Arts & Sciences Curriculum Committee (ASCC)
December 15, 2008 Meeting
Minutes
Present: Robbin Crabtree, Jessica Davis, Shannon Harding, John Miecznikowski, Nels Pearson, Elizabeth Petrino (Chair), Les Schaffer, Kurt Schlichting (invited visitor), Jim Shanahan, Joan Weiss.
Absent: Bob Epstein, Maggie Wills
Meeting was called to order at 3:35 p.m.
1. ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Petrino thanked the committee for their service this semester. She mentioned that Jim Shanahan will take over as chair in the Spring term, and that she will be replaced by Mike Pagano during the Spring term.
Petrino announced that she will send out a memo to the Faculty in the College of Arts and Sciences stating that new course proposals will be due on Friday, January 30, 2009. She believes that new courses offered in Summer 2009 will have the same deadline.
Petrino announced that the next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, February 10, 2009.
Petrino stated that she will prepare a complete list of new courses approved this term for the Registrar and will send Crabtree a copy of this list.
Petrino stated that she and Shanahan will write a report next Spring on the activity of the ASCC this academic year to the Secretary of the General Faculty.
2. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM NOVEMBER 11, 2008:
MOTION: To approve the minutes with minor changes (Weiss, Seconded by Harding). Changes included:
Weiss noted that she was mentioned twice in the list of those present at the meeting.
Miecznikowski noted ex officio needs to be in italics. He thanked Harding for doing a great job preparing the minutes.
Adding page numbers.
Weiss asked if Crabtree is a voting member of the committee. Petrino explained that there has been nothing stated to the contrary that the Dean is a voting member of the committee.
The corrected minutes were approved unanimously.
3. GRADUATE AMERICAN STUDIES CURRICULUM REVIEW:
Petrino invited Kurt Schlichting to speak to the ASCC on how the Graduate American Studies program was developed and its curriculum.
Schlichting explained that the Graduate American Studies Program Steering Committee put forth a proposal for a M.A. in American Studies (AS) in 1996. This proposal was approved by the ASCC in 1996 and was subsequently approved by the Educational Planning Committee, the Academic Council, and the Board of Trustees. The State of Connecticut approved the degree in 1997. Crabtree asked who has the proposal. Weiss responded that the library must have it.
When the Steering Committee put forth the proposal for the M.A. degree, they thought that a majority of their students would be teachers since a Master's degree is required to teach in public schools in the State of Connecticut. Schlichting explained that half of the students in the M.A. program are teachers and some are life-long learners. He mentioned that all of the students are terrific.
During the 2007-2008 academic year, the Chair of the ASCC, Steve Bayne, wrote the Graduate American Studies Steering Committee with questions about the courses in the program and the curriculum process. As a result of this inquiry, the Graduate American Studies Steering Committee reviewed the syllabus for every course in the program. The ASCC new course review form was used by the Steering Committee when reviewing the syllabi. The Steering Committee noted what changes were needed in the syllabi and a number of Faculty were asked in writing to revise their syllabi. If Faculty did not revise their syllabi, they will not be able to offer the course and the course would not be listed in the Graduate American Studies Course Catalog.
Weiss asked what percentage of Faculty revised their syllabus when asked to do so. Schlichting responded that he does not have an accurate count. He did state that the syllabus for every course offered in the Fall 2008 term was revised. Courses that are not currently offered were de-listed. Crabtree noted that chairs and program directors are prompted to de-list courses every year by the Dean's office and are supposed to make changes.
Weiss asked if every course is a generic one that anyone could teach. Schlichting responded that every course is taught by the Faculty member who developed it.
Petrino and Weiss asked about the distinction between AS and ASEN, ASHI, and ASMU. Schlichting replied that a number of courses are cross-listed between departments. Petrino commented that she teaches an American Studies course that is cross listed with the English dept. Schlichting responded that courses are cross-listed between a number of departments to create a rich curriculum that gives AS grad students more options. Harding asked if cross-listed courses are approved by two departments. Petrino commented that her course was approved a while ago and she has no idea when it was approved by the American Studies Program. Crabtree thought that this was interesting. She noted that when a 300 level course is cross listed as a graduate course, there can only be three undergraduate students enrolled in the course and the faculty member who teaches the course receives an extra stipend. Furthermore, the course would be approved by the ASCC as an English course and the American Studies Curriculum Committee would approve it as a Graduate course. She further commented that the course has to be offered in the last five years to be included in the catalog. Shanahan and Weiss asked if there is a mechanism to cross-list courses. Petrino replied that there is a mechanism to approve new courses. The Graduate American Studies Curriculum Committee approves new courses and sends them to the ASCC for approval. Schlichting responded that the American Studies Steering Committee reviews new courses. Weiss replied that new course proposals should also go the ASCC. Weiss mentioned that Brian Torff's new Graduate American Studies Music Course was approved by the ASCC this fall. Schlichting commented that this will be the process followed going forward.
Weiss mentioned some courses are cross-listed as undergraduate and graduate courses. For example, HI 356, History of the Cold War is also listed as ASHI456.
Weiss mentioned that not all courses listed with four letters are cross-listed. Crabtree mentioned that some courses are interdisciplinary and some are disciplinary.
Schlichting commented that all of the courses that were reviewed by the American Studies Steering Committee last academic year were either part of the program proposal or were cross-listed courses.
Schlichting suggested that the real challenge is to encourage faculty to participate in the graduate program. In certain semesters, very few courses are offered and some students have already taken courses offered in a term. More courses need to be offered as the enrollment is determined by the courses offered that term. If very few courses are offered, enrollment is low. Many of the graduate courses are offered in the late afternoon and early evening. Crabtree thought that this time slot is good since you need to provide a window of time for students to take the course after they get out of work.
Schlichting commented that the capstone course needs to be better defined. Weiss asked if everyone has to complete a capstone course. Schlichting replied that all graduate American Studies students have to complete a capstone course. There are several models for a capstone course and one involves writing a Master's thesis. Some of the students in the program are teachers and a capstone project that involves pedagogy may be better for them since they can use this to revise the curriculum at the school where they teach. If a student plans on pursuing a Ph.D. degree, a thesis may be the better option. Petrino replied that this seemed equally valid.
Schlichting noted that some students start the program and then disappear. Faculty wrote students who have disappeared and only some respond. The Graduate American Studies Steering Committee has recommended charging a modest matriculation fee for students. Miecznikowski asked Schlichting if all students would be charged this matriculation fee. Schlichting responded students who are active in the program and start their capstone project will not be charged a matriculation fee. Students will only be charged this fee if they are not active in the program. Petrino asked if there is a five year horizon for students to complete their degrees. Schlichting responded, yes. Weiss asked if this is enforced. Schlichting responded, yes.
Weiss asked when the master course listed was created. Schlichting responded that it was created last Spring. Weiss mentioned that this was quite an undertaking.
Harding asked if any new courses are in the pipeline. Schlichting responded that Cecelia Bucki is working on a proposal for a new course, ASHI 449. Orin Grossman talked about teaching a new course next Fall but is not.
Schlichting mentioned that the Graduate American Studies Steering Committee is having discussions about teaching Special Topics courses. The Special Topics Course would be useful to test-drive new courses. Crabtree thought that this was a good idea. Special Topics courses can respond to American culture and politics. She explained that a Special Topics course could have been offered this past Fall on the Presidency and next Spring on the economic melt-down. Petrino agreed and mentioned that a faculty member can work out the kinks and worry about details the second time it is taught. She explained that the course would have to be approved by the ASCC if it is taught a second time.
Pearson asked if any of the Graduate American Studies courses are eligible for sunsetting. Weiss mentioned that if a course has been offered in the past five years, then it is a course. If it has not been offered in the past five years, it is de-listed. Schlichting commented that he thinks the Graduate American Studies Steering Committee checked into sunsetting courses and de-listed those that were not taught for a long time and have no prospects of being taught. Weiss mentioned that Banner has the ability to check which courses have not been taught in the past five years.
Crabtree commended the American Studies steering Committee for doing this work. She mentioned that a list of courses nearing sunsetting needs to be generated. Furthermore, Crabtree mentioned that the American Studies Steering Committee should make sure that courses that are taught regularly appear in the Course Catalog and courses that are not taught regularly do not appear. Petrino mentioned that if the course has not been taught in the past five years, it should be de-listed.
Shanahan commented that he would be willing to meet with the Graduate American Studies Steering Committee next term.
Crabtree mentioned that everyone who teaches in a graduate or undergraduate program should meet periodically to maintain interest in the program. Schlichting commented that the Graduate American Studies Steering Committee has the primary responsibility to run the program.
Petrino mentioned that the members of the ASCC seem comfortable with the discussion and again commended the American Studies Graduate Steering Committee for their work.
Crabtree raised the issue of what college committees should exist for graduate programs. She mentioned the possibility of having a hybrid of the Dean's Council and that it may be called the "Council on Graduate Programs." She explained that this would not be a body that makes decisions but might function to serve as a curriculum committee for graduate courses. The ASCC should have further discussions on this.
Schlichting was thanked for his time by Petrino and the rest of the ASCC.
AR210 AND AR211, Intermediate Standard Modern Arabic I and Intermediate Standard Arabic II:
Crabtree asked if we can review AR210 and AR211 at the same time and treat AR210 and AR211 as one unit.
Discussion:
Crabtree mentioned that the Arabic and Portuguese programs have been funded by grants. Faculty will be brought in to teach the language. The College can not sustain tenure track faculty lines with these languages. The Department of Modern Languages and Literature have to show that this course will be sustainable by the time the grant runs out.
Weiss commented that the ASCC approved a six-credit course, AR215, Intermediate Intensive Modern Standard Arabic in September 2008. Crabtree mentioned that a grant had been funded and the expectation is building for the course. Weiss asked if AR215 will be sunsetted if not taught again. Crabtree replied that everything should go to the ASCC committee.
Weiss asked if the Oral Practice Session (OPS) is required. If it is required, how is it reflected in the student's grade? Petrino mentioned that in the class description, it states that students are required to attend OPS.
Schaffer asked how OPS is different from the language table. Crabtree explained that at a language table, students and faculty eat lunch and talk in a foreign language.
The members of the ASCC felt that the syllabus was confusing in terms of organization and clarity. Maybe the syllabus is clear for the students. The OPS is discussed in three places. Petrino mentioned that syllabi need to clearly convey the requirements of the course.
MOTION to Approve AR210 and AR211 (Crabtree, seconded by Shanahan). The courses were unanimously approved.
PG210 and PG211, Intermediate Brazilian Portuguese I and Intermediate Brazilian Portuguese II.
Discussion:
Petrino noted that she received a letter from Marie-Agns Sourieau which stated that PG210 and PG211 will well prepare students to undertake studies in Brazil.
Davis commented that 50 % of the grade is determined on the last day of class. The final exam is worth 35 % of the grade and the oral presentation is worth 15 % of the grade. Pearson agreed with Davis and mentioned that a lot is riding at the end of the semester.
Weiss mentioned that she can not find PG110 or PG111 anywhere. She asked if these courses are currently running. Crabtree responded that these courses may have been approved the year before. She recommended asking Marie-Agns Sourieau and Dina Franceschi if PG110 and PG11 were approved and if so, why are they not in the Undergraduate Catalog.
Weiss commented that she liked the syllabus because it was very detailed. In particular, she liked that on page 2 of the syllabus, the learning outcomes were clearly defined.
The members of the ASCC found two different catalog descriptions in the proposal. One was included as an attachment for the new course proposal form and the second was within the syllabus.
Harding noted that the major tests are not worth very much as each contributes five percent toward the final grade. Pearson agreed with Harding that the major tests need to contribute a higher percentage toward the final grade. Harding also mentioned that more details have to be given about the oral presentation. The members of the ASCC felt that the syllabus had to be clarified in terms of the weighting of the grades.
Miecznikowski asked when each course will be taught. The syllabus that was provided for each course listed each as a Fall term course.
Petrino mentioned that non-English speakers are teaching this course. She clarified that it is not the charge of this committee to check for every nuance but that this responsibility rests with the department.
Weiss asked how is the on-line lab work counted? She asked if the on-line lab work refers to OPS. This has to be clarified for the students.
MOTION to Approve PG210 and PG211 (Weiss, seconded by Harding). The courses were unanimously approved.
SP285, Introduction to Spanish Linguistics
Discussion:
Petrino mentioned that we do not have a linguistics course or program here. Shanahan mentioned that this would be a great course to have for English, not just for Spanish. Davis commented that this comes up often. Shanahan noted that the course description needs editing.
Harding commented that there is a lot of departmental support for this course.
Pearson asked if the students will be studying morphology in Spanish and if they will keep all of the terms in Spanish. Crabtree commented that this is the only language where they can learn linguistics in depth since there are a lot of Spanish majors.
Schaffer asked if sophomores will be taking this course. Weiss replied that she believes that this course will be populated by juniors.
Miecznikowski asked about the attendance policy that was described in the syllabus. He asked if this is under the purview of the ASCC. Petrino replied that there is no common college policy on participation. Crabtree commented that departments need to follow one common practice and that departments need to create policies that make students feel engaged.
Petrino will write an e-mail to Amlia Llombart and Marie-Agns Sourieau
asking them to edit the course description for style and for language. She will also ask Llombart to check the course attendance with respect to other courses in the department.
MOTION to Approve SP285 (Harding, seconded by Miecznikowski). The course was unanimously approved.
Petrino mentioned that she received many e-mails thanking the committee for reviewing the courses so carefully.
None
MOTION: TO ADJOURN at 5:12 p.m. (Shanahan, seconded by Miecznikowski) Approved by a show of feet.
Respectfully Submitted,
John Miecznikowski