Undergraduate Curriculum Forum
Minutes
Adanti Student Center 301A
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Present: D. Weiss (chair), J. Manzella, G. Cochenet, G. Kowalczyk, S. Felsenfeld, R. Glinka, I. Antonios, M. Generali, A. Abugri, N. Marano, T. Fleming, D. Marino, M. Fede, E. Schmitt, E. West, B. Nakamura, T. Radice, J. McGinn, C. Simoneau, R. Mugno, J. Kavanagh, R. Conforti, K.Laird, R. Kustin, L. Rebeschi, K. Lacey, D. Flynn, D. Pettigrew, K. Gatzke, K. Cummings, J. O'Hara, K. Marsland, R. Hunter, J. Tait, C. Rosado, J. Mielczarski, M. Shea, K. Rondinone, A. Marsoobian, J. Fields, D. Tomasko, J. Cheng, K. Laing, A. Scott, K. Mauro, M. Heidmann
Absent: M. Narumanchi, S. Grace, S. DiFrancesco, N. Henderson, C. Coron, J. Irving, J. Terpstra, T. Lin, M. Cameron, J. Sullivan, S. Graves, M. Geelan
I. The meeting was called to order at 9:45 am.
II. Announcements
a. J. Fields announced the University Symphonic Band performance in Gardner Recital Hall EN C112
b. M. Shea reminded us of the presidential dialogue at 1pm.
III. Approval of Minutes from April 10, 2008 - all approved with one abstention
IV. Standing committee reports and acceptance of minutes; votes on standing committee motions
c. NPIC
• Minutes received
• 2 courses presented and logged:
PHI 498 - Continental materialism
A critical examination of Deleuze's materialism and its roots in Bergsonian vitalism. We will focus on their clams about the creative power of natural and social evolution, and will consider whether these claims are consistent with contemporary science.
PHY 398 - The Science of Nanostructures
This course will provide a highly interdisciplinary introduction to the science of nanoscale materials (nanoscience). Topics will include historical background, characterization, techniques, physics and chemistry of nanoscale materials, fabrication techniques, nanoscale applications and ethical/social considerations.
• 3 documents are under review and will be available for the next meeting
d. NMC
• Minutes received
• 3 Motions to approve proposals
Motions:
1. To approve the following New Course Proposals:
a. ANT 222 Modern Human Variation
b. ANT 235 Archaeological Fact & fiction
c. ANT 322/SOC 339 Fundamentals of Forensics
d. ANT 332 Bioarchaeology
e. ANT 335 African Prehistory
f. ANT 340 Ritual Expressions
g. ANT 390 Ethics in Anthropology
h. ANT 422 Human Osteology
i. ANT 432 Evidence of Human Evolution
j. THR 224 Beginning Tap & Jazz Dance
k. THR 324 Intermediate Tap & Jazz Dance
2. To approve the following Revised Course Proposals:
a. ENG 301 Introduction to Literary Analysis and Critical Theory
3. To approve the following Revised Program Proposals:
a. Anthropology
i. Physical Anthropology
ii. Biological Anthropology
iii. Cultural Anthropology
iv. Archaeology
v. Linguistic Anthropology
b. Earth Science
• All approved with one abstention.
e. WACC
• Minutes - reminder that the last Spring 09 W courses are due by the next WACC meeting.
• Motion to approve proposals:
MOTION from WACC to APPROVE the following sections as Ws:
PCH 351W: Health in Society
Faculty: C. Unson
PCH 202W: Introduction of Public Health
Faculty: P. Gallup
PCH 202W: Introduction of Public Health
Faculty: D. Risisky
PSC 475: Capstone Seminar
Faculty: K. Buterbaugh
PSC 244: Research Methods in Political Science
Faculty: K. Schroeder
PSC 475: Political Science
Faculty: P. Olney
ART 400: History of Architecture
Faculty: D. Levine
• Motion approved with two abstentions.
• Motion in favor of new exigency policy:
MOTION from the WACC to REVISE the W-Course exigency policy:
Old Language:
4. The Procedures for Proposing a Writing-Intensive course shall be those described below.
a. A W-course proposal originates from the faculty member who will be teaching the course.
Because the success of a W-course depends on the teacher's professional commitment to incorporating critical (analytical) writing and revision into classes, the WAC Committee shall consider courses proposed by individual faculty members, rather than courses merely assigned to instructors.
NOTE: This represents the usual procedure. However, it is understood that unforeseen scheduling difficulties may occur occasionally, and the Committee will cooperate with Departments to ensure both that courses can be taught when scheduled and that they will meet regular W-course Guidelines.
New Language:
NOTE: This represents the usual procedure. However, it is understood that unforeseen scheduling difficulties or other issues may occasionally occur. Some examples of these difficulties include the following: illness of an instructor, a new hire teaching a required W class in the major, or an instructor who leaves Southern Connecticut State University suddenly. This list of exceptions is not meant to be exhaustive. There may be other types of issues that create an immediate need for the replacement of a W course instructor. When this need arises, an instructor can be substituted into a W course for the semester in which the need occurs. In addition to the normal process by which such substitutions are made, the department chair will notify the WACC so that arrangements can be made to support the replacement instructor in the development and implementation of a course that meets the writing intensive requirements. The instructor will be required to go through the normal W course process in order to teach the course in subsequence semesters.
• All approved with 3 abstentions.
f. PRAC - minutes received; see new business part a
g. UWIC
• minutes received, they will include the titles of all courses in the minutes.
• Motion to vote as a block:
• ESC 100; ESC 101; ESC 105; ESC 110; ESC 120; ESC 140; ESC 200.
• Motion passed with a count of 17-4-10.
V. Old Business - tabled
VI. New Business
a. PRAC Academic Program Review Document
• The UCF Steering Committee moves to approve the current Academic Program Review document drafted by the Program Review and Assessment Committee.
• The discussion of draft #12 centered mainly on the concerns about reassigned time. There was no indication, in writing, that the reassigned time/other benefits would be available and many present were not comfortable approving the document without such clarifications available.
• The body decided to wait to vote until we have a clearer picture of what faculty incentives will be available for this process.
b. Presentation of General Education Proposal by Jim Tait, General Education Task Force chair.
• J. Tait presented UCF with the Gen Ed Task Force proposal in a lovely Powerpoint format.
• D. Weiss suggested that we give this proposal our thoughtful deliberations and that we not vote on it but wait and discuss this in earnest in the fall.
VII. The meeting was adjourned at 10:55 am.
These minutes respectfully submitted by Kathleen Rondinone.
