University Wide Impact Committee Minutes
Thursday, April 12, 2001
University Student Center, Room 207

Present:  Frank Harris (Chair), Tony Maltese, Sandy DiFrancesco, Marty Hartog,
Tony Maltese, Megan Macomber

Recorder:  Frank Harris

Call to Order:  9:30

Writing Board
Frank Harris mentioned phone conversation  with Mark Heidmann of writing board concerning new members for the board for the fall.  Harris' term expires.  Megan is current member representing UWIC.  Need to select another member.  Harris will call Phil Smith regarding selection of members to serve on the board beginning in the fall 2001 semester.

CPRs/Catalog
Harris mentioned Steering Committee's discussion pertaining to UWIC  maintaining a role in overseeing the CPRs/Catalog confirmation process.  Harris to ask Phil Smith, Rose Cretella and Lynn Kohrn to attend UWIC meeting to discuss how to coordinate the CPR /Catalog program to ensure we are on the same page.

Questions and Observations Regarding On-Line Courses
The  committee addressed the university's on-line courses with a particular concern about the amount of time put in by faculty to teach such courses.  The committee expressed a strongly felt concern about university's potential for exploitation of faculty members by overworking professors via on-line courses.

 Following are some of the other questions and observations about the on-line courses:

Marty Hartog:  When a course goes on line, does it need to go to UCF committee?  Are on-line courses to be considered different from ground courses?  Do we think when it gets offered on line, it is different, or is it only a difference in style?

Tony Maltese:  The administration uses on-line courses that are already approved, then it's up to individuals to decide how it's delivered.  The administration is not seeing on-line courses  as needing to go through the approval process.

Marty Hartog:  There should be quality control on on-line courses.  How well is the university assessing students who take on-line courses?  Should there be a pedagogy for on-line courses.  He states a parallel to Writing Board and L-Course in which the board was set up because there were no quality controls regarding L-Courses. 

Tony Maltese:  Are students screened for suitability for completing on-line courses?

Sandy Difrancesco:  How do you know who is doing the work?  How do grades and quality of work compare to ground courses?

Frank Harris:  What are the health concerns that arise with long hours on the computer that appear necessary to teach on-line courses?

Megan Macomber:  Mentioned repetitive stress as a potential health problem.  What are the contractual issues?  It seems a violation of the contract.  Should faculty be put in position of work and health so university can make more money?

Tony Maltese:  Does university provide network support and template?

Frank Harris:  Should teachers be taught how to teach on-line courses at the university?  Can one say no to teaching an on-line course?

Sandy Difrancesco:  Who does one go to for support?  She mentioned the need to use personal funds to purchase equipment needed to get the systems up and running. 

Megan:  It's wrong for one to use own money for software and other items to support on-line courses. 
                                                                          
Adjournment : 10:50 a.m.