Minutes
Curriculum Committee
February 24, 2004
Members: James Swartz (Chair), Gerald Adams, Diane Robertson, Andy Hamilton, Tyler Roberts, Mark Montgomery, Devan McGranahan, and Lilly Radoshevich.
1. The minutes
of the 02/10/04 meeting were approved.
2. New course:
ANT 238--approved
3. New course:
EDU 211--approved
4. New course:
POL 329- tabled. The committee wants some clarification from the division and
the instructor about the number of class meetings of this 4-credit course. It
appears that the course will meet twice a week until spring break and then probably
not meet after the break in order to facilitate the completion of papers.
5. New course:
POL 265--approved
6. New course:
FRE 330-approved
7. New course:
JPN 279-approved
8. New course:
JPN 331-332--approved
9. There was a
general discussion about the need for a survey and how it would be used to inform
the committee regarding the compensation for independent study. The committee
could not come to any conclusions regarding the form or purpose of a survey
at this time so it was decided to table the issue for now.
10. Discussion
of option #4:
Jim introduced an idea for independent study in which departments would determine
the level of involvement with independent study as part of their course management
scheme for the college.
Tyler suggested
that rather than sending out a survey we could structure a number of questions
as to how the faculty see the relative educational value of MAPs and Independents
and how both should be compensated. This discussion would take place at the
divisional level.
At this point the committee agreed that it is our responsibility to make a recommendation
and to report this recommendation out of committee. It was not decided at this
time where the recommendation(s) would be sent or the precise nature of the
recommendation(s). It was further decided that we would try and blend the ideas
expressed by the Dean and by Tyler into option #4 as a starting point for the
production of a "product."
Option#4:
Compensate all MAPs and Independents but try to minimize the adverse effect on the curriculum by imposing limits on the number of course release credits that can be accumulated per academic year and/or on how these credits may be used.
This option has the advantage of compensating a wider range of independent work than option #3. For some faculty, though, it might place limits on how many compensated independents/MAPs they can do. Examples of possible limits are given below:
Limits on the number of course credits that can be accumulated per academic year
- e.g. 1/2 course credit
Limits on how the course credits may be used:
- e.g. only one course release every 3 years/faculty member
- e.g. only used to extend a sabbatical.