The meeting was called to order at 4:08 p.m. All departments were in attendance except Athletics, Interdisciplinary Studies, Nursing, and Philosophy.
I. Minutes of previous meeting
II. Proposed Courses and Programs
(1) CHANGE TO UNDERGRADUATE COURSE
CHEM 302: Chemistry in Nanotechnology, 3 credits. Proposal to renumber course to CHEM 312, update catalog description, and change prerequisites to NFMT 313 and CHEM 104 or CHEM 111; or CHEM 232; or CHEM 235; or permission of instructor was approved without dissent.
(2) CHANGE TO UNDERGRADUATE COURSE
CHEM 327: Biochemistry II, 4 credits. Proposal to change prerequisite to C- or better in CHEM 326 and update course description was approved without dissent.
(3) CHANGE TO UNDERGRADUATE CURRICULUM
BS Chemistry, Nanotechnology option. Proposal to add course options to program electives and change one credit of CHEM 498 (research) to CHEM 487 and CHEM 488 (senior seminar) was approved without dissent.
(4) CHANGE TO UNDERGRADUATE CURRICULUM
AS Chemistry, Pre-Pharmacy option. Proposal to add MATH 130: Elements of Statistics, change biology electives to match current courses offered, and increase program credits from 19-21 to 23-25 was approved without dissent.
Dr. Sandra Deemer, representing the Educator of the Year Award Selection Committee, visited to get feedback on how to strengthen the documents presented previously. She emphasized that the purpose of this award is to recognize high-quality teaching and mentoring to foster maintaining a campus culture of commitment to effective teaching. Discussion touched on the clarification that awardees will be faculty members, that awardees might give a presentation to inspire others, that recognition might include a photo displayed on campus or reserved parking, and that acceptance of the award could take place at commencement or the honors and awards ceremony. Dr. Deemer indicated the hope that students would initiate the nomination process and recruit two additional references and stressed that the process should address the value of the award without discouraging participation. Suggestions were made to adjust the nomination to be 500 words or more, that alumni be encouraged to make nominations, that nominees might also submit supporting materials, and that nominees could remain under consideration for several years. Staff were noted to be eligible to be awarded Person of the Year by Student Senate or recognized by the Cabinet for Living the Promise. Dr. Deemer indicated that the selection committee would revise the documents based on feedback and return to Senate later.
The course approval forms from UCPRC (Course Proposal Form, Curriculum Application, D Label Application, P Label Application, W Label Application, Record of Approvals, and Instructions for Forms) were discussed. Senator Smith noted that these documents apply only to course proposals and that revisions to academic program forms and DL approval forms will be brought later. Clarification was suggested for the Curriculum Application to indicate course alignment with General Education and to note that non-GenEd courses are recommended, but not required, to complete the form as part of an overall assessment. Concern was expressed that reiterating this kind of alignment is beyond the scope of many changes made to current courses. Dr. Burns pointed out that the proposed Curriculum Application sheet is the current GenEd-Liberal Arts Core Application updated to reflect the most recent GenEd program revision. He emphasized the goal of using this form for all courses to address the idea of assessing student learning in a more holistic manner.
Concern was raised that rather than simplifying curriculum approval, this would add work to non-GenEd proposals. Dr. Prabhu suggested that proposals that do not have impact beyond a department or school should perhaps have an alternate approval path. Dr. Smith noted the benefit of drawing connections from any course to overall university learning outcomes. She indicated that UCPRC would make some revisions to the Curriculum Approval form and return it to Senate.
A suggestion was made to add a proposal summary box to the Record of Approvals sheet to help clarify the connection of a signature sheet to a specific course proposal. Since some of these sheets are also relevant to graduate courses, GCPRC should also consider the proposed changes. A question was raised about the advisability of separating signatures from the Course Proposal Form. Dr. Burns indicated that minor errors on the cover sheet often need to be changed which requires collecting signatures again. Since course review includes consideration of most items on the cover sheet in detail, removing the signatures might create an information gap.
An A. Miller/Kelly motion for UCPRC to make changes to the course proposal approval documents and return them to Senate for consideration at the next meeting was approved without dissent.
III. Report of the Faculty Senate Chairperson
IV. Report of the Student Senate President
V. Report of the Graduate Student Association
VI. Report of the Administrative Officers
Associate Provost Burns announced that Dr. Carol Hurney will be on campus October 13-14 presenting and leading workshops on learner-centered classrooms and encouraged faculty to attend. Dr. Burns also noted that representatives from the Wabash College Center for Inquiry will be visiting campus to explore results from the 2008-2009 survey of student perceptions of the campus environment.
VII. Reports of the Faculty Senate Standing Committees
First Readings
(1) NEW GRADUATE COURSE
SOWK 611: Children and Youth At-Risk, 3 credits. Proposal to offer a course to study the concepts, policies, practices, and research in the field of child services.
The small number of readings was questioned, but it was noted that only one primary text is listed while others assigned within the course vary regularly.
UCPRC
First Readings
(2) CHANGE TO UNDERGRADUATE COURSE
PHYS 131: Physics I with Algebra, 4 credits. Proposal to change pre-requisite to MATH 101 or equivalent placement testing/evaluation before registration.
(3) NEW UNDERGRADUATE COURSE
SPED 346: Secondary Students with Disabilities in Inclusive Settings: Educational & Social Implications, 3 credits. Proposal to offer a course to prepare secondary education majors to effectively teach students with disabilities in inclusive classrooms.
A question was raised about how these required credits would fit into the program. Senator Neuville explained that this course fulfills the requirement for accommodations and adaptations that is already part of the new curriculum developed to meet PDE 49-2.
APC
Dr. Mowrey shared the request for approval to allow the Registrar’s Office to conduct online drop/add for winter session 2011. She stressed the critical nature of this for winter session students enrolling for courses with a variety of time frames and formats around holidays and bad weather. A Neuville/A. Miller motion to waive the two-meeting rule for voting on the drop/add proposal was approved without dissent. The request to approve online drop/add for winter session 2011 was approved without dissent.
IX. Faculty Emeritus
X. Other/New Business
Meeting was adjourned at 5:22 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Aimee L. Miller
Secretary of the Senate