Baccalaureate Core Committee

Baccalaureate Core Committee

November 27, 2013

Minutes

 

Training Sessions

Set training session(s) for category reviews during Finals Week (12/9-13). Please bring your calendars, though we will likely do a Doodle to reach those who must be absent tomorrow.

• SD will send a Doodle to determine, likely, two training sessions during the week of December 9.

 

Course Reviews

Course reviews for the assignments from last meeting. Kevin has received checklists and comments on 7 of the 11 from at least one person:

 

• 86584 – ES 241, Introduction to Native American Studies 

Action: BCC agreed to approve, with contingencies – Kevin will communicate concerns

 

• 88176 AREC 240 – Rural Economics of Place & People – There were no concerns, the proposal met the criteria, and the explanations were thorough.

Action: BCC approved proposal by voice vote with no dissenting votes.

 

• 86624 – ART 365, History of Modern Art, and 86830 –ART 364, Nineteenth-Century Art – The BCC discussed both simultaneously. Concerns included that there was no congruency between outcomes in terms of use of critiques and how that promoted critical thinking; and concerns with outcomes on assessment.
  • Unsure that there is enough in the syllabus/course about interrelationships.
    • Suggested asking proposers to include information related to interrelationships. It’s part of the rationale and criteria, but it’s not required.
  • Why is this a 300-level course?
    • Past committees have strongly encouraged courses to be offered at 100 and 200-level, but not exclude the possibility of a 300-level course.

Action: Kevin will approve both 86624 and 86830, but will request the above from the proposer.

 

• 86363 – WSE 210, Renewable Materials Technology & Utilization –The course is intended to satisfy either the physical science w/lab or biological science w/lab; as long as the course meets the individual criteria for a particular category, it can be included in that category.
  • Concerns: learning outcomes for Bacc Core, the specific listing deviates from the verbatim statement requested – it must be returned to the proposer. Recommendation will be to have this section of the syllabus to include both sets. (rather than combine into one statement, it must be broken out into two statements).
  • The proposal met the criteria, but it seemed marginal. It is a required course within Science and Engineering. The required scientific analysis and lab work seemed meager. Liaison was only with Forestry and Ag Sciences.
  • Stefani Dawn will determine enrollment data.

Action: The consensus was to delay the proposal. It was felt it wasn’t strong enough in either area. Request that proposers meet with the Bacc Core. Bob will prepare questions

 

• 85534 – QS 477/WS 577, Trans People of Color  Arts & Activism – This is a 400-level perspectives course – one reviewer indicated that the link to student conduct regulations was out of date; overall recommendation was to approve. The request is for a slash course, but Bacc Core Literature and the Arts doesn’t allow slash courses.

Action: The BCC rejected the proposal; Kevin will communicate concerns.

 

• #86320 - WR303, Writing for the Web – This has been in the queue for a very long time; winter course was canceled due to non-approval. Appropriate for category, some concerns that grading policy wasn’t clear, didn’t feel that proposal fully answered questions related to assessment (there is only one question, so this doesn’t apply). The syllabus was not clear.

Action: BCC approved the proposal; Kevin will communicate approval of the proposal and request clarification of the syllabus issue. Linda and Melinda provided Kevin with their review notes.

          Note – Kevin – when I tried to access 86320 in the CPS to confirm that I had the correct course name, the CPS indicates ‘No proposals match your search criteria.’ ~VN

 

• 85609 – ECON 352, Environmental Econ & Policy – This is a Synthesis, Global Issues course. Comments: it appears this was concentrating on issues within the United States, and it was not apparent that the amount of writing described in the syllabus was consistent with Syllabus courses.

Action: Send back and request proposers to provide information related to how they intend to meet minimum requirements.

 

• 87059 – IT 331, Italian Culture – appropriate for Western Culture; doesn’t recommend approval, responses vague; assessment was inadequate; online only, but indicates instructor will meet with students, but doesn’t indicate how.

Action: Send back for clarification.

 

• 87924 – FES 435/535, Genes & Chemicals in Agriculture: Value & Risk – This is an exemplary proposal; there is clear differentiation between undergraduate and graduate expectations; clearly explained outcomes and that they meet the 1200 word minimum for writing; and clear criteria for assessment of tasks. Main change is reducing student contact hours from 2 hours lecture and a 2 hour recitation to 3 hours lecture and some recitation.

Action: approve proposal

 

• 86328 – ANTHRO 370, Anthropological Theories – A prior course combined methods and theory, then a separate methods course was developed; this proposal is the complimentary theory course; and it is a WIC class. Truly a writing intensive course; 60% of the grade is related to writing. The reviewer would like to see development of expectations of each assignment.

Action: approve and indicate that the syllabus would be enhanced if expectations were developed.

 

Assignment of New Course Reviews

Kevin will assign members to the proposals in the queue.

 

Minutes prepared by Vickie Nunnemaker, Faculty Senate Office.