New Programs and Innovations Committee (NPIC)
Minutes for 9/21/00 Meeting

Committee members present:
Fopiano, Hawley, Paddock (chair), Savage, Skoczen, Spence, Yacher, Wieder (recorder),

This first meeting of the committee for the 2000/2001 academic year began with introductions of committee members and assorted (not home-baked) muffins, and the like.

Paddock noted that invited guest M. Selvaggio, Chair of Dept of Soc/Ant, was unable to attend the meeting. Prof. Selvaggio was the main architect of the Anthropology Major Program proposal under consideration by the NPIC.

The next preliminary order of business was determination and clarification of NPIC's procedures in reviewing proposals. Discussion included the question of the extent to which the review process is primarily procedural, and what criteria apply in making recommendations of approval/disapproval. Precedents for NPIC's review of programs in the past were discussed as examples/models of the approach the committee might take in its work.

Following clarification and consensus re the committee's modus operandi, the Anthropology Major Program proposal was taken up. Prof. Skoczen was able to speak on behalf of the proposal in Prof. Selvaggio 's absence.

It was agreed that the proposal should be broken down into the following components:

• Rationale
• Curriculum
• Implementation/Administration
• Resources
• Assessment

Discussion first considered the Rationale; the consensus appeared to be that while all of the necessary information was present in the proposal, the rationale should be rewritten to meet the guidelines of the checklist. (Unless there is a formal vote, the minutes will always read the consensus was or appeared to be.)

Issues related to curriculum that were discussed included the topic of inclusion of cognates.

Despite some particular reservations, there was consensus regarding expediting and supporting this program development effort.

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[Wieder, the recorder, had to leave at 10:45, before the committee had finished its business.]

[Paddock takes over as recorder]
Paddock noted that Prof. Richard Gerber, Assistant to Vice-President for Academic Affairs, assured him that the administration fully supported the program and that the 2 lines that had yet to be filled, one for the 2000/1 academic year, and one for the 2001/2 year, were firm.

The committee decided in the interest of expediting matters to continue discussion of the proposal electronically.

10:55 meeting adjourned.

Minutes submitted by Weider/Paddock