New Programs and Innovations Committee Minutes October 7, 2010

Called to order at 9:35am
Present: G. Adams (Chair), M. Bay, G. Cochenet, J. Hong, G. Kowalczyk, K. McGill, R. Vaters-Carr

I. New Business
A. Notification of 5 special topic sections were presented and logged.

Course #         Course Title                              Semester             Times taught
ART 398-W       History of Russian Modernism     Spring 2011               1
COM 498          Current Issues in A&P                Spring 2011               1
HIS 298           The Era of Lincoln                      Spring 2011                0
JRN 398           Courts & Crime                         Spring 2011                2
PHI 398           Philosophy of Mind                     Spring 2011                0 

Description of logged courses

ART 398-W - History of Modern Russia

This course explores the history of cultural and artistic developments in Russia and the Soviet Union from 1860s to 1950s. The course examines the key movements of Russian and Soviet painting, architecture, stage design, book illustration, propaganda art, industrial and graphic design, concentrating mainly on the period of Russian avant-garde art of 1910-1932.

COM 498 - Current Issues in Advertising and Promotions

In-depth examination of current trends and issues in advertising and promotional communication.  This seminar style class emphasizes case study analysis of current and future trends in the field.

HIS 298 - The United States in the Era of Lincoln

This course will examine a man whose life is the personification of the complexity, contradictions, and challenges of the United States during the nation's most formative and critical period of development.  The objectives of the course are threefold: first, to connect Lincoln's trajectory to the broader themes and events that shaped American history; second, to understand how the character and nature of the historiography on Lincoln has changed over time; and third, to move outside the confines of political and national history to incorporate new methods and fields of research.

JRN 398 - Courts & Crime

Introduction to the knowledge and techniques for covering state and federal courts.

PHI 398 - Philosophy of Mind
This course will be an exploration of the nature of mind.  Among other theories, we will explore Cartesian Dualism, hard behaviorism, mind-brain identity theory, logical behaviorism, and functionalism.  We will also discuss the nature of perception, qualia and non-conscious cognitive processing.  This course not only looks at different approaches to mind and thought, but it will also provide opportunities to explore related issues in metaphysics, epistemology, and modern cognitive science. 

II. Old Business
A. NPIC reviewed a draft of a revised form for the proposal of new minors and made recommendations for a final draft.  Next we will draft a set of formal instructions to accompany the form.

III. New business

A. NPIC held a discussion about a new form required by the Department of Higher Education (DHE) for new degree programs.  We await clarification on whether minor program proposals will continue to be exempt from the DHE process. 

B. NPIC discussed the need for UCF communication with administrative offices that record data required for new program proposals, and which are also useful for assessment.

Meeting adjourned at 10:40am.
Respectfully submitted by: Gregory Adams