Undergraduate Curriculum Forum

Minutes
Adanti Student Center, Room 301A
Thursday, December 11, 2008

Present: Deborah Weiss (Chair), J. Manzella, R. Vaters-Carr, Y. del Amo, O. Gulacar, S. Felsenfeld, R. Glinka, L. Foss, A. Abugri, N. Marano, M. McClain, M. Fede, B. Nakamura, T. Radice, J. McGinn, C. Simoneau, M. Hartog, K. Burke, R. Kustin, L. Rebeschi, D. Flynn, R. Cain, D. Pettigrew, K. Gatzke, K. Marsland, P. Kahlbaugh, M. Kiarie, G. Adams, J. Mielczarski, K. Rondinone, M. Shea, K. Laing, K. Mauro, Q. Bright

Absent: M. Narumanchi, S. Grace, I. Antonios, N. Henderson, C. Coron, C. Arboleda, E. West, M. Goralski, J. Irving, K. Cummings, J. O'hara, D. Smith, J. Tait, M. Cameron, J. Sullivan, T. Lin, K. Barnett, G. Cochenet, J. Fields, S. Graves, A. Marsoobian, D. Tomasko, D. Bentley-Drobish,

I. The meeting was called to order at 9:40am.

II. Announcements
• R. Vaters-Carr announced that today is the last day for the Art Department Pottery Sale.
• K. Marsland - announced that the visit from the author of Generation Me is scheduled with breakout talks and events.  They are looking for input for workshops and still hoping for other sponsors.
• M. Shea - recommended that everyone attend the student One-Act Plays.

III. Approval of minutes of November 20, 2008
• All approved minutes with no abstentions.

IV. Standing committee reports and ad hoc reports (per committee request)

a. NPIC
• No meeting held
b. NMC
• Minutes received - the committee reminds us that the correct signatures and the correct number of copies need to be in place before the committee will vote.
• Motion to approve proposals - all approved motion
New Course Proposal:
CHI 100 - Chinese I - A friendly amendment was made. This course is a free elective, not an AUR (has to be at 100 level).

Revised Course Proposals:
 ANT 102 - Biological Anthropology
 ANT 480 - Theory in Anthropology

c. WACC
• Minutes
• Motion to approve proposals - all approved motion
Course: SOC 490  Senior Seminar International Migration
Faculty: Astrid Eich-Krohm

Course: PSY 331  Tests and Measurements
Faculty: Cheryl Durwin

Course: ENG 312  English Grammar Systems
Faculty:  Andrew Smyth

Course: NUR 433  Theoretical Foundations of Nursing Practice with Families Across the Lifespan
Faculty: Mary Ann Glendon

Course:  COM 250  Business and Professional Communication
Faculty: Frank Tavares

Course: SOC 266  Socialization and Social Control
Faculty: Brian Frenette

Course: MGMT 305  Organizational Behavior
Faculty:  Carol Stewart

Course: GEO 345  Africa
Faculty: C. Patrick Heidkamp

Course: MUS 314/ JST 314  Music of the Jewish People
Faculty: David Chevan

Course: BIO 350  Anatomy of Vascular Plants
Faculty:  Carlos Ramirez

Course: BIO 339  Plant Physiology
Faculty: Carlos Ramirez

• Motion #2 - To approve procedure for independent study courses to receive W credit with completed application approved by Dean and WACC Director
o Motion was approved by a vote of Approve - 21; Opposed - 2; Abstentions - 3
• Motion #3 - To approve procedure for internship courses to receive W credit with completed application approved by WACC director
o Motion was approved by a vote of: Approve - 17; Opposed - 5; Abstentions - 4
• Discussion: Clarification of processes and procedures regarding W course options for independent studies and internship experiences. These W course applications will go through the WACC office rather than the Writing Across the Curriculum Committee. N. Henderson suggested that if the motion is passed then adequate assessment of this model would be necessary.
• Plans for the writing  were announced and faculty were encouraged to identify potential student applicants.

d. PRAC - Minutes & motion for approval of PRAC Report (included in packet) for CMD Program Review were presented.  CMD report to PRAC is posted on UCF website under PRAC section.
• Approval of Motion regarding Approval of  Dept of Communication Disorders self-study as written in PRAC minutes
o Motion was approved with the following vote: Approve - 22; Abstentions - 4
• L. Rebeschi also announced upcoming meeting on Mon 12/15 at 10am to be held in EN D122. All undergraduate departments scheduled for program review during 2009-2010 AY were invited to attend. Meeting jointly offered by PRAC and the Office of Assessment and Planning.
• D. Weiss presented a letter written by her and Brian Johnson to Marianne Kennedy dated October 30, 2008. They suggested a phase in of release credits to be awarded to departments over a five year period. This was discussed with the Provost who had some reservations about this plan. However, he suggested that this plan be presented to the Chair's Council for approval. Release credits will be retroactive beginning with Fall 2008 semester.
• D. Weiss announced that Graduate Council has formed a subcommittee to examine online courses. Jane McGinn will be chairing this committee. UCF members are invited to serve. Please see D. Weiss if interested in serving on this committee. Their first meeting is scheduled for Mon 12/15 at 11am in ASC 306.

e. UWIC-
• Did not meet
V. Old Business
Discussion of Liberal/General Education Proposal -  LEP committee is planning to meet over the Wintersession. Deb Weiss encouraged UCF members to provide feedback to LEP Committee so that their intersession work can address some of the concerns voiced by UCF members during the fall semester.
• M. Fede raised the issue that education majors are mandated by the State to take certain general education courses (ie. History, School Health). Other departments may also have specifications from the State or outside accrediting agencies regarding specific general education courses to be completed. Jim Tait will bring this issue to the LEP Committee but feels that the new LEP needs to be flexible for departmental mandates such as these.
• D. Pettigrew suggests a "leaner" plan to implement that would not require a faculty referendum.
• M. Shea posed the question to the group regarding our priority as a faculty body: student flexibility versus skill development early in the educational process.
• K. Marsland suggested a survey of faculty interest in developing Tier 2 courses.
• N. Henderson suggested that although first year courses do address skill development, they are also rich in content. She believes that first year students may not be ready to engage in courses strictly content based.
• J. Manzillo spoke to the need for first year students in having more choice regarding their course selection.

VI. The meeting was adjourned at 10:50am.