UNIVERSITY CURRICULUM COMMITTEE

Minutes

March 9, 2009

 

 

1.  The minutes of the February 9 meeting were accepted.

 

2.  Professor Greg Faller, chair of UCC, reported that All Forms C listed below and approved at the February UCC meeting had been submitted to the Catalog:

 

1.     Art Major and Minor name changes (Nora Sturges)
– sent to Catalog 2/17/09

2.     Art 1st Level Foundations (Nora Sturges)
-- sent to Catalog 2/16/09

3.     CIS 2+2 with HCC (Jonathan Lazar)
-- sent to Catalog 2/12/09

4.     Dance Major (Susan Haigler-Robles)
-- sent to Catalog 2/12/09

5.     Theatre (Acting Track) (Jay Herzog)
-- sent to Catalog 2/24/09

6.     English (BS) + Pro Writing (MS) 3+2 Program (Edwin Duncan and Lana Portolano)
-- sent to Catalog 2/16/09

7.     Family Studies and Community Development (Karen Eskow)
-- sent to Catalog 2/19/09

 

The following, discussed and provisionally approved at the February meeting, are still pending:

1.     LGBT Studies Minor
– as of 3/6/09 still waiting for amended Form C

2.     Museum Studies Minor
– all ARTH courses approved at college level on 3/6/09; waiting for reworked Form C and letters of support 

 

3.  It was noted that departments still need to send initial catalog copy to the Registrar, to Mr. Pat McKoen. After the catalog is in draft form, each department has the opportunity to see a galley and to submit approved changes to Laura L. Brown, the catalog editor (extensive changes should be submitted in electronic format).

We understand that the Forms C forwarded by this Committee serve as confirmation for Ms. Brown that submitted changes are in fact approved, but the Forms themselves are not the source of copy for the catalog. That copy, including changes to it, comes from the Departments. Departments should also understand that the UCC does not check catalog copy on their behalf. 

 

It seemed prudent to send a reminder to Departments about the process (sent 3/11). Also, the Committee Chair and Secretary will pursue a meeting with Ms. Brown to further clarify matters.

 

4.  The committee discussed credit hours for non-classroom courses. These are at departmental discretion; nor is there a set standard for internships.

 

5.  Professor James DiLisio presented a proposal to eliminate the Comparative Ethnic Studies minor. There is a yearly review of interdisciplinary programs with Dean Cooney. Currently there is only one student in the minor, and the steering committee has not met in eight years. All the courses comprising the minor will continue to offered. There is considerable overlap with American Studies, African and African-American Studies, and Jewish Studies (the minor predates both American and Jewish Studies). Given the costs of administering even a minor without unique courses, it was thought appropriate to eliminate a minor with such low enrollment. The student will be allowed to complete the minor. No one else will be permitted to enter the minor until its fate is settled.

 

Professor Gail Gasparich moved and Professor Leneida Crawford seconded the motion to accept the proposed changes, advising to remove the Declaration of Major and negotiating with any interested student who might come forward in the meantime. The motion carried, with 8 votes in favor.

 

6.  On behalf of Professor Sharma Pillutla, Professor Faller presented a proposed change to the combined major in Business Administration and Computer Information Systems. The change is to substitute the more applied CIS 350 (Telecommunications) for COSC 350 (Data Communications & Networking) as a required course. The Committee had earlier approved the same change for the combined major in combined major in e-Business and Computer Information Systems during the December 2008 meeting

 

The combined Computer Information Systems and Business Administration major during the Februar7 2009 meeting.

 

Ms. Miller moved and Mr. Bill Logan seconded the motion to accept the proposed change. The motion carried, with 8 votes in favor.

 

7.  Professor Jill Bush and Professor Gail Parr presented changes to the major in Exercise Science. This major originated a decade ago as an option under Liberal Arts Studies, becoming a freestanding major in 1999. Work with student and faculty focus groups, an external reviewer, and consultation with employers yielded the current proposal. KNES 235 was found to be too basic. Instead, these courses have been added: KNES 2aa (Foundation of Exercise Science), KNES 2bb (Functional Anatomy for Exercise Science), and KNES 3bb (Practicum and Instructional Skills in Exercise Leadership). The major was in need of courses more specific to Exercise Science.  Hence, KNES 4aa (Advanced Exercise Physiology), KNES 4bb (Advanced Principles of Strength & Conditioning), and KNES 4cc (a course focusing on special populations) have been added as upper-level electives. A 6-credit internship (roughly 10 hours/week) can be split as needed and should provide more varied experience. The new courses have all been approved.

Professor Crawford moved and Professor Faulkner seconded the motion to accept the proposed change. The motion carried, with 7 votes in favor and 1 abstention.

 

8.  Professor Elizabeth Neville and Professor Ocie Watson-Thompson presented a new program in Integrated Early Childhood/Special Education (ECSE). Included were a brief program overview; checklist of degree requirements; Declaration of Intent with signoffs from both Chairs, the Dean, and the Provost; letters of support from Harford County and Baltimore County Public Schools, the Director of TU’s Center for Science & Mathematics Education, and the Chair of Mathematics. The program has been approved by the College Curriculum Committee. The Letter of Intent went out in September 2008.

The planning for this program, initiated with a grant, began five years ago in response to a continuing acute need for Special Educators in the state and nationally. This program, aligned with national standards (CEC, NAEYC, and INTASC), will enable students to become certified in both Early Childhood and Special Education. This is in keeping with trends in Special Education. A screened major, it will require qualifying scores on the Praxis I or SAT/ACT and a 2.75GPA or better on prerequisite courses. As the program has to satisfy all relevant standards, the program requires a minimum of 130 credits; options were given wherever possible.

 

Students would begin in 2010 (interested sophomores can re-declare). It was noted that General Education requirements will be changing and that could affect students. The departments anticipate this program would begin on campus and expand to Shady Grove and the HEAT Center. They may need some additional faculty in Early Childhood sometime in the future.


Professor Faulkner moved and Professor Crawford seconded the motion to accept the proposed new program. The motion carried, with 8 votes in favor.

 

9.  The Committee reviewed what was known of the new program process. For changes to programs the procedure is clear. For entirely new programs, however, there is a certain lack of clarity, which only came to the Committee’s attention recently with the submission of a variety of new programs.

 

Professor Faller called committee members’ attention to several documents either enclosed with the proposal packets or sent via email:

 

 

The Committee has found it difficult to determine whether new programs submitted to UCC have passed the correct hurdles or whether proposals are sufficient or complete. Also, there is some conflicting information on the process (for instance, Appendix D claims the Letter of Intent is no longer required, p. D-5). Overall, “it’s clear that it’s not clear.” UCC’s Chair and Secretary and the Registrar will pursue a meeting with the Assistant Provost to discuss the new program approval process. (This meeting occurred 3/26/09.)

 

10. The UCC meeting adjourned at 5:20pm.

 

Respectfully submitted,


Shana M. Gass

Secretary, University Curriculum Committee