Arts and Sciences Curriculum Committee

Minutes of the meeting of September 25, 2007

Convened at 3:30 p.m.

Present: Professors Bayne, Rosivach (chair), Brill, Davidson, Davis, Harding, Harriott, McSweeney, Wills (recording secretary), Li, Dean Poincelot, Weiss.

Agenda

1. Announcements

2. Election of new chair

3. Approval of minutes of May 8, 2007

4. Comments on the proposed MFA in writing (Simon)

5. Approval of New Courses

6. Proposed MFA in writing

7. Adjournment

1. Announcements

Prior to the election, Rosivach offered that the new chair might need to schedule the October meeting on a different week from Tuesday the 9^th given the Monday class schedule being followed that day.

2. Election of New Chair

Rosivach conducted the election. Steven Bayne expressed interest in being chair. Bayne was unanimously elected as Chair of the ASCC. Rosivach departed with a round of applause and thanks from the committee members for his exemplary service as ASCC Chair.

3. Approval of minutes May 8, 2007

Wills approved, Brill seconded. Weiss had a question about p. 5 of the minutes. Harriott clarified the fact that the salaries had to do with start-up funds. Weiss asked if the address for the teaching compensation website that Rosivach mentioned should be in the minutes. Bayne said it was probably just referring to the ASCC on the website or the General Faculty website, but said he would ask Rosivach. With three abstentions, the minutes were approved.

4. Proposed MFA in writing

Committee members were asked if they had questions concerning the revised course proposal for a low-residency MFA program, copies of which had been previously distributed to ASCC members. Bayne turned it over to Jim Simon to talk about the MFA first.

Simon pointed out that the MFA will be a demanding 60 credit program. He offered the impetus for the low-residency model. Among them were that the program would attract non-traditional students to Fairfield University, in keeping with the mission of the university to serve the larger community. Another important reason behind the development of the MFA was that the low residency program model is especially suited to the creative writing process. It would also allow the English dept. to hire accomplished outside faculty as student mentors. Simon added some other positive aspects of the program, such as the fact that it wouldn't conflict with on-campus classroom space needs. Also, the program would not drain faculty resources on campus as they would only teach as an overload. He did say that the program is designed to have one faculty person teach in both programs in order to have an individual linked to the department and the MFA program.

Simon suggested the program will help Fairfield U. to become a leader among the programs similar to this one. Based on measuring the rigor of this sort of program, Simon asserted that the best of these programs lead to jobs for graduates, as well as successes with publishing their work. Simon then reviewed the highlights in the MFA proposal as far as how the program connects to the University Strategic Plan., and opened the floor for questions.

Harding asked how many of our faculty would be involved. Simon said they would hire 10-20 people from other colleges and universities who would each mentor between 1 & 5 students.

Davidson asked if the department had particular individuals in mind. Simon said that Michael White had worked in a similar MFA program and had contacts interested in the proposed Fairfield University program.

Weiss inquired about the mention of hiring "professional writers." Simon said that the majority of the professors teaching in the program would have more of an academic profile.

Weiss inquired about how many cohorts are going on at one time? Simon said it's a single residency and all of the students would have the same program whether it's their first or last semester. He added that a good deal of the residency required work with a mentor such that much of the work was individual work.

Weiss was concerned about numbering – it appeared students took 444 and 447 multiple times. Simon said that was the case. Weiss asked how a student's transcript would look. Simon said they had worked everything out with the registrar's office through Banner such that transcripts would not be a problem—the same number would be accepted multiple times.

Davis asked about the possibility indicated of hiring someone without an MFA and Simon said that if a well known writer living locally wanted to contribute to the program, the celebrity factor would be such that the person would be welcome in the program and have much to contribute.

Weiss pointed out p. 25 incorrectly indicated four 15 credit semesters as well as the ten day residencies. Simon said he'd make the corrections necessary.

Weiss asked about p. 32 asked about Artistic Director and that individual making Academic Policy. Shouldn't policy be in place before the program begins? Simon said they were responding to the committee's concerns from last year. Simon referred us to page 34 that explains the structure of the decision making.

Simon said they need U. C. to help with advertising, staying in the dorms, etc. He said we run the curriculum.

Weiss asked if there is a section on marketing and how the program will be marketed.

Bayne questioned whether we should be concerned about marketing as we are the ASCC.

Simon referred to page 37 and 38 noting that they do, in fact, address the marketing question.

Bayne asked about p. 33, last sentence, which implied that only some programs CAN be allied with the MFA. He asked if there were any academic programs that could NOT be allied with the program. Simon said he'd reword.

Poincelot asked if Simon foresaw any places where the undergrad program might suffer. Simon did say the loss of Michael White for a course per semester would be a loss, but that the revenue generated by the program would create hires in the dept.

Simon emphasized that the proposal reflected a significant overhaul of last year's proposal. He then left the room and Bayne suggested further discussion of the program would transpire as time allowed at today's meeting. He then turned the discussion to the first course for review.

5. Approval of new courses:

14 new courses needed decisions on whether to recommend them for inclusion in the Arts and Sciences curriculum.

Re: AE 270 – Ethical Dimensions of Global Violence

Bayne asked for a motion to approve, which came from Harriott and was seconded by Weiss.

Bayne asked for discussion on the course.

Weiss said it looked like everything necessary was there in the course proposal.

Bayne referred to "#10" and how often it is offered, saying it sounds like a course that is going to sunset. Davidson said that the chair should remind the course maker of the 5 year sunset rule.

Li and others asked for clarification on the sunset rule, which Davidson clarified that if a course has not been offered in five years, it is removed from the catalog.

As a point of reference, Poincelet added that Newton's Program in Applied Ethics is one that reports to the AVP's office rather than the Dean's office. He said the program might be removed from the Arts and Sciences catalog in the future and some discussion ensued about whether the ASCC was the right place for approval with this course. Davidson said as long as it is in the A and S catalog, it is under our purview.

Weiss asked if Newton was already teaching the course because it listed fall dates. Poincelot said he doubts if it is being taught now and assumed the course maker had just used '07 dates in the proposal as a general guide.

Bayne asked for further questions, and then a vote. The course was approved unanimously.

Re: AN 150 -- Modern China through Film and Fiction

Bayne asked for a motion to approve, which came from Davidson and was seconded by McSweeney.

Weiss questioned the spring 2007 date and several members verbally agreed it was a typo and that she meant spring 2008.

Bayne noticed the catalog description needs to be 100 words or less. He asked if we as a committee should be concerned with this. Davidson said it is within the chair's purview to suggest to the course creator reduce the number of words in the catalog description

Davis said the Asian Studies courses seemed very much alike and wondered about the committee's role in questioning a department's decision to forward courses overly similar to others being offered at the University. As an example, she thought the film courses seemed very much alike. Davidson clarified that the film courses were in fact very different.

Davis asked if there was a big push for more Asian Studies courses. Davidson said there have been two new hires. Davidson said he believed part of the question Davis was asking relates to perception -- that foreign things such as these courses appear uniform to us. He said the courses are in fact extraordinarily different. Davis suggested that her example with these courses in particular didn't reflect her concern as much as the similarities of other courses the ASCC would take up later on in the meeting.

Li affirmed the value of this course, adding that "we don't have anything like this course in Asian Studies program."

Davis said her bigger question is about how much communication goes on between the professors about their courses and the amount of overlap across departments and course offerings.

Bayne asked for a vote. The course was unanimously approved.

Re: AR 11-12—Basic Modern Standard Arabic

Bayne called for a motion to approve the course. Davidson so moved and McSweeney seconded.

Li asked about having an Arabic course beginning now, fall 2007, before committee approval. Poincelot clarified that he approved the hiring of an adjunct for one semester and that begins in 2008. It is a typo and it is not being offered currently.

Poincelot said the course can run with 5 students, but the instructor needs 10 students to get full pay.

Bayne pointed out that the proposal seemed to indicate AR 12 might be offered in the summer given the response in the spring.

Harriott asked if we have any other modern language courses for just 2 semesters. She asked if students would want to take a course that doesn't fulfill the language requirement.

Weiss said it is a mistake, on 7A, to say the course satisfies the language requirement. Bayne said he would go back to the course creator and ask for a correction.

Poiincelot said he is authorizing hiring for this course only until the new dean is in place.

Bayne asked for a vote. The course was unanimously approved.

Re: CL 123—Women in Classical Literature

Bayne asked for a motion to approve. Li moved to approve. McSweeney seconded.

Li said it would be a great addition to Women's Studies.

Brill said that she and Johanna Garvey, Director of Women's Studies, were in discussion about the course's inclusion in the minor.

Davidson said 7A needs correction. It needs to be a "no."

Weiss asked if we had a Classical Studies major. People responded "yes."

Bayne called for a vote. The course was unanimously approved.

Re: CO 334—International Media Systems

Bayne asked for a motion to approve, which was moved by Wills and Harding seconded.

McSweeney said that if the other course needs to be "sunsetted," it needs to come out of the catalog.

Bayne asked about the procedure to take something out of the catalog. Davidson said that when the catalog is revised, the soft copy is set to the chair and then it can be taken out of the catalog.

Weiss said we don't have "D+ and D-, " as indicated on p. 7. This was deemed a practical matter for the course creator.

Bayne noticed that for 334, only CO 230 was listed as a prerequisite while other communication courses in their catalog descriptions said, "CO 230 plus junior or senior status."

Wills suggested that the junior or senior status would happen naturally given the requirements of the major, but it was suggested that the course maker be asked about the need to specify junior or senior status in the catalog.

Davidson said department might want to revisit the course requirement.

With no further discussion, Bayne asked for a vote. With no objections, the course was approved.

Re: CO 345 – Communication and the Environment

Bayne asked for a motion to approve, which came from Li, seconded by Harding.

Davidson says Shanahan indicates approval with Environmental Studies, but we don't have the documentation. Davidson says we recommend that he go through the process to make sure Environmental Studies is on board.

Bayne asked for a vote. The course was unanimously approved.

Re: EN 286 – Asian America: The Challenge to Citizenship

Bayne asked for a motion to approve, which came from Harriott, seconded by Brill.

Bayne asked for discussion.

Davis said 9B doesn't say what courses won't be taught as a result. This needs clarification.

Davidson said we need to tell the course creator to go to U.S. Diversity committee to do the approval process for a US diversity designation officially.

Bayne said the catalog description was over 100 words and he would forward the info to the course creator.

Bayne said he questioned "What makes this an English course?" but he doesn't know what the English Department discussed relative to the fit of a course within their discipline.

Davis expressed the same sentiment and asked if the issues in this course are more appropriately addressed elsewhere. She said this seems like a history course. The class is about filmmakers. Isn't this addressed in another department? Same thing with English 287 – it is a lot of history.

Bayne said that with both of the classes, he wondered about the fit for English. And he said the department minutes don't reflect discussion of the fit.

Li said the course seemed more in line with the American Studies program.

Davidson said the departments need to be in charge of deciding what courses are appropriate.

Bayne said the dept. minutes don't address how this course affects the department offerings, and what courses will be taught more or less frequently.

McSweeney said we could request new meeting minutes to address the cycle of the course and what it might replace.

There was no further discussion and Bayne asked for a vote. The course was unanimously approved pending the suggested changes.

Re: EN 287—Globalization Theories & Narrative Critiques

Bayne asked for a motion to approve, which came from Davidson and was seconded by Harriott.

Li said that Southeast Asian novels are used, but wondered about including novels on the Middle East and Europe? She noted that if the course is "global," as in the title, then the substance of the course needs to look beyond Southeast Asia.

Brill suggested that with the topic of globalization, the literature was being presented as one case study in the process of globalization, but we might suggest inclusion of other case studies focused on other regions.

McSweeney said there appeared to be no final exam in the course and therefore the final paper should be due on the final exam date.

Weiss said the course indicates a designation as World Diversity and this needs to be applied for.

Bayne said this course, similar to previous courses reviewed today, failed to indicate which courses are affected by this course offering. As well, the catalog description is too long.

Absent further discussion, Bayne called for a vote. Course was unanimously approved pending the requested issues are addressed.

Re: HI 270—History of Global Humanitarian Action

Bayne asked for a motion to approve. Davidson moved to approve, and McSweeney seconded.

Davidson said there is no catalog description and the course maker needs to be advised to follow procedure for course approval.

Bayne said he thought the catalog description was to be assumed as the course description offered.

Weiss said the course creator needs to get a letter from International Studies if he is approved for that designation.

Li doesn't think that, given their current restructuring, International Studies will be able to provide a supporting letter. She said this course needs approval as an International Studies course, so for now, this designation needs to come off of the course.

Bayne asked for a vote. The course passed unanimously.

Re: HI 279 – China from 1000BC to the 1800s

Bayne asked for a motion to approve. Davidson moved to approve. Harding seconded.

Bayne asked about number of credits on the catalog description being listed. It was suggested that the registrar's office would add it if it wasn't already there.

Bayne called for a vote and the course was unanimously approved.

Re: IL 51 – Challenges of Global Politics

Bayne asked for a motion to approve. McSweeney moved to approve and Brill seconded.

McSweeney said question 9B wasn't mentioned in many of the IL courses we were reviewing.

Bayne said since this was a revamped program, they wouldn't need to specify this info.

Li said "we redesigned the entire international studies program. The courses have been repackaged – they are courses taught before in other departments such as Politics and Sociology." She said these were previously offered under IL 10, and now with the new director they have redesigned the entire program.

Li said they have gone through many reviews of the various courses. She believes the courses are well designed and they fit with the program exceptionally well.

Bayne asked for comments on IL 51.

Bayne called for a vote. The course was approved with 3 abstentions.

Re: IL 52 – Culture and Political Economy

Bayne asked for a motion to approve the course. Li moved and McSweeney seconded.

Li said this is a course revised numerous times before.

Bayne called for further discussion and seeing none, called a vote. The course was approved with 3 abstentions.

Re: IL 53 – Introduction to Economics

Bayne asked for a motion to approve. Weiss moved to approve, Li seconded.

Bayne said for "evaluation of grades" p. 44, it should say "each worth 20%."

Bayne asked for any other questions/clarification.

Seeing none, he called for a vote. The course was approved with 3 abstentions.

Re: IL 54 – International Operations of Non-Profits

Li motioned to approve. McSweeney seconded.

Weiss asked about sophomore standing as a prerequisite.

Bayne called for a vote. The course was approved with 3 abstentions.

Re: PH 240—Leibniz

Bayne asked for a motion to approve. Wills motioned to approve, Brill seconded.

All agreed the course was well designed and everything necessary for approval was in place.

Bayne asked for a vote, and the course passed unanimously.

Re: PH 245—Confucianism

Bayne asked for a motion to approve. Davidson motioned to approve, Brill seconded.

Davidson asked about the necessity of listing PH 10 as a prerequisite in the catalog description. Since it is a prerequisite for all upper level courses isn't there just be a statement in the catalog to this effect and so no need to list it in the catalog description for this particular course?

Bayne said this was the standard way all of their courses are listed in the catalog.

Bayne asked for a vote. The course passed unanimously.

Re: PS 215—Computational Physics

Bayne asked for a motion to approve. Harriott motioned to approve, Li seconded.

Li asked about the course notes included. Davidson said it would be helpful if the creator of the course would follow the College of Arts and Sciences process more formally.

McSweeney said there is no mention of a final exam, nor did it say there was something "in lieu" of a final exam.

Davidson said the layout of the course leads to much confusion in translating how the course is broken down.

Davis said it would help to see dates for materials.

Bayne said it claims to replace CS 131, which isn't a Physics course. This needs to be clarified as far as the change in requirements.

Davis said this course would have appealed to her as an undergrad.

Bayne asked for a vote. The course passed unanimously pending suggested clarifications.

Re: RS 230—Islam in America

Bayne asked for a motion to approve. Davidson motioned to approve, Harding seconded.

McSweeney said we recommend this course go for U.S. Diversity designation.

Davidson said the problem is a matter of timing as far as when the US Diversity committee next meets.

Bayne asked for a vote. The course passed unanimously.

Given the late hour, Bayne suggested we table the discussion of the proposed MFA in writing program to the next meeting, Tuesday October 16^th.

There was a motion to adjourn from Davis, seconded by Weiss.

The meeting ended at 5:20.

Respectfully submitted,

Maggie A. Wills

Recording Secretary