Arts and Science Curriculum Committee

Approved Minutes of the Meeting of Dec. 11, 2007

Present: Professors Steven Bayne (Chair), Sara Brill, Jessica Davis, Shannon Harding, Laura McSweeney, Joan Weiss, Maggie Wills, Ron Davidson, Danke Li, and Dean Raymond Poincelot

The meeting commenced at 3:30 p.m. in CNS 100

Announcements:

Bayne (Chair) announced that the next meeting will be on Feb. 12 in CNS 100. We will review new course proposals.

Approval of minutes of Nov. 13, 2007

Motion to approve the minutes was moved by Brill and seconded by Wills. Davis and Weiss suggested the following corrections: 1. On page 4, lines three and four, change the sentence "While the Biochemistry major would be housed in chemistry there would be oversight by the Biology department." to "While the Biochemistry major would be housed in both Chemistry and Biology, there would be oversight by the Biology department."

2. On page 4, line 5, add "s" to "department."

3. On page 4, the second line of the second paragraph, change "budgetary" to "administration."

The minutes were approved with the above amendments. 9 were in favor with one abstention.

LAC 373, Internship in Latin America and the Caribbean Studies Program

Marie-Agnes Sourieau, Director of the Latin America and the Caribbean Studies Program, explained that the course was originally proposed as (LAC 295) last year. It was rejected because Crabtree, who reviewed the course said that it did not fit the parameters of a Service Experience Course. Sourieau revised the description of the course after receiving suggestions from LACSP faculty and changed the numbering of the course to be consistent with the CAS general practice. This course is important to the LAC program, the College, and the University because it promotes service and learning and contributes to the university's strategic plan. Student demand for the course is strong and we also have many contacts in Latin America and the Caribbean (for example, UCA) to accommodate student demand.

Dean Ray Poincelot commented that it is a great addition to the junior semester study abroad program. Sourieau explained that this program is really an internship course. Students who participated in it all have positive comments and asked for the continuation of the program. Last year some members of the A&S UCC raised questions about the evaluation of the program. Because the objectives of this internship program entail a close correlation between academic accomplishment and on-site service, the credits and grades that students receive will be determined by both a Fairfield University supervising faculty and a designated on-site service supervisor. The on-site supervisor will write a detailed letter of evaluation for the service performed, which will be part of the overall grade. Sourieau went to Nicaragua to investigate the internship program. Overall, it was very successful.

UCA and our other contacts in Latin America and Caribbean provide many internship possibilities. For example, Brian Walker will take a group of FU students to UCA to do a science research. UCA students will come to FU to do science research as well. Some of the students who will participate in the internship program at UCA are individually designed majors of the LAC program. We have a confirmed individually designed major and another is in the process.

Weiss remarked that internships are great. Scientific research is different from internship and is an independent study. Sourieau explained that Walker is interested in doing research about coffee plantations in Caribbean and is developing a connection with the internship course of the LAC program. The LAC program is also interested in including science faculty. LAC 373 can be cross-listed with many departments and programs.

Weiss suggested that LAC 373 and science research are two projects and two courses. One is the internship and another is a science research independent study course, though there is flexibility in the course. Poincelot and Harding agreed with Weiss that they are two courses. It was agreed that at some point in the future LACS needs to put forward a separate new course proposal for an independent studies course.

Sourieau mentioned that cost is always a concern for students' participation in internship programs. LAC program has solicited financial support and free lodging to ease the burden. LAC has developed an internship program in Bolivia and lodge will be free there for FU students. It also found a donor in Nicaragua who will help our students do internship in that country and will provide some money to pay for students' air tickets. Weiss questioned how to let students know that there is money available. When thinking about an internship in a foreign country, people would assume that it is very expensive. Sourieau reassured people that LAC's internship programs are inexpensive. LAC has brochures that will inform students about the costs, requirements, etc.

Davidson commented that internship had the advantage of home-stay. Bayne remarked that when LAC 373 is cross listed with individual department. Faculty in both departments has to approve it and the course has to be forwarded to the A&S UCC for approval case by case.

Sourieau told the committee that approval of who goes to where for the LAC internship program is currently case-by-case according to students' ability. UCA will work out ways to accommodate the needs of our students. Davidson wanted to know whether the program's requirement of 120 hours minimum of service for a four to six week summer internship is comparable to other internship programs. MS's answer was yes.

Harding: Motioned to table the discussion of independent research issues to our next meeting and moved to approve LAC 373. Poincelot commented that science students can take it as independent study. Harding questioned whether A&S UCC has to approve it, if students want to do it this summer. McSweeney believed that Biology students can do it as an independent research course. Poincelot said that if science students want to take it, it can be taken as their own independent study. It is easier for science students.

McSweeney seconded Harding's motions. LAC 373 was approved unanimously with the understanding that at some point in the future LACS will put forward a separate new course proposal for an independent studies course.

MA in Communication Proposal

Jim Shanahan, Chair, Communication Department came to the meeting and explained the program and answered questions. Shanahan explained that the proposed program is an on-campus program leading to a Master of Arts degree in Communication. It will be an addition to the department's cohort program. It is a more general open-enrollment program that will not only meet the needs of a variety of students but also enable us to better compete with other local institutions that offer Master's programs in Communication. Now it is the right time for FU to have this program. Given our geographical location, we will be able to attract students.

Weiss questioned about full and part time faculty teaching in the program. Shanahan said that both part-timers and full-timers will teach courses for the program. The Communication Department has a lot of teaching demand in its cohort program. Although it is hard to project the future of the cohort program, faculty members in the department as a whole feel that they will do well in the graduate program as well. The department is ready to move the program forward. The timing is right and there is a market for this kind of program. It fits well with Fairfield's Jesuit mission for communication. This program is good for the department and will benefit the faculty. It will provide opportunities for faculty to interact with graduate students and force faculty members to update their scholarship, which in turn, will benefit undergraduate students as well. It will help the department develop a good reputation which will be good for the college and the university. Shanahan further explained that the program is currently focused on a more general curriculum in order to attract more students. In the future, if the program expands, new faculty lines and programs will be added with even possibilities of offering on-line courses.

Davidson asked whether the Communication Department has consulted the Dean and the VAP about faculty involvement. He also questioned that if the program does not go well, where the added faculty will be housed. More importantly, Davidson questioned whether the projected new lines for the program will take away lines necessary for other parts of the University. Shanahan believed that if enrollment is as good as it is projected, the program will generate enough money to cover the needs of the program and more. Poincelot reassured that new positions for this program have to be self-financed and will not affect the existing lines and budget for other departments in the university.

McSweeney questioned what kind of impact the proposed graduate program will have on the teaching of undergraduate program in the department. Shanahan explained that 8-9 faculty members are now teaching graduate program. With the decreasing number of student in the cohort program, some of the faculty members who are teaching the cohort courses will be able to teach graduate program. Part-time faculty members have been hired to teach for the graduate program as well. Now even with sabbaticals and course releases for some faculty, the department is doing fine with undergraduate teaching. In the next two years, more faculty will be back to teaching. In year three, some new faculty will be added to the department. Two third of the new faculty' work load will go to undergraduate teaching. Although currently all faculty in the department are qualified to teach for the graduate program, not everyone is interested in it. Graduate teaching improves faculty' intellectual level and can help undergraduate students as well.

Weiss noted that on p. 22 of the program proposal, it says: "The foundational courses will all be taught in the 14 –week, 2hr/week (28 contact hour) formatÉ," and that 28-hour program seems to be short for a graduate program. McSweeney pointed out that standard graduate program requires at least 30 hours. Bayne also thought that 28 hours are too short. McSweeney thought that 30-hour program may be state-mandated. It was suggested that 2 ½ hours per week would be the appropriate course contact time and that the numbers for all delivery models should be adjusted accordingly. Shanahan will check about it.

Weiss asked that if fulltime students in the proposed program take three courses each regular semester, do they do research in the last semester. Shanahan replied that students could start research projects before the last semester.

Weiss questioned the list of Fairfield University employees on p. 22. Shanahan explained that it was listed because of the budget issue. If many FU employees take the courses, the program will lose revenue. Weiss also questioned about the requirement for graduate students of the proposed program to take 300 level courses outside of the Communication Department. Shanahan replied that most 300 level courses will be taken in the Communication Department. If outside course have to be taken, the faculty who teach those courses will reach an agreement with the students and the Communication Department. Weiss also raised the question about CAGR. Shanahan believed that it stands for combined annual growth rate.

Bayne noticed that on p. 6, it stats that "Students are expected to attain and maintain a B average in the graduate coursework in order to remain in good standing in the program." However, on p. 19, the requirement is B in each course. Shanahan believed that the requirement for cohort program is overall B average. However, the requirement for the proposed graduate program is B or better average on each course. Poincelot reinforced the point that the graduate program has to maintain a high standard. Shanahan agreed and commented that the department does not like students to get C's for some courses and A's for others. 95% of similar MA programs in the US require a B or better grade for each course.

McSweeney raised questions about advising listed on pp. 21-22 and was concerned about whether the Communication Department has enough faculty to do the graduate advising without interfering with undergraduate advising. Shanahan answered that now the department has enough faculty to do the advising for both. If demand increase and a faculty member has to do an extra large load of advising, the department will consider compensation. The Communication Department will look at the American Studies model and see how it can improve its own system. How much advisor/student interaction for thesis research will be determined by the faculty supervisor and the student advisee. Most likely in research phase, it will be 1-1 and ½ hours per week as part of the faculty's work load. Weiss questioned whether there is financial compensation for advising thesis research. She once advised a senior capstone research thesis and was compensated. Poincelot pointed out that if a senior has to graduate and a faculty member does an independent study with the senior, there is money for it. Weiss commented that if a faculty member advises two independent studies and spends 1-1 ½ hours with each weekly, he or she should be compensated. Poincelot recommended that Shanahan contact Sue Peterson concerning the standard policy in the college of Arts and Sciences for the compensation of faculty who are advising graduate thesis research or graduate projects in addition to their other duties and then add the appropriate compensation (if any) to the proposal. Shanahan remarked that faculty will love the compensation idea.

Harding commented that it is a lot to advise 20-30 graduate students per year. Shanahan corrected that it will be about 15 students, not 20-30. Harding pointed out that according to the thesis research requirement on p. 21, if the program grows and when more students reach the thesis research phase, the demand for faculty advice will increase tremendously. Shanahan believed that if the number of graduate student increases, the number of faculty will increase as well. Faculty members know the time and load involved. Good planning and fair load distribution will help the department meet the challenge. Weiss noticed that it is very challenging for the Communication Department to meet the demand of advising a large number of undergraduate and graduate students in the proposed program. Poincelot suggested that Shanahan should check with Sue Peterson about possible stipends for graduate advising. Shanahan expressed that the department will adapt the existing practice on campus.

McSweeney pointed out that there are some typos in the document. Shanahan thanked Weiss and Bayne for correcting typos.

Wills motioned to approve the proposed On-campus program leading to a Master of Arts in Communication. Davidson seconded it. Bayne noted that our approval is for the program itself pending the changes discussed above and that no new Communication courses have been presented or approved at this time. Weiss commended that the Communication program is well crafted. The motion passed unanimously.

Adjournment

A motion to adjourn was moved by Davidson and seconded by McSweeney. All were in favor. The committee adjourned at 5:00 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Danke Li