Index of Topics 4/26/2005

For Approval 5/10/05–To Faculty Senate 5/16/2005

Vacancies on ACC and Standing committees – reported

105 transfer credits – new catalog text approved

Routing problem between curricular committees – noted

Ad Hoc committee on FIGs – preliminary report

Drop/Add deadlines – discussed

QSR Course – discussion on GUR requirement

Admissions and Intercollege Relations, 2/28/05.  Accepted.  Karen Copetas and Jeanne Gaffney were in attendance in order to answer any questions regarding the new Lower-Division Transfer Credit Policy, as mandated by HB2382.  The new catalog copy will read as follows:

“Western Washington University will accept in transfer toward a bachelor’s degree no more than 105 lower-division credits.  Students with upper-division course work may transfer up to a maximum of 135 credits, including no more than 105 lower division credits.”

Graduate Council, 11/23/04, and 1/18/05.  Accepted.  At the request of Commissioners, Chair Downing will ask Graduate Council the reason for the delay in the minutes.

 REQUEST FOR CLARIFICATION ON ROUTING PROCESS FOR THE FOLLOWING:

Huxley College Curriculum Committee, 2/9/05.  Tabled, brought back, reviewed and Accepted.

David Curley moved to table Huxley’s minutes, seconded by Jeff Newcomer, because the change in EGEO250 has to be approved by TCCC, and there is no indication that this went to that committee.  The motion would have no effect on the temporary course, EGEO397.

Later, after viewing several problems with Woodring Curriculum minutes, the motion was withdrawn. Curley made a motion to approve the minutes, seconded by Lauren Balisky, which the members passed..

Woodring College Curriculum, 11/23/04, 1/26/05.  Not Accepted.  Tabled.  Commissioners asked why these minutes were so late in coming to ACC.  Jeff Newcomer moved to table the minutes without approval, seconded by Jeff Purdue, for failure to attach an explanatory memo, as well as for their lateness.  The memo might explain the rubric change from LIBR to EDU 309 and 320, but no memo was forthcoming.  There is lack of clarity in these minutes to indicate which courses are Educational Leadership and which are Elementary Education.  There is further confusion over whether LIBR409  could possibly be a GER   

The MOTION TO TABLE passed.  As a result, 309 will be offered as LIBR 309, and will be offered as a GUR course under the LIBR rubric.

Members suggested a closer look at the routing process between 1) TCCC, 2)  Woodring Curriculum Council, and the 3) GER Committee (perhaps through a routing slip).  If courses are sent to the GER committee before they even go through the Woodring Curriculum Council, faculty in the College are never notified on what GURs have been approved.  The committees are not providing enough information to make a decision.  Neither do Woodring’s curriculum minutes follow the sample minute format.

General Education Requirements Committee (Commissioners agreed to suspension of rules in order to include these minutes), 2/24/05 and 3/10/05.  Accepted.

East Asian Studies 230, Modern Chinese Society and Language.  Accepted as a GUR course.

Members reviewed language approved by the GER committee regarding Humanities Option I, and edited the language slightly for clarification:

OPTION I:  Select a minimum three courses and 12 credits, from at least two departments, from the following list. [list as currently approved]

DISCUSSION ITEMS

INTERIM REPORT from the Ad Hoc Committee on FIGs.

Commissioners made the following points regarding the report presented by Jeff Newcomer and the committee on reviewing the FIGs.  The final report is due at the end of Spring quarter:

·   The goal of the FIGs is not intended to increase graduate rates or grade point averages.  The goal is to support transition to university life, to clarify student expectations about academic life and students’ academic careers. 

·   The best assessment is the degree to which the students themselves think their goals are being met.  Lauren Balisky is meeting with students and focus groups are being held with faculty groups experienced with the FIGs and the associated GURs.  However, some results/rewards are not readily quantifiable.

·   The goal is not to tie courses together in a sophisticated “synthesis” but rather to provide an interdisciplinary perspective.

·   Janice Lapsansky, FIGs Director, noted that when ACC discussed criteria, the FIGs seminar fell right in line with the goals of the GUR program and its intended learning outcomes.  Students don’t always know what the special program is that we are trying to accomplish.

·   Faculty Benefits:  The FIGs provide an opportunity for faculty to examine perspectives across varied fields of study, and thus provide an avenue for professional development.  Another positive example is when a GUR class has 200 students and the Professor has a chance to go to the seminar and actually meet some of the students, an make meaningful connections that may get them to view their academic experience differently.

·   Commissioners asked what percentage of students from underrepresented groups have taken part  in the FIGs; generally commissioners are very interested in who takes the FIGs, why, and how to target more students to participate.  Anecdotal evidence indicates that much of current selection is parentally influenced.  Logistical problems exist:  the FIGs has actually included a course that counts toward a major in a science degree, but there is no successful recruitment to teach such seminar course.   Parents see the FIGs as a major opportunity to get into a small class. FIGs are only taught in the Fall.

·   Winter and Spring Quarter offering:  Commissioners reported that a lot of interested faculty would be very happy to teach in a FIG seminar that was offered Winter or Spring quarter.  If FIGs is part of the first year experience, it may be easier to capture students once they are here on campus and past the first quarter..  In Winter many Summer Start students are now faced with a terrible schedule selection choice, and would benefit from the FIGs at that time.  Commissioners reported there are many strong advantages to offering the FIGs at other times during freshman year, since they are probably all a bit shell-shocked Fall Quarter.  In the second quarter they may be more open to grasping what their deficiencies are.  The masculine proportion might increase also (many female students register for FIGs in Fall quarter)

·   Commissioners asked for the scale on which figures are based, and clear references to what the tables mean in the final report. The ACC will take direction from the Final Report which will be forwarded to the Senate.

DROP/ADD Deadlines

One Commissioner brought a constituent concern regarding the current “generous” add/drop policy whereby some students are adding courses in the second week, when more than 10% of the class has gone by, and there may even be a first quiz.  Commissioners agreed to tap the anecdotal evidence available on this subject.

 QSR REQUIREMENT.

Commissioners recognized the need for further discussion on the 3^rd QSR requirement and state goals.  The intent is that some departments could decide that some courses could be treated in the same way as CGM, and not double dipped.  Commissioners acknowledged that there is nothing precluding departments from changing prerequisites so that courses could become available for GURs.

Membership (term ending 2005)

Chair – Tom Downing – 2004-2005

1

A -  Janice Lapsansky, Biology

P

Vice Chair – David Curley

2

C –  David Curley, Liberal Studies, VCh

P

3.

D –  Grant Donnellan, Music

P

Ex-Officio

4

E --  George Sanders Accounting

P

17

Bodman, Andrew (Provost) 

  P            

5

G --  Grace Wang, Environmental Studies

P

18

Perry, Karen (Catalog Coordinator)

P

6

H – *Shelby Sheppard, Educational Foundations

P

7

A -   Jeff Newcomer, EngTech, Senate

P

Registrar, Recorder

Joe St. Hilaire, Registrar

P

Membership (term ending 2006)

Rose Marie Norton-Nader, Recorder

P

8

B – *Robert Thorndike, Psychology

P

9

AL – Linda Kimball, AT-LARGE (rep to GER)

P

10

C - *Thomas Downing, Philosophy, Chair, (EESP)

P

Guests

11

F – Marie Eaton, Fairhaven

--

Karen Copetas, Admissions

P

12

I –  Jeff Purdue, Library

P

Jeanne Gaffney

P

13

S -  Brian Gettmann, ASVP-Academics, 2004-2005

P

14

S -  Nichole Pepple, 2004-05

--

15

S -  Angela Stillwell, 2004-05

--

16

S-   Lauren Balisky, 2004-05

P

      *Not Eligible for Re-election (served 4 yrs)

Members (18)

12 faculty (2yr terms) rep each area.  Provost, Catalog Coordinator (ex officio)  4 students (1 ASVP), 2 faculty Senators.  ACC reps:  to UPC, to GUR, to SenLegislCte.    Guests: Registrar, Recorder

Members

Register, Recorder

Guests

15

2

2

 April 26, 2005             TOTAL                     

19