College of Arts & Sciences Curriculum Committee Meeting
September 22, 2009
Present: Shannon Harding, Joan Weiss, Robbin Crabtree, Roxana Walker-Canton, Bob Epstein, Les Schaffer, Elizabeth Petrino, John Miecznikowski, Manyul Im, Qin Zhang, Danke Li
Meeting was called to order at 3:35 pm in BCC 204.
Approval of the minutes from April 14, 2009
Discussion: Weiss pointed out that although a four-course certification program in the mathematics of finance has been approved by the ASCC in its April meeting, it did not show on the minutes. The Math department has received a letter of approval from Jim Shannahan, the former chair of ASCC. Petrino checked the ASCC annual report and confirmed that the program has indeed been approved by this committee in April, 2009. The approval will be added to the minutes. The minutes were approved (7 members for and Walker-Cantor and Schaffer abstaining).
Election of New Chair
Bob Epstein and Shannon Harding are elected unanimously to be the chairs of the committee. Epstein will serve as chair in the fall semester of 2009 and Harding will serve as chair in the spring semester of 2010.
Motion by Dean Robbin Crabtree
Dean Crabtree proposed Associate Dean Weiss to be her designee for ASCC. Dr. Weiss has tremendous knowledge of the work of this committee and can give fuller attention to its issues. Weiss will know the Dean's intention before the meetings and vote on Dean Crabtree's behalf. If anything requires the Dean's attention, she will come to the committee, and she will still be the signatory of the course documents. Since the UCC's and the College of Arts' governance documents are vague on this matter, the committee recommended that the documents be reviewed by the UCC and the college's Planning Committee. Im moved to approve Crabtree's motion and Li seconded. The motion was approved unanimously.
Approval of Courses
1. Communication 431—Media Law and Institutions
Motion to approve CO 431 by Im and seconded by Zhang.
Discussion: Epstein read to the committee of the minutes of the Communication Department. Harding suggested streamlining the wording and limiting the catalogue description to 100 words. Harding and Im expressed concerns about whether Communication Department's increased graduate course teaching will affect the undergraduate course teaching since the department is short of staff for undergraduate courses. Zhang reminded people that the department is hiring a new member. Epstein pointed out that the new position is to replace Shanahan. The committee will send a note to the Dean to express its concerns. CO 431 was approved unanimously.
2. Communication 548—Health Communication
Motion to approve CO 548 by Im and seconded by Zhang
Discussion: Walker-Cantor suggested that official language regarding disability be used in the syllabus. Im pointed out that the same concerns regarding Communication Department's graduate and undergraduate teaching apply to this course as well. CO 548 was approved unanimously.
3. MU 220—Basic Conducting
Motion to approve MU 220 by Im and seconded by Li
Discussion: Harding and Zhang questioned why when an adjunct teaches the course, a full time faculty writes the course proposal. Epstein informed that the committee decided that a course proposal should come from a full timer and be reviewed by the department. In this case the instructor is the director of the Band and is very qualified to teach the course. Im suggested that the committee not micro manage the course proposals that have gone through the department. Miecznikowski pointed out that the submitted syllabus did not incorporate the recommended revision mentioned in the department minutes. MU 220 was approved unanimously.
4. MU/FM 245—Hearing the Movies
Motion to approve MU/FM 245 by Im and seconded by Zhang
Discussion: Miecznikowski pointed out that the catalogue description is over 100 words and there is no statement on disability. Epstein commented that although disability statement is not required it is recommended. MU/FM 245 was approved unanimously.
5. SA 139—Studio Art, Watercolor
Motion to approve SA 139 by Miecznikowski and seconded by Harding
Discussion: Petrino pointed out that this is not a new course but a one-week course. Im read to the committee the procedural requirement for one-week courses. Epstein mentioned to the committee that the department gave high marks to the course and Petrino pointed out that the instructor did a great job of clearly stating each day's tasks. Weiss and Harding pointed out typos on page 5 ( it should be day 5, not week 5) and page 7 (it should be 2 sketches per day, not per week). SA 139 was approved unanimously.
6. AY 100—Introduction to Anthropology
Motion to approve AY 100 by Petrino and seconded by Harding
Discussion: Miecznikowski suggested that goals and learning objectives should be included in the course description. Harding pointed out that the course title listed in the syllabus and the course title listed in the proposal should be the same. Weiss suggested a clarification on the final exam which is not included in the course evaluation. Petrino suggested that since the instructor is a new faculty, the department should inform him the proper format. AY 100 was approved unanimously.
7. CS 252—Foundations for Software Construction
Motion to approve CS 252 by Miecznikowski and seconded by Zhang
Discussion: Petrino distributed the department minutes which came in hard copy. Schaffer commented that validation of testing and software specification, two crucial components for computer software course, are not clearly reflected in the syllabus. Im pointed out that they are stated in the course goals. Miecznikowski suggested the inclusion of statements of disability and guidelines on academic honesty. CS 252 was approved unanimously.
8. BI 74—Biology of Food
Since the department minutes were missing, the proposal was tabled for the next meeting.
9. AS 410—tabled
Motion to recess at 5: 05 by Im and seconded by Harding and was approved unanimously.
(Minutes to this point of meeting:)
Respectfully submitted,
Danke Li
Meeting Reconvened: September 29, 2009 in BCC 204
Present: Robert Epstein (Chair), Shannon Harding, Manyul Im, Danke Li, John Miecznikowski, Elizabeth Petrino, Les Schaffer, Roxana Walker-Canton, Joan Weiss, Qin Zhang
Meeting was called to order at 3:35 p.m. The ASCC met to continue a discussion of new course proposals, which had been suspended the previous week for lack of time.
BI 74: Chair introduced the first course, BI 74, "The Biology of Food." The minutes from the Biology department were distributed in hard copy to the members. Harding noted that the course sounded good and followed the requirements of the science core.
After a brief discussion, Li moved to approve the course; Zhang seconded. 8 approved, 0 opposed.
AS 410: Chair turned the committee's attention to AS 410, "Introduction to Women's and Gender Studies." Weiss noted that last semester the ASCC passed a new graduate course proposal form in its March meeting. Nevertheless, the graduate courses for CO and AS were using an undergraduate form, available on the college website.
Petrino asked if the change was announced to faculty. Joan responded that it was not announced, and the Chair commented that it should be advertised through Jean Daniele in the fall when the new course proposals are invited.
Discussion ensued about the general listing of the course. Several committee members were concerned that the course did not reflect the emphasis on women typically expected of a Women's Studies course. Li commented that the course was not listed as a WS course or proposed as one, but rather as an American Studies offering. Weiss responded that the course then should not be listed as ASWS, but as AS. Chair noted that no course description appeared on syllabus. Regarding the course description, Weiss believed that the course proposal should also list number of credits. Miecznikowski observed that there were missing goals and learning outcomes. Li added that the academic honesty policy should be listed.
Discussion then focused more particularly on the course with respect to its title and design. Weiss wondered if the course could serve as a capstone for WS. Im commented that there was no history of WS, representations of different feminisms, or interdisciplinary approaches to WS. He was puzzled by how this serves as an introduction to the history of WS, since its design and topics reflect those of a gender and sexuality course. There is no introduction to politics and social science as it intersects with gender, nor any recent anthropological or sociological work in WS.
Chair offered that the course overview acknowledges the movement of women's studies, even though he agreed the course focuses on gender and sexuality. Li commented that, as a graduate level course, this proposal reflects a concern with the field and what students need to know. Petrino added the course reflects the discussions that have taken place in WS program regarding the shift in emphasis in the field from women's issues to gender and sexuality studies. Shaffer asked for a definition of AS. Petrino responded that this field offers an interdisciplinary study of American culture.
Li moved to approve the course; Zhang seconded.
In further discussion, Miecznikowski added that the professor should note there are only 12 weeks listed on the syllabus. Walker-Canton asked if this will be approved as a course after the vote. The Chair affirmed that the course will be run after our approval.
The vote was taken: 8 approved, 0 opposed.
HI/CL 221: Chair moved to a discussion of HI/CL 221, "The Hellenistic World, 336-30 BC." Li considered this a great course with that covers a wide swath of history from Alexander the Great to Cleopatra, and she noted the course would be good for students to take, since they would receive a substantial amount of classical period. Miecznikowski asked if the final is cumulative or reflects only the material since mid-term. The Chair responded probably not cumulative, since the weight is the same. The Chair was concerned that the list of the proposed topics did not provide more information. Is this a fully developed outline?
Li explained that he had developed a syllabus, but Vincent Rosivach, the Director of Classical Studies, advised him to provide a series of topics instead.
Li moved to approve the course, Miecznikowski seconded. Nine approved, 0 opposed.
HI 201:
Chair introduced the next History course, HI 201, "Introduction to the History of Science." Li noted that the course proposed by an adjunct. She also commented that in the History Department meeting she had made a suggestion to change title to History of Science in the West, but this was not changed. It is reflected in the syllabus now, however. Miecznikowski added that he thought that this would be a good course for science students to take.
Harding observed that the course integrates science with other interdisciplinary approaches. The Chair commented that he would ask for clarification about inked in changes and request that the author of the proposal clarify percentages of course requirements, as per the committee's request.
Miecznikowski moved to approve the course, Im seconded. Nine approved, 0 opposed.
HI 214:
Chair moved to a discussion of HI 214, "Modern Jewish History: 1750-Present." Miecznikowski noted that the prerequisites should be listed on catalog description. The Chair wondered how often this course would be offered and whether it would substitute for other courses. Based on its rotation, he thought it might alternate with the other German history courses the instructor teaches.
Discussion ensued about the changes proposed by the History Department. Harding noted not all the changes had not been incorporated. Im explained that they are suggestions, not requirements. Petrino added that the Judaic Studies Program was interested in having this course among its offerings.
Im moved to approve the course, Li seconded. Nine approved, 0 opposed.
HI 299:
Chair introduced HI 299, "History Workshop," and asked for discussion. Li said this course will serve an important purpose because it will bring students' writing and powers of analysis and synthesis of material up to the level they need to be in order to take seminars. Such a course will narrow the gap in their abilities that faculty members perceive between the introductory and advanced level courses. The Chair asked if there is a capstone.
Li commented there was none, but this methods course will prepare students well. She concluded it is a great course that offers instruction in useful skills to students. Petrino commented that the learning objectives sounded good.
Li moved to approve the course, Harding seconded. Nine approved, 0 opposed.
AR 225:
AR 235, "Intensive Advanced Modern Standard Arabic," had been sent to the Committee with a letter of explanation from Marie-Agnes Sourieau, who noted that there was not an opportunity for the DMLL to meet before it was submitted. The Chair commented that the ASCC cannot approve the course without minutes from the Department. Petrino asked if we might examine the course provisionally, pending the minutes from the department. The Chair reaffirmed that the ASCC could inform DMLL that we cannot act on this proposal before the department acts on it, then invited further discussion of the course.
Discussion ensued about the course design and purpose. Petrino wondered why this is a six credit course. Weiss also inquired about the reasons for making this course intensive: why is this an advanced intensive course? Is there a reason to make this a course that could be offered as an intensive course? Harding asked what the demand for this course would be. The Chair responded that, according to the Dean, this is a critical language and therefore merits being offered. He commented that there are already students in the pipeline who need to continue their language study with this course. Im asked if there are students who are taking the intensive intermediate course and if they are prepared to take an advanced intensive course. The Chair noted that the ASCC can ask the department if the course should be offered and is there rationale for offering such courses in the future. No further action was taken at this time.
On that note, Li made a motion to adjourn, Miecznikowski seconded. Approved without hesitation or opposition. Meeting concluded at approximately 4:45 p.m.
(Minutes of reconvened meeting)
Respectfully submitted,
Elizabeth Petrino