Bryon Clark (Chair), Jack Ousey (proxy for Gleny Beach), Betty Clay, Jim Cunningham, Jane Elder, Steven Emge, Dick Hackett, Gene Hetzel, Nancy Hill, Linda Kallam, Brad Ludrick, Lucretia Scoufos (proxy for Shannon McCraw), Steve McKim, John Mischo, Sharon Morrison, Patty Pool, John Topuz, Chip Weiner (ex-officio), Cherry Wilmoth
None
The meeting was called to order by the Chair at 2:40 p.m. Jane Elder was reappointed by acclamation of the membership as recorder for the 2005-2006 term.
The Chair announced a change in title in order to give him a more direct role in the administrative structure by allowing him to provide information directly to the Dean’s Council. Henceforth, his title will be Associate Dean of the School of Graduate and University Studies rather than the Director of General Education.
The Chair provided Council members with the current version (passed in Oct. 2003) of the Function and Membership Statement for the General Education Council as well as a proposed revised version most notably reflecting changes in membership necessitated by mergers of several departments. Dick Hackett moved to accept the revised document; Gene Hetzel seconded. In discussion, Patty Pool pointed out that there is no qualified faculty available to serve on the Gen Ed Council from Marketing and Management, as the only gen ed course they have is taught by a temporary full-time faculty member. Linda Kallam offered a friendly amendment to the motion on the wording of who can serve on the Gen Ed Council; Brad Ludrick seconded. The Chair added the caveat that those Council members from merged departments currently serving will be allowed to finish out their three-year terms, even though that may mean that some (merged) departments will temporarily have two representatives on the Council. The motion as amended passed unanimously. The Chair will e-mail Council members a clean copy of the revisions. If acceptable, the document will be forwarded to Faculty Senate for approval.
The Chair next addressed the General Education Outcomes document. He provided Council members with a current working copy and asked them to take it back to each of their respective departments for approval. He cautioned that each department must be able to do what they say they can do. Trial runs are to be conducted during the current semester if possible. The first attempts at actual data collection will be in the Spring 2006 term. The Sept. 2006 assessment report must include this data. It is due in Chip Weiner’s office the second Friday of Sept. along with the regular assessment report. Bryon will provide departments with a template of information needed. Syllabi in all departments must be amended to reflect the stated goals and learner outcomes.
There was discussion about the movement toward internet courses. Of particular interest was the question of how learner outcomes will be assessed on-line. The Council agreed that there must be similar levels of learning with traditional classes.
Betty Clay asked if official approval had ever been received to include CIS 1003 (Computers in Society) in the general education requirements. The Chair stated that as yet Academic Council has not issued such approval.
New university catalogs will be published soon. They will not include new requirements from the General Education Outcomes document. Therefore, they will not officially go into effect until the expiration of the new catalog in two years. Any student entering the university under the guidelines of the soon-to-be published catalog will be grandfathered in. Changes can only be made as long as it does not place “undue burden” on the student.
Patty Pool asked how liberal arts credit designation is obtained for a course. Liberal arts is not synonymous with general education credit and must be obtained through approval of the Curriculum Committee.
The Chair noted that mid-level assessment is coming up on Wed. Oct. 5. He provided information from last year’s testing and stated that he felt the volunteer program worked well as they were above the national average in all areas save critical thinking. He asked the Council to encourage students to strive to do well on the tests as that benefits the university. He expects approximately 30 volunteers this semester and will be awarding scholarships/tuition waivers to some.
The next meeting of the Council will be Tuesday, Oct. 18, at 2:30 p.m. in UC215. The meeting was adjourned at 3:55 p.m.