The General Education Council met on Friday, September 25, 2009 at 2:00 pm in room 1118 of Anne Belk Hall. Members present were: Dr. Mike Mayfield, Dr. Marilyn Smith, Ms. Carter Hammett-McGarry, Dr. Gabrielle Katz, Dr. Rick Klima, Dr. Paulette Marty, Ms. Kelly McBride, Dr. Tom McLaughlin, Dr. Terri Mitchell, Dr. Georgia Rhoades, Mr. Peter Rowe, Dr. Dave Haney, Ms. Lynne Waugh, Mr. Nick Rudisill, Dr. Leslie Sargent Jones, and Dr. Pete Wachs. Members excused were: Dr. Jim Barnes, Dr. Sue Keefe, Dr. Lynn Moss Sanders, Dr. Jim Toub, Mr. Zach Grier, and Mr. Delvon Blue.
Dr. Mike Mayfield called the meeting to order at 2:03 pm.
MINUTES
1. The minutes of the April 17, 2009 General Education Council meeting were approved without changes.
VOTE 1 YES 8 NO 0 ABSTAIN 1
Note: There were not enough members for a quorum at the time of VOTE 1, so the April 17 minutes will need to be approved at the October meeting.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
1. Ms. Sheryl Mohn has accepted the position of University Program Associate in the Office of General Education to replace Ms. Kristin Hyle who is the new Assistant Director of General Education. Ms. Mohn starts October 1, 2009.
2. Dr. Georgia Rhodes announced the members of the Writing Across the Curriculum Committee for 2009-2010. They are: Georgia Rhoades, chair, Susan Perry (HLES), Gabe Fankhauser (MUS), Jammie Price (SOC), and Sherry A Hart (WAC). She also announced the WID Consultants: Kathy Schroeder (GHY), Amy Galloway (PSY), Gabe Fankhauser, Susan Perry, and Sarah Greenwald (MAT).
3. Ms. Carter Hammett-McGarry suggested that FCC chairs encourage faculty teaching a Gen Ed Component to check the presenters and discussion topics being offered by the Multicultural Center during fall semester. Posters are around campus and the website is up-to-date.
4. Dr. Mayfield distributed the new FCC membership list. We are still awaiting notification on the chair for Historical and Social and Local to Global. A new list will be posted on the Gen Ed website when those committees have made a choice. NEW BUSINESS
1. Dr. Mike Mayfield distributed a handout and highlighted the duties of the FCCs for 2009- 2010. Dr. Terri Mitchell asked how FCCs will work with assessment. Dr. Mayfield indicated that Dr. Elaine Gray and Dr. Pete Wachs are working with General Education to finalize a draft to be presented to the Council for approval. Ms. Hammett-McGarry and Dr. Wachs reminded everyone that Gen Ed assessment and the renewal process are closely linked but not the same issue. Dr. Mayfield summarized the role by stating that the FCCs would focus on refining policies and procedures, the process for course renewals, and contingencies for students who start in themes that may not be continued. Jim Toub suggested that we change our language in the handout to indicate that FCCs were responsible for “phased terms of review for ongoing assessment.”
2. The meetings for the remainder of the semester are scheduled for the following Fridays from 3:00 to 4:30 pm in room 1118 of Anne Belk Hall: October 30 and November 20.
3. Clean-up of details from 2008-2009
a. ART 3534 – vote on issues related to this course was delayed until Kristin can provide the detailed context for what is needed.
b. WGC 2202/2205- vote also delayed until October 30
4. Dr. Mayfield asked Ms. Hammett-McGarry to present the exceptions that were granted to transfer students for 2009-2010 (http://generaleducation.appstate.edu/sites/default/files/Policy%20for%20gened %282%29.pdf ). Several items require FCC decision and recommendations for policies for 2010 and beyond.
5. Dr. Mayfield pointed out the ongoing articulation issues for transfers, including definition of a transfer student, partial credit, and the role of the General Education Council in determining waivers/substitutions for courses that are not equivalent to ASU courses, but might be determined to meet the “spirit of General Education”. Discussion followed as to how best to determine these matters without overburdening the Council and/or the FCCs. Mike indicated that he and Carter will work on suggestions for streamlining this process and resolving some of these issues. A draft will be distributed by email before the next Gen Ed Council meeting.
6. In the absence of the chair of the Historical and Social FCC, Dr. Mayfield presented a recommendation from the FCC that a Tangents course (WGC 2202-104) “The Culture of Sport” be approved for credit in the “Individual and Society” theme for fall 2009. VOTE 2 YES 11 NO 0 ABSTAIN 0
7. Ms. Hammett-McGarry presented Fall 2009 data on the number of seats in each of the
designations – Fine Arts, Historical Studies, and Literary Studies – being offered. (see attachment 3).
Dr. Paulette Marty pointed out that Theatre and Dance taught a number of sections of DAN 2014 and THR 2011 this fall to accommodate students enrolled in Core Curriculum. The department will (as of Spring 2010) switch those sections to DAN 2010 and THR 2010 and that will increase the number of seats in Fine Arts.
Dr. Tom McLaughlin indicated that English did the same thing and that as they move to only offering the new courses that are in General Education, there will be more seats in Literary Studies options. Dr. McLaughlin will speak to Dr. Ivory in English to encourage him to make those switches as soon as possible.
Ms. Hammett-McGarry expressed appreciation to both for helping the Council see the planned increase in seats for those two designations.
8. The Council was notified that “The Physics of Self Expression” theme in the Science Inquiry Perspective will not be a viable option for students because the PHY 1810, 1812, and 1814 courses cannot be offered due to resource constraints. Dr. Mayfield asked that the FCCs pay particular attention to any future course proposals that have requests for funding from General Education in order to offer the course since General Education does not have these funds; positions and operating funds go to colleges (in part based on support of University College offerings such as First Year Seminar, Honors, Watauga Global Community, and interdisciplinary degree programs).
Having passed the agreed upon termination of the meeting time (3:30 p.m.), Dr. Mayfield suggested that we take time at the beginning of the October General Education Council meeting to review the Assessment Plan and hear any updates from Dr. Gray and Dr. Wachs. The meeting adjourned at 3:40 pm.