Undergraduate Education, Council on - Minutes - 2007-2008
Council on Undergraduate Education (CUE)
Minutes for 2-1-08. Meeting opened at 1:38 p.m.
Members Present: J. Rust, Chair, B. Kirby, I. Schmidt, M. Atkinson, L. Brown, C. McLean, A. Nowel, J. Spurlin, J. Tector, G. Weinberg, M. Chu, H. Devine, C. Levine, M. Shearer, L. Williams, R. Foy, D. Howard, C. Jordan, B. Matthews, A. Joyner, S. Palmer, A. Dupont, C. Ashwell, J. Ambrose, C. Freeman.
Guests: Chris Anson, CWSP Program, director; March Krotee, Physical Education Dept.; Hanna Gracz, Biochemistry Dept.
Comments from the Chair: Chair Rust called the meeting to order and welcomed new student member, Seth Palmer. Rust went through the proposed GEP proposal at the categories. CUE has addressed several of the category items, but just as a reminder there are a couple items remaining to look at soon. Thanked everyone for coming today.
Comments from the Associate Dean for UAP: Dr. Ambrose announced a possible speaker for the symposium on interdisciplinary perspectives has been selected. More information should be available next week. Currently, the symposium will be scheduled for late February/early March.
OLD BUSINESS:
OLD BUSINESS ITEM #1:
CUE examined the revised Communication in the Major (Advanced Writing and Communication) rationale and objectives. Joni Spurlin explained some of the edits she suggested for the wording on the proposed alternative rationale. Guest Anson approved Joni’s addition.
Discussion:
(Revised text for review):
Associate deans are responsible for providing evidence that their college's curricula are designed to comply with this requirement's Rationale andObjectives. Through the on-going assessment process, the associate dean will synthesize the issues and action items that are a result of the annual assessment activities of the undergraduate programs in their college related to this requirement's objectives.
Suggestion ONE:
Edits: Second sentence; “Associates deans are responsible for assessment activities of the undergraduate programs in their college related to this requirement’s objectives.” (this replaces the bold last lines of the previous revision).
Suggestion TWO:
Associate deans are responsible for providing evidence that their college's curricula are designed to comply with this requirement's Rationale andObjectives and ensuring that academic programs are assessing and reporting student achievement of the objectives.
Suggested Revision for RATIONALE (complete):
Writing and speaking are fundamental to all disciplinary and scholarly work, also serving as powerful ways of learning and evaluating learning in the disciplines. Each undergraduate curriculum must be designed and taught so that the Major enhances students' learning through writing and speaking activities and helps students to communicate competently for academic and professional contexts. Because effective communication in these contexts often demands proficiency in the use of information technologies and resources, students must gain a basic understanding of how information is identified, organized, and accessed, in both the print and digital environments. Associate deans are responsible for providing evidence that their college's curricula are designed to comply with this requirement's Rationale andObjectives and ensuring that academic programs assess and report student achievement of the objectives.
Discussion and suggested Revision for Objectives:
Third objective is an important aspect of the library’s responsibilities. Some members were curious how programs will fulfill this objective. What is the plan for programs to show they are accomplishing and assessing use of informational technologies in their curriculums? Most programs have in their assessment plans strategies for assessing writing and speaking in their curriculum. Some discussion on what is the best way to find out how curriculums plan for how they use information technologies. Undergraduate curriculum chairs in each college should have an idea of the programs’ research, support, and academic resources needs.
Question on wording of objective 3 “information technologies.” Indication of preference to make this more broad to include more than “technologies” that use “electricity.”
3. Use information technologies and search strategies appropriate to their academic or professional majors to identify and access information and then to evaluate, synthesize, and incorporate that information effectively in their writing and speaking
Revision was suggested to add “search strategies” to objective #3 and add “and” after the end of each of the objectives.
- Moved to approve Communication in the Major with the suggested edits to #3 of objectives and complete rationale as stated, seconded, and approved. (See approved version attached at end of minutes)
OLD BUSINESS ITEM #2:
Introduction to Writing category (ENG 101)
Rationale:
Writing is a powerful way of understanding ourselves and the world in which we live. It is through writing that the various disciplines and professions define the knowledge and methodologies that characterize them. Mastery of writing and information skills is central to engaging in the productive life of academic and professional communities.
Objectives:
The required course in this category will provide instruction and guidance that help students to:
1. Write effectively in specific situations, which may include various academic, professional, or civic situations.
2. Understand and respond appropriately to the critical elements that shape written communication situations, such as audience, purpose, and genre.
3. Demonstrate critical and evaluative thinking skills in locating, analyzing, synthesizing, and using information in written communication.
- MOTION MADE TO APPROVE INTRODUCTION TO WRITING AS WRITTEN, SECONDED, APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY. (See approved version attached at end of minutes)
OLD BUSINESS ITEM #3:
- Review of the request to change the language in the objectives for the PE/Healthy Living category of the GEP – Memo dated January 15, 2008 from Dr. Tom Roberts --- presenter Larry Brown
CUE members reviewed the memo requesting wording revision for the PE/Healthy Living rationale and objectives.
- MOTION MADE TO APPROVE REVISION TO PE/HEALTHY LIVING AS WRITTEN, SECONDED, AND APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY. (See attached revised version)
CUE Minutes from 1-18-08 were revised to include the suggested revisions to the Advanced Communication rationale and objectives that were discussed and also include additional discussion item per Joni Spurlin. Revised minutes were approved unanimously.
NEW BUSINESS:
- Committee reviewed the Global Knowledge Rationale and Objectives presented by Dr. March Krotee, co-chair of the GEP subcommittee for Global Knowledge co-requisite.
- Dr. Ambrose gave background on how the category was discussed in the GER Task Force and how the subcommittee was created. (Please refer to Global Knowledge Rationale and Objectives document attached at the end).
- Discussion: Committee members asked about instances of students who are going to the effort of doing a study abroad course? Does this meet the objectives as outlined in the rationale and objectives? Krotee noted the GER Task Force discussed the issues of study abroad in the two years the group met. CUE members discussed how programs can meet this category specifically here with regards to coursework that can meet this requirement. There is the inclusion in the Task Force recommendation that “guidelines to be developed” for study abroad as part of GK category. Intent of this discussion is to look at these objectives and rationale as they relate to coursework.
- Action Item: In the future, CUE requests a proposal of potential alternative experiences (such as study abroad and non-course based experiences) to come back to CUE to review it in relation to the Global Knowledge category.
- Global Knowledge rationale and objective as written –
- MOTION MADE TO APPROVE; SECONDED; APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY (see attached)
- Course review for GER listing:
- ENG 249 (Native American Literature) – New – Literature – Hans Kellner : Motion to accept this course for the Literature list. Seconded. Discussion:none. Approved unanimously.
- HI 366 (Native American History – New – Additional HSS – Linda Williams: Motion to accept this course for the Additional Humanities and Social Sciences list. Seconded. Discussion: Is there a reason this isn’t proposed for the History list?
Approved unanimously.
Both courses approved for their lists.
Moved to adjourn, seconded, and adjourned at 2:55 p.m.
Communication in the Major (Advanced Communication)
Rationale:
Writing and speaking are fundamental to all disciplinary and scholarly work, also serving as powerful ways of learning and evaluating learning in the disciplines. Each undergraduate curriculum must be designed and taught so that the Major enhances students' learning through writing and speaking activities and help them to communicate competently for academic and professional contexts. Because effective communication in these contexts often demands proficiency in the use of information technologies and resources, students must gain a basic understanding of how information is identified, organized, and accessed, in both the print and digital environments.
Associate deans are responsible for providing evidence that their college's curricula are designed to comply with this requirement's Rationale andObjectives and ensuring that academic programs assess and report student achievement of the objectives.
Objectives:
Each undergraduate curriculum must be designed to provide instruction and ample opportunities for guided practice that enable students to:
1. Learn more deeply and effectively through the use of writing and speaking activities, and
2. Master the kinds of writing and speaking that are appropriate to their academic or professional majors, and
3. Use information technologies and search strategies appropriate to their academic or professional majors to identify and access information and then to evaluate, synthesize, and incorporate that information effectively in their writing and speaking.
Introduction to Writing (ENG 101)
Rationale:
Writing is a powerful way of understanding ourselves and the world in which we live. It is through writing that the various disciplines and professions define the knowledge and methodologies that characterize them. Mastery of writing and information skills is central to engaging in the productive life of academic and professional communities.
Objectives:
The required course in this category will provide instruction and guidance that help students to:
1. Write effectively in specific situations, which may include various academic, professional, or civic situations, and
2. Understand and respond appropriately to the critical elements that shape written communication situations, such as audience, purpose, and genre, and
3. Demonstrate critical and evaluative thinking skills in locating, analyzing, synthesizing, and using information in written communication.
Global Knowledge
Rationale:
Global knowledge is necessary for students to understand the world and their place in it. The global knowledge requirement provides students the opportunity to explore the complex interrelationships among nations, to gain a deeper appreciation of other cultures and peoples, and to evaluate the impact of U.S. culture and policy on the rest of the world.
Objectives:
Each course in Global Knowledge will provide instruction and guidance that help students to achieve at least 2 of the following:
- Compare systematically the ideas, values, images, cultural artifacts, economic structures, technological developments, or attitudes of people from different societies; and
- Identify the historical context of ideas and cultural practices and their dynamic relations to other historical contexts; and
- Explain how a culture changes in response to internal and external pressures.