courses and curricula - minutes - 2006-2007
Minutes for University Courses and Curricula Committee Meeting
January 31, 2007
Members Present:
A. Atkin, Chair, J. Ambrose, C Ashwell, R. Braham, T. Branoff, S. Carson, H. Charlton, P. Domingue, R. Ellovich, S. Fair, C. Freeman, C Ji, E. Keith, S. Lane, J. Lavelle, M. McConnell, D. Orcutt, D. Parish, M. Pause, R. Swanson
Guests: none
Remarks from the Chair:
Andrea Atkin convened the meeting at 12:30, announcing that we had a short agenda. Therefore, the committee would have time for a discussion about the current guidelines for departmental/college consultations.
Since John Ambrose, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Academic Programs was not yet present, his remarks were deferred to the end of the meeting.
New Business:
The committee approved the minutes of the January 17, 2007 meeting.
The Consent Agenda was approved without discussion:
- Establish BEC Prefix
- Course Prefix change for BTC 495 & BTC 497 to BEC
Discussion:
A faculty member posed some questions at a previous meeting of CUE concerning consultations. From whom should a consultation be sought and how much time should be allowed for a response to a request for a consultation?
The ensuing discussion included the following issues/points:
- Consultations should probably be sought from Department Heads or their designees such as the Chair of the Curriculum Committee. Department Heads and/or Curriculum Committee Chairs would be aware of factors that the course/curricular action might impact, e.g., overlap in content, effects on a particular curriculum, resources, seat availability.
- Where there is a question as to who should be consulted, one could ask assistance of college Associate Deans who would know the appropriate parties in each department.
- Perhaps some guidelines for written documentation should be drawn up. These would help the persons seeking the consult and those consulted.
- The initial intent of requiring consultations was to avoid the duplication or significant overlap of course materials from one course to another. Since this reason does not appear in the "Guidelines for Developing or Revising Undergraduate Courses–Consultation with other departments", the committee asked that Catherine Freeman add this reason to the statement.
- If a conflict exists within a college concerning a proposed course, the assumption is that the Associate Dean of that college will resolve the issue. A statement to this effect ought to be incorporated into the "Guidelines For Developing or Revising Undergraduate Courses–Consultation with other departments".
- After a consultation has been sought via e-mail and/or phone, a response of some sort should be expected by the end of a two-week period. If such a response is not forthcoming, it can be assumed that the department was consulted appropriately. A statement to this effect ought to be included in the "Guidelines For Developing or Revising Undergraduate Courses–Consultation with other departments".
Remarks from the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Academic Programs:
Dr. Ambrose met with Duane Larick of the Graduate School about the respective subcommittees on syllabus construction, one constituted as part of the Graduate Committee and one constituted as part of the UCCC. They decided these subcommittees ought to work together and require the same material on syllabi, be they for undergraduate or graduate courses. A representative of the Graduate Committee’s subcommittee should attend the UCCC subcommittee meetings and a representative of the UCCC subcommittee should attend the Graduate Committee’s subcommittee meetings.
Members of the UCCC syllabus subcommittee were asked to stay after the meeting for a short organizational session.
Meeting adjourned at 12:55 p.m.
Submitted by Risa Ellovich