Baccalaureate Core Committee

Voting members present: Pat Ball (via phone), Nancy Barbour, Natalie Dollar (via Webex), McKenzie Huber, Bob Paasch, Weihong Qiu, Dana Sanchez, Inara Scott, Bill Smyth, Rorie Spill Solberg
Voting members absent: Isabelle Brock, Filix Maisch
Ex-Officio members present: Academic Affairs – Heath Henry, WIC Director – Vicki Tolar Burton (via phone)
Guests present: Jon Dorbolo

Category Reviews

• No Discussion Needed
• GEOG 323
  • Recertify
• HDFS 240
  • Recertify
• Discussion Needed
  • GER 411
    • The syllabus needs more details on how the WIC outcomes are integrated and accessed.
    • The syllabus is not clear in where students are using and applying outside sources.
    • It is not clear in the syllabus how students are meeting and revising the 2,000 word requirement.
    • There is no mention of essays in the syllabus but essay assignments are referenced in the form submitted by the originator.
      • Decertify, with notes to the originator on what needs to be fixed.
  • MUS 103
    • The course is about analyzing music through the Beatles.
      • While it sounds like an interesting course, it is noted that it does not seem to have a lot of academic course content.
      • It is considered an ‘easy A’ course by students.
      • The textbook for the class is a biology of the Beatles. There are no other academic sources.
    • It is noted that the final paper, which is worth 25% of the grade, can be submitted after week 5, which is barely halfway through the term.
    • The course needs to show more evidence on how it meets the Baccalaureate Core outcomes.
    • The Baccalaureate Core Committee does not typically judge course content, there is a noted precedence of the committee sending back courses that are not academically substantial.
    • Another committee member with more experience in courses that analyze musicians is willing to look at the course to see if it is appropriate.
  • HSTS 415
    • The course is being resubmitted. It had several noted issues and two of them have still not been addressed.
      • The syllabus is still missing the verbatim statement
      • The syllabus is still missing the information on how students apply critical thinking skills.
        • Provisional recertification, with another note to the originator fix the remaining issues.
  • AEC 250
    • The course is being resubmitted.
      • How outcomes are assessed and how students are making connections to course outcomes was not present initially, but all requested edits have been made.
        • Recertify                
  • FR 439    
    • The integration between WIC outcomes and the student learning outcomes are not clear.
    • There is nothing about critical thinking and how it is applied.
    • The syllabus does not clearly state that students are required to revise 2,000 words.
    • The final essay is 1,800 words and falls below the minimum requirement.
      • Decertify, with notes to originator

Responses to Category Decertifications

• MATH 333
  • The matrix was added to the syllabus, per a suggestion from the BCC, and connections were made to the matrices, from the outcomes.
    • Recertify
• GEO 427
  • The course does not meet the WIC requirements and no follow up materials were submitted.
    • It was discovered that the instructor is now retired and the committee may need to send the letter to someone else for any follow up.
      • Course decertification remains
• OC 334
  • All requested changes have been made, according to WIC director
    • Revised materials need to be uploaded to Sharepoint
      • Course decertification remains until revised materials are uploaded and looked over by the reviewer
• MUS 101
  • Did upload some follow up materials, but no new syllabus
  • Their form mentions an honors section but it’s not clear if a syllabus for one will be submitted
    • Can not vote to recertify due to lack of syllabus uploaded and there are questions about notes in the form that mention ‘vast amounts of plagiarism’ that is present in the class.