Baccalaureate Core Committee

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

Category II Reviews

• Discussion Needed
  • ES211
    • The reviewer expressed some concerns that it was not clear in the syllabus how students are being assessed. The committee reviewed the syllabus and eventually found the information assessment language. There was still some concern about it being explicit enough but it was decided that no changes were needed.
      • Approved
  • BB317
    • The Baccalaureate Core (BC) certified this course last month, but the originators have decided to make a pre-requisite change: students need to pass with a C- instead of a D-.
    • The originator wants to know if they need to all the BC questions again.
      • It was determined that the change was small enough that the originator did not need to put in another proposal. One of the chairs will inform the originator that they can make the pre-requisite change.

Discussion Item

• Issue of Perspectives courses being offered by units outside the disciplinary area
  • Literature and the Arts Baccalaureate Core Learning Outcomes
  • Members of the committee are wondering if there are there any other categories that are as restrictive in their wording as the Literature and the Arts category.
    • The third outcome for Social Processes is somewhat restrictive in regards to Social Sciences but not as restrictive as Literature and the Arts.
  • The committee noted that the syllabus has a heavy focus on nature in literature and the arts, but not much on Natural Resources as a discipline.
    • A committee member brought up that reading or painting does not mean an instructor has the training or knowledge to teach Literature and the Arts at the 300 level.
  • The course is also trying to meet Western Culture requirements. The committee agreed the course is better suited to Western Culture, but there is some concern that it does not meet the first requirement, citing significant events.
    • There is a big leap between settlers bringing in myth and legends and how these stories affect popular culture today
    • No connection to historical events – outcome 1 western culture
  • Several committee members wondered if they might see more colleges attempt to reach outside their discipline with the new budget model in effect.
    • Should a policy or standing rule be put in place?
      • Primary concerns:
        • Does this course meet the BC learning outcomes for a 300 level course?
        • Is it representative of the category?
        • Should Literature and the Arts courses, due to the specificity of the learning outcomes and the study of Literature as a discipline, only be taught within a certain set of home units?
    • If the committee attempts to change the standing rules, will the committee have to go before the Faculty Senate?
  • Citing the Engineering Art course as an example, is there an opportunity for College of Liberal Arts (CLA) and College of Forestry (COF) to co-teach? Can the course be cross-listed?
  • The question of ‘can just anyone teach literature and the arts?’ was once again asked. Does the committee acknowledge that literature is a discipline that requires training to teach?
  • There were also concerns that, if the committee looked at the course as strictly and Literature and the Arts, is it representative of a 300 level course? The committee decided that it does not.
    • What do courses at this level do or accomplish that this course does not meet?
  • There were also noted concerns from the CLA liaison that there would be competition within the colleges, as they have a professor working on 400/500 level course with similar themes.
    • The liaison is not necessarily objecting to the course, but whether or not it can be a BC course. The point of the BC is that students get a wide breadth of experiences in other courses outside of their home unit. If they are taking COF students meeting their Literature and the Arts requirement within their college, are they getting that experience?
  • The committee discussed a potential need for a general, disciplinary based rule.
    • Some members mentioned that they would feel more comfortable if there was an official policy.
      • Some possible solutions:
        1. The committee discussed making liaisons a requirement for all proposals.
        2. Proposed courses for Literature and the Arts that are outside of those disciplines should have a work group within the discipline to review the course and decide whether it meets the standards of comparable courses at that level and whether or not the learning outcomes are achievable and make a recommendation to the Baccalaureate Core Committee (BCC).
        3. The BCC could also strongly suggest that if courses want to teach under multiple disciplines, they have to work with the other college to ensure the BC requirements are met. The BCC could also require that the course inter-disciplinary courses be co-listed.
           • The COE Art course can be used as an example of best practice
  • The BC expects to see more inter-disciplinary proposals in the future and the originators should expect strong examination by the committee.

Minutes prepared by Caitlin Calascibetta