I. Proposed Courses and Programs
Proposed Perspectives (P) Course Expedited Review Process, including Criteria for Perspectives Courses and the Evaluation Form to be used when submitting existing P courses for recertification was approved without dissent.
(1) NEW UNDERGRADUATE COURSE
CSCI412: E-Commerce: Concepts and Programming, 4 credits. Proposal to create a course that teaches design and development of e-Commerce websites was approved without dissent.
(2) NEW UNDERGRADUATE COURSE
CSCI415: Computer and Network Security, 4 credits. Proposal to create a course dealing with data integrity, encryption, authentication, and other security issues related to computer usage was approved without dissent.
(3) NEW UNDERGRADUATE COURSE
GEOG180: Geo-Graphics, 1 credit. Proposal to create a course to develop or enhance skills in PC-based presentation of geographic information was approved without dissent.
(4) CHANGE IN UNDERGRADUATE CURRICULUM
ESCI: majors. Proposal to allow students in the Department of Earth Sciences to minor in other distinct programs within the department was approved without dissent.
(5) CHANGE IN UNDERGRADUATE CURRICULUM
ESCI: BSE Earth Science major with Geology minor. Proposal to specify that ESCI222 be replaced by three credits of earth sciences elective credit to avoid program overlap was approved without dissent.
(6) CHANGE IN UNDERGRADUATE CURRICULUM
ESCI: Earth Science minor. Proposal to change required ESCI245 course to three elective credits of 34X or 44X meteorology courses was approved without dissent.
(7) CHANGE IN UNDERGRADUATE COURSE
ESCI442: Advanced Weather Analysis and Forecasting Practicum, 2 credits. Proposal to change the course title, credit hours and contact hours, and to formalize the scope and content was approved without dissent.
(8) CHANGE IN UNDERGRADUATE COURSE
ESCI348: Broadcast Meteorology, 2 credits. Proposal to change the course credit hours and contact hours to allow for studio time was approved without dissent.
(9) NEW UNDERGRADUATE COURSE
PSYC427: Childhood Disorders, 3 credits. Proposal to create a course offering an in depth look at the psychological disorders that occur in childhood was approved without dissent.
(10) CHANGE IN UNDERGRADUATE COURSE
ECON488: Seminar in Economics, 3 credits. Proposal to add the W designation was approved without dissent.
(11) NEW UNDERGRADUATE CURRICULUM
BS Education, Pre-Kindergarten to Grade 4 Certification. Proposal to create the program outline for certification of pre-K to grade 4 teachers consistent with requirements from PDE Chapter 49-2 was approved without dissent.
(12) NEW UNDERGRADUATE CURRICULUM
BS Education, Middle Level Certification. Proposal to create the program shell for certification of grade 4 to grade 8 teachers consistent with requirements from PDE Chapter 49-2 with outlines of the Mathematics Concentration and English Language Arts Concentration was approved without dissent.
A question was raised about the rationale of putting a P label on EDUC433. Dr. Judy Weinrich noted that UCPRC had recommended this approach rather than making an exception to the requirement for a P course. Dr. Burns emphasized that the goal was to maintain consistency with the overall spirit of General Education curriculum even though this P course would be taken within the major. He reminded senators of the option to tweak courses as the programs are implemented.
Concern was expressed that there is not really enough breadth in humanities courses to warrant waiving the G1 block. Dr. Weinrich responded that the directive from the state is for greater rigor in content areas for these teachers. She commented that many education credits have also been dropped in favor of content and to keep within 123 credits as required by PASSHE. Senator Mata noted that dropping G1 reflects the lowered value of humanities within public schools and commented that there is a corresponding loss of connection to creative thinking. Dean Bray expressed regret about what has needed to be pared down in order to make this program content heavy.
The repercussions of not approving this program were questioned. It was noted that we Millersville is a leader in teacher preparation and that students would suffer by not being able to complete a middle certification here. It was reiterated that the program could be refined over time and faculty were encouraged to consider creative ways to incorporate missing components into the framework of the program. The considerable effort that faculty put into developing this program in a very short timeframe was noted.
(13) NEW UNDERGRADUATE CURRICULUM
BS Education, Special Education PK-8/Pre Kindergarten to Grade 4 (Dual) Certification. Proposal to create a program outline for certification of special education teachers consistent with requirements from PDE Chapter 49-2 with two strands related to a focus on low incidence and high incidence disabilities was approved without dissent.
Dr. Börger-Greco expressed appreciation on behalf of Faculty Senate for the hard work faculty put into developing these new education programs and the availability of representatives to present them to Senate.
President McNairy highlighted the importance of protecting the core of the Millersville mission as best we can in light of the recession and budget cutbacks.
ASC
Senator Sikora commented that ASC was not ready to discuss their proposed changes.
A Saunders/Bookmiller motion to extend the agenda to address remaining Faculty Senate issues was withdrawn when it was clear there were no items that required immediate attention.
A Mowrey/Edeh Herr motion to cancel the Faculty Senate meeting scheduled for Election Day, November 4, 2008 was approved without dissent.
Respectfully submitted,
Aimee L. Miller
Secretary of the Senate