University Curriculum Committee

Annual Report

2004-2005

1. Summary of year’s activities

The Committee continued to review, change and approve new undergraduate programs and to coordinate the work of its subcommittees. At its March, 2005 it invited the Chairs of the College Curriculum Committees to meet with the Committee and review the curriculum process and procedures to learn what is working and what could be improved. It continues to update its web page to provide current information on its activities.

a. Approved the name change of the “Theory and Criticism” track in the Electronic Media and Film major to “Film and Media Studies.

b. Approved changes in the Latin American Track.

c. Approved changes in the Medieval and Renaissance Studies major.

d. Approved changes in the Family Studies program.

e. Approved changes in the English major.

f. Approved changes in the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Studies Minor.

g. Approved other changes in the Electronic Media and Film major.

h. Approved a change in the Painting Option of the Painting Concentration in Art.

i. Approved a change in the Studio/Research option in the Art History Concentration.

j. Approved a request that the Financial Planning Track be linked to the Business Administration and e-Business majors.

k. Approved six proposals from the Mathematics Department for changes in the Actuarial Science and Risk Management Concentration, in the Applied Mathematics Concentration, the Pure Mathematics Concentration, the Mathematics Secondary Education Concentration and the double major in Mathematics and Economics.

l. Approved changes in the Theatre major.

m. Approved changes in the B. S. in Music Education and the Bachelor of Music, Composition Concentration.

n. Approved the Def Studies/Elementary Education double major.

o. Approved changes in the Sport Management Program.

p. Approved changes in the History major.

q. Approved the change in the Community Health Concentration.

r. Approved a change in the German minor.

s. Approved a change in the Business, Communications, Liberal Arts Minor.

t. Approved a course change requirement in the Bachelor of Music

u. Approved a change in the units earned in OCTH 314 from 4 to 5 credits.

v. Approved a change in the FMST minor.

2. Policy Changes

The Committee determined that proposals would be easier to understand if the proposals included a rationale, made a statement on the total number of credits (if the credits have changed) and that new courses should be highlighted. Model proposals are being posted to the Committee’s web page to serve as examples.

3. Pending Work

None

4. Problems needing the attention of the Committee or the University Senate:

In April, 2005 the Committee forwarded to the Senate a motion asking that the Head of Academic Advising or her/his designee be added to the ex officio membership of the Committee.

The Committee had problems organizing at the beginning of the year because its membership was not clear. Committee members did not receive letters of appointment. A member who had a 3 year term was not listed to finish his third year. Another member went on sabbatical and simply sent his own (departmental) replacement because the appointment process was not working. The Committee suggests the administrative mechanism for appointing members to this Committee (and perhaps other committees) needs improving.

The Committee is also having problems finding faculty who are willing to take on additional service duties, e.g., serving on the UCC Subcommittee for Course Approval. We have had attrition on that committee and normally ask people serving on the UCC to do double duty and replace their college’s representative by stepping in. Due to significant scheduling conflicts and heavy workloads, faculty are declining to take on this additional responsibility. The Senate may wish to explore the possibility of spreading this work out to additional faculty, not just those already serving on the UCC.

Respectfully submitted

Sharon B. Buchbinder

Sharon Buchbinder, Chair