Baccalaureate Core Committee

Baccalaureate Core Committee

October 13, 2014

Minutes 

Voting Members Present: Linda Bruslind, Kevin Gable

Ex-officio Members Present: Academic Programs, Assessment, and Accreditation – Stefani Dawn; Writing Intensive Program – Vicki Tolar Burton

Guest: Heath Henry

New Process: Online Review & Submissions for New/Changed Course Reviews

• Kevin reviewed the revised forms and how to access them.
• Only BCC members have access to the SharePoint site and are encouraged to review the materials and comments prior to meetings.
• Because it appears that instructors at OSU-Cascades are not receiving Bacc Core changes from their Corvallis academic unit, Vicki suggested that Kevin copy Natalie Dollar at OSU-Cascades on the communications that he sends to associate deans, whether or not the course is taught by OSU-Cascades instructors.
• Vicki is also concerned whether Ecampus is receiving communications related to courses. Vicki suggested a meeting with Shannon Riggs to share concerns and determine the best way to communicate with Ecampus.

Initial Round of Assignments for Review

• Currently >30 proposals in the queue; priority is given to proposals submitted before end of classes in June 2014; then to courses with anticipated start dates of Winter 2015.

• Stefani will forward to Kevin a list of current courses (proposals?) so he can begin assigning reviews.

Scheduling Training for Category Reviews (DPD; WIC-Engineering)

• During scheduled meeting slots October 27 and November 6

Skills Category Review Issues from 2013-14

• CLSOs for Speech category do not explicitly mention oral communication in English.
  • Proposed language: Change CSLO #1 to "Demonstrate ethical and competent oral communication in English."

• Next step – invite Trisha Goodnow to discuss ramifications prior to discussing proposed revisions with the Executive Committee and Faculty Senate.

Options for Policies to Encourage the Availability of Courses at the Category Minimum Credit Level

• Draft Baccalaureate Core Excess Credit Policy
• Need to come to consensus regarding on which options to focus.
• Vicki felt that the fourth bullet at the top is a red flag: ‘for well-defined degree programs, such as Engineering, delaying graduation”. Kevin suggested rephrasing to “for programs with heavy credit requirements in the major” and eliminating reference to any program.
• Because all BCC courses are grandfathered, does the BCC allow units to restructure courses? Draft Policy Option 2 to not approve anything above the minimum ever may be too ridgid. Vicki noted that WIC courses are the exception because they are in the major, and should be so indicted where needed.
• Stefani felt that the levels should be kept where they are now – if the categories bump up against 50% for 4-credit courses, the category can’t go above 50% of 4-credit courses; however, if the category is already over 50%, they won’t be required to reduce 4-credit courses. Kevin suggested not approving any additional 4-credit courses in that category.
• Vicki didn’t understand the meaning of sub-option 1.a. Stefani agreed it wasn’t clear and should be rewritten. The intent is that, for a new faculty member who needs a 4-credit course, and who is in a unit that already has quite a few 4-credit courses and the requested category is full, the BCC would ask the unit which of the existing 4-credit courses they wish to eliminate from the category so the proposed 4-credit course could be included the Bacc Core.
• Vicki suggested a glossary to define terms, i.e., over-credit.
  • Vicki noted there may a context issue for CLA if this policy is put into place because there may be ramifications for 4-credit graduate courses.
  • Vicki suggested advertising when categories need additional 100 or 200-level courses.

Action: Stefani will revise the current version of the policy for BCC review.

New CPS System

• What do we need to see and know to approve, send back (or deny) a proposal? 
  • New courses?
  • Changes to courses?
    • ”Cosmetic” changes? Designator, course title
    • More structural changes: prerequisites, learning outcomes, credit hours, cross-listing, others?

• Kevin asked members to think about which areas are used, and what elements would be desired. Are there ways the system could assist with the category review?
• Stefani will bring to the next meeting the fields that are proposed to be included in the new course proposal system.

Note on an upcoming topic: Associate Dean Tara Williams from the Honors College will be joining us on October 23 to share perspectives on category review of courses in the Honors College curriculum (particularly whether and how such courses are treated versus non-honors sections).