Baccalaureate Core Committee

Voting members present: Daniel Faltesek, Kelsey Emard, Colin Johnson, Matthew Kennedy, Michelle McAllaster, Lori McGraw, Rene Reitsma, Randy Rosenberger, Kaplan Yalcin
Voting members absent: Aidas Banaitis, Geoffrey Barstow, Jack Istok, Justin St. Germain
Ex-officio members present: Academic Affairs – Heath Henry; DPD – Nana Osei-Kofi; Ecampus – Karen Watte; WIC – Sarah Perrault
Guests: Caryn Stoess

Curricular Proposal

• WR 302
  • Instructions first submitted for the writing assignment were for a different course. The instructions submitted the second time were not in alignment with the WIC requirements – the WIC requirements state that 2,000 words is the minimum for both drafts of the writing assignment, but the instructions are only requiring 1,500 words.
    • The word count does appear correctly listed on the syllabus so the errors may be the result of a discrepancy in the paperwork.
  • The Corvallis syllabus does not specify turnaround time for returning the first draft of the writing assignment back to students.
    • Fixed on the previous rollback
  • The syllabus did not address critical thinking.
    • Fixed on the previous rollback
  • Initially had a co-requisite course, but that co-requisite course is no longer being offered. The change in CIM is to remove the co-requisite. Until it is removed, the Registrar has to do overrides for every student who tries to register.
    • The Registrar is requesting a rush on the approval of this change.

Action: Dan Faltesek motioned to send the proposal back to address the misalignment of the writing instructions to the WIC requirements; seconded. Motion passed with 9 in favor, 0 against, 0 abstentions.

Discussion of Three General Education Policies

• Dual Listing of courses (cont’d.)
  • Can courses be in more than one category?
    • The policies are written in such a way to open the door to dual listing and people may continue to dual list courses.
      • What policies can be put in place for exceptions?
      • Should a policy be written in such a way to allow for exceptions?
        • Some believe it is best to not add a policy for exceptions – that courses will be approved in a single category to encourage faculty to focus on the category that the course is in
          • Proposed policy: To encourage focused excellence in curriculum and assessment, courses will be approved in a single category.

Action: Lori McGraw motions to accept the policy as proposed - To encourage focused excellence in curriculum and assessment, courses will be approved in a single category; seconded. Motion passed with 9 in favor, 0 against, 0 abstentions.

• Accessible Language
  • Policy for Gen Ed course info (e.g., syllabi) lingua franca
    • Duty of responsibility for Gen Ed courses to address learning outcomes (LOs) and prepare students to reflect on their learning
    • The BCC has often sent back syllabi that do not demonstrate inclusive language, are inaccessible, or obfuscate
      • Articulate what students learn and how it applies to the lives (beyond OSU)
      • Reinforces course selection

Action: Kaplan Yalcin motions to accept the policy as proposed - Syllabi for approved courses will be clearly written from a learner's perspective so that they are accessible to students from any discipline and any background, seconded. Motion passed with 8 in favor, 0 against, 0 abstentions.

• De minimis claims
  • Policy on claims of category membership based on minimal or trivial material
    • “The guest speaker problem”
      • The BCC has routinely denied proposals that de minimis content or reasons to be in a category (ex: a guest speaker during week 9 who is brought in)
      • The Gen Ed Reform report makes it known that if the team teaching is to structurally occur, an MOU should be in play to protect the integrity of the course and those involved in teaching
        • Avoid de minimis situation
        • Provides clarity in assessment, squares better with the CBA, avoids gaming
        • Recurring guest lecturers may not be sustainable.
          • Proposed policy to be voted on next week: Courses approved will have their primary purpose of being in the General Education program and their content must comprehensively cover the entirety of each learning outcome. 
            • Wording debate: Comprehensive vs. Integral vs. Add-on