UNIVERSITY CURRICULUM COMMITTEE

Minutes

September 22, 2008

1. The minutes of the May 12 meeting were accepted as written.

2. The Annual Report for 2008/2009 was accepted as written.

3. Professor Toni Marzotto is rotating off the Committee. Professor Greg Faller was nominated as Chair. Ms. Tracy Miller moved and Professor J.J. Lee seconded the motion to elect Professor Faller to the chairship. The motion carried unanimously.

4. The Committee recognized the contributions of Professor Marzotto in chairing the Committee for ten years. Professor Tim Sullivan, Chair of the University Senate, and Professor Jennifer Ballengee, President of Towson’s AAUP, conveyed their thanks, along with a gift, to Professor Marzotto. Ms. Shana Gass read “A Resolution Honoring and Commending Professor Toni Marzotto for Her Service to the University Curriculum Committee of Towson University.” A copy of the resolution is attached.

5. The Committee discussed the challenges in identifying student SGA representatives. Recall that representatives do not have to belong to SGA, only to be endorsed by that body. (As of October, this issue has now happily been resolved with the appointment of Student Representative William Logan.)

6. It has come to Mr. Bob Giordani’s attention that Forensic Chemistry majors only need to take one additional course to fulfill the requirements for the Chemistry major (General Track) as well. In light of earlier conclusions from the Committee regarding track/concentration uniqueness^[1] this discovery was somewhat troubling. The Forensic Chemistry major had recently come before the Committee (November 2007), but had not been discussed in relation to the (separate) Chemistry Program. Another related example is that Molecular Biology- Biochemistry - Bioinformatics (MB3) majors can receive Biology minors, though they have to apply. The Committee will be alert to this issue in the future.

7. The UCC meeting adjourned at 4:15 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Shana M. Gass

Secretary, University Curriculum Committee

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[1] During 2006-2007, the Committee revised the definitions of tracks and concentrations as follows:

Concentration (MHEC Approved)
A concentration is a sequential arrangement of courses representing a specialized area of study within a program.  A concentration requires a minimum of 24 units and should have enough unique units to distinguish it from the major, a track, or another concentration.  A concentration will appear on the student's transcript as a Subplan upon graduation.

Track (Towson University Approved)
A track is a sequential arrangement of courses representing a specialized area of study within a program.  A track requires a minimum of 24 units and should have enough unique units to distinguish it from the major, a concentration, or another track.  A track will appear on the student's transcript as a Subplan upon graduation.