UNIVERSITY CURRICULUM COMMITTEE

Minutes

November 14, 2005

 

Professor Toni Marzotto called the meeting of the University Curriculum Committee to order at 3:35 p.m. in the Towson Room (Cook 507) of Cook Library.  The minutes of the October 10, 2005 UCC meeting were accepted with one correction.

 

Professor Sarah Haines from Biological Sciences and Professor Steven Lev from Physics, Astronomy and Geosciences presented the proposal for the new Informal Environmental Education track under the Environmental Studies concentration from the Environmental Science and Studies major.  Professor Margaret Faulkner moved and Professor Reza Sarhangi seconded a motion to add the Informal Environmental Education track.  The motion carried unanimously.  

 

Professor Barry Moore, chair of the EMF department, asked that UCC approve the addition of two courses to the electives choices in the Electronic Media and Film minor. Professor Leneida Crawford moved and Professor Nechi King seconded a motion to approve the revised EMF minor requirements.  The motion carried unanimously.

 

Mr. Robert Giordani, the registrar, consulted with department chairs and students about his proposal to differentiate between two kinds of double majors—the “double major” where the students takes all the requirements for both majors and the “combined major” where some requirements are waived when there is overlap or flexibility in electives in the two majors.  He proposes to substitute “combined major” for “double major” in the catalog so that the new text will read:

 

Combined Major

A combined major combines the requirements of two majors, allowing students to complete both majors by taking fewer units than if each major were completed separately.

 

Double major will now refer only to the completion of all the requirements for each of the two majors.  Professor Leneida Crawford moved and Professor Karla Kubitz seconded the motion to make the change.  The motion carried with 8 in favor and 1 opposed.

 

Professor Toni Marzotto presented UCC two changes to the Gen-Ed structure that had been approved by the Gen-Ed subcommittee.  

 

1.  UCC reviewed the Gen-Ed subcommittee’s recommendation to restructure Gen-Ed category IIA.  UCC members expressed concern that the integrity of the Gen-Ed requirement had been lost.  Also there was concern that major pedagogical changes were being made by the Gen-Ed Subcommittee without consultation with departments before the decisions were made.  Professor Leneida Crawford moved and Professor Jay Zimmerman seconded the motion to amend the Gen-Ed subcommittee’s recommendation as follows:

 

Create a new Gen Ed category called IIA, Scientific Inquiry.  All courses currently listed under II.A.1 and II.A.2 will be combined to create the new Gen Ed category, IIA, called Scientific Inquiry.  Students must complete a minimum of 8 units in the IIA category, of which 4 units must be a laboratory science course.

 

The motion carried with 7 in favor, 2 opposed, and 1 abstention.  UCC members charged Toni Marzotto with writing and sending a memo describing the changes to the Gen-Ed subcommittee.

 

2.    UCC reviewed the Gen-Ed subcommittee’s recommendation to unite all courses from categories II.B.2 and II.C.2  under II.C.2 and require two courses (from different disciplines) from that category.   Professor Nechie King moved and Professor Jay Zimmerman seconded the motion to approve the Gen-Ed subcommittee’s recommendation.  The motion carried with 6 in favor, 1 opposed, and 2 abstentions.

 

UCC members briefly reviewed the Curriculum Committee’s memo on membership, subcommittees, and responsibilities sent to the University Senate for approval in December 2002.  The University Senate approved the document with the exception that ex officio members cannot vote.  Jay Zimmerman noted that the Gen-Ed and Course Approval subcommittees are no longer ad hoc groups.  They need bylaws and procedures for appointment or election to membership.  Toni Marzotto agreed that needs to be done and will be considered at the next UCC meeting.

 

The UCC meeting adjourned at 5:30 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Yvonne T. Lev

U