Arts and Sciences Curriculum Committee

Approved Minutes of the meeting of October 16, 2007

Convened at 3:32 p.m. in CNS 108

 

Present:  Professors Steven Bayne (chair), Sara Brill, Ronald Davidson, Jessica Davis, Shannon Harding, Olivia Harriott, Danke Li, Laura McSweeney, Joan Weiss (recording secretary), Maggie Wills; Dean Raymond Poincelot,; Guest:  Professor Janie Leatherman

 

1.  Announcements

      Professor Bayne reminded the committee that an updated agenda had been distributed with three items added to the items pending.  Theses items were the five year reviews of the Catholic Studies Program and the Master of Arts in  Communications Corporate Cohort Program and possibly the five year review of the major in New Media Film, Television and Radio.

 

2.  Approval of minutes September 25, 2007

            Moved by Professor Davidson, seconded by Professor McSweeney.

            In item 3 of approval of minutes for May 8, 2007 the last word in the 2nd sentence should be funds

not salary.  With that change the minutes were unanimously approved.

 

3.  Revisions of the International Studies curriculum. 

      Professor Janie Leatherman, Director of the International Studies (IS) Program, spoke about the

      program revisions and answered our questions.

IS has been revising its curriculum since fall 2006.  The original IS program began about 1997.

This revised IS curriculum is a solid program.  Professor Leatherman distributed the chart for the

revised IS curriculum, which included the business version for IS.

There are four foundational courses which give a good comprehensive, theoretical grounding in

anthropology, ethnology, economics, politics, etc.

EC 112 will be cross-listed with IL 53 to facilitate potential Economics co-majors.

After the foundational course the thematic electives are taken.

Some of the reasons for these three themes are:  1. These three areas are in many IS graduate

programs; 2. Professional Conferences cover these three areas; and 3.   In the field one can come in

contact with these themes. It makes  sense to give the IS majors these themes as building blocks.

IS will be supported by study abroad, internships and service learning opportunities.

The self-designed study opportunity provides flexibility for students, for example, to concentrate

on area studies like the middle east.

All IS majors will be brought back together back together in the capstone course, IL 300.

           

Questions:

Professor McSweeney noted that the Individually Designed Major requires 3.0. Professor Leatherman responded that she expects the highly motivated exceptional student to pursue self-designed study.

            Professor Harding questioned the strict requirements for the minor.  Professor Leatherman

responded that students need all foundational courses for the IS minor for a strong foundation.

            Professor Li stated the foundational courses are a sound training for the IS major.

            Professor Leatherman mentioned that she had reviewed 400 pages of IS undergraduate and

graduate programs throughout the world as a preparation for revising the program. Foundational courses make a strong foundation instead of courses selected from various disciplines.

            Professor Davidson quoted p3 about faith and ethically grounded actions and noted Islam and

Latin America are not the only religious traditions.  There should be room for other religions. 

Professor Leatherman responded that the Capstone course is ethically motivated.

            Professor Davidson continued with the suggestion that more traditions should be represented . 

      Professor Leatherman responded that it may look western but other traditions are included.

            Professor Brill asked if there are any plans for assessing the success of the program of the

      interconnections.  Professor Leatherman replied that if the curriculum is successful, majors will come

to the capstone course with a topic.  The scheme encourages IS majors to have a plan and goals.  It gives them a directive.

            Dean Poincelot encouraged development of assessment methodology.

            Professor Bayne suggested typographical errors be sent to Professor Leatherman.   IL 295 was a

      special topics course.  Do you intend to retain a special topics course? Professor Leatherman

      responded in the affirmative.  In the  new curriculum students will enroll in IL 295 which will become

      regular course.

            Professor Weiss asked how long will the current curriculum have to be available? Professor 

      Leatherman suggested she may need to do some assigned equivalencies.

 

            Professor Leatherman left the meeting.

            Professor Davidson moved to approve. Professor Brill seconded.  The Proposal for the Revised

International Studies Curriculum was approved unanimously.

            This proposal will now be sent to the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.

           

 

4.  MFA in Creative Writing Proposal

            Professor Wills moved and Professor Harriott seconded a motion to approve the MFA in Creative

      Writing program

            Concern was expressed that it appears the administration plans to house these types of masters

      programs in University College.

            Professor McSweeney expressed concern about having sufficient mentors.

It was noted that the six courses will need to go through the approval of courses process.

The motion was approved unanimously.

 

 

5.  Discussion of items pending before the committee

c .  Possible addition of item pending: Major in New Media Film, Television, and Radio five year review? Approved in fall 2004 so it would be due in fall 2009.

            Professor Davidson asked what a five year review meant.  Professor Bayne mentioned the Journal

      of Record (JOR) lists majors and minors as programs.

            Professor Bayne noted in the JOR that A&S programs are typically subject to a five year review.

            Professor Bayne will further investigate this issue.

 

a.     The five-year review of the Individually Designed Major is being coordinated by Professor Beth Boquet, Associate Dean in CAS and will be submitted by May 2008.

 

      b.  Grandfathered Master's courses—No American Studies or Mathematics graduate courses went

            through the approval process.  On October 24, 2007 a  meeting with Sue Peterson, Leo O'Connor,

            Ben Fine and Steve Bayne is scheduled to discuss approval of graduate  courses.  American

            Studies Program was approved in 1996 and in 1998 the Master's in Mathematics was approved.   

            A suggestion was to offer the compromise to get courses approved before their next offering

            starting with fall 2008.

 

      h. Certificate in Financial Mathematics will be on hold until mathematics graduate courses are

            approved.

 

i.       Policy/guidelines for teaching credit/compensation for mentoring students through independent study and research (See minutes of April 10, 2007.).

Dean Poincelot stated a policy should be available throughout the college.

The charge for the original subcommittee was to investigate alternative policies.

Psychology had requested their written policy be approved by the A&SCC but when brought to the A&SCC, a second to the motion to approve the policy was not made.

Professor Davidson suggested this be moved up to an agenda item.

               The subcommittee had done its investigation.   Professor Harriott will provide the A&SCC with

       the information the subcommittee gathered.

 

 

6.  Adjournment at 5:07 PM

      There was a motion to adjourn from Professor Davidson, seconded by Professor Harding.  The motion

      was unanimously approved. 

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

Joan Weiss

Recording Secretary