said that the registrar could only process course proposals that have been approved. David Savage suggested that in the mean time the Economic Department submit for the schedule booklet what they have proposed and changes can be made later.
68/ Meeting adjourned at 5:05 pm.
Approved 12/10/97