Writing Across the Curriculum Committee

Minutes November 18, 2010

Respectfully submitted by Astrid Eich-Krohm (secretary)

1. Call to Order
a. In attendance: K. Lacey (chair) N. Marano, S. Corbett (ex-officio), T. Ferrucci (ex-officio), K. Marsland, R. Hedreen (guest/librarian), S. Ellis (ex-officio), D. Smith, A. Eich-Krohm
b. Welcome to the new members: D. Vasquez-Levy and S. Grubacic
c. Submitted evaluations electronically: K. Burke

2. WACC Chairperson Report by K. Lacey
a. PHY 471 Issue
i. This Physics course is taught as a W-course if students need another W for graduation and it has been done so for many years. The process is to do it as an independent study but with a different course number (PHY 499) and then switch the numbers and assign an asterisk to it in Banner. Kim will follow up about this practice with the department.
b. CHEM 260/261 Issue
i. Two courses were approved as W-courses for the chemistry department for the lab sections but the lab sections are taught by adjuncts who now have to hand in W-proposals.
c. W-Course section update
i. One hundred and seventy courses were designated W-courses in the spring and the fall semesters this year.
d. Bylaws - plan for revision
i. Revisions will be discussed at the first WACC meeting in the spring semester.
e. W- proposal guidelines - clarification of language
i. T. Ferrucci made suggestions how to clarify the language for the W-guidelines so that faculty know exactly what standards to apply.
ii. K. Lacey will share the clarifications with the UCF Steering committee.
f. Assessment
i. D. Carroll is coming to the last WAC committee meeting to talk about assessment.

3. WAC Director Report by S. Ellis
a. Wednesday 12-08 WAC workshop for proposing W-courses
b. Report from Dean's Council Meeting
i. S. Ellis presented the report about the W-courses at the Dean's council.
ii. He was asked by Provost Williams about raising the number of students per W-course. The committee decided to survey faculty about their time spent on W-courses.
c. Writing Contest:
i. Will take place in late February 2011 the way the committee did it last time.
ii. Rewards for the contest are made available through funds of Student Government.

4. Writing Center Director Report: Nothing to submit

5. Other Announcements: None

6. Review of Proposals (10:15-11:50)

Course: ENG 398 Multimedia Writing
Faculty: J. Tarbox
Decisions: Approved w/clarification (8-0-0)

Course: GEO 260 Population Geography
Faculty: J. Dagostino
Decision: Approve w/clarification (6-0-2)

Course: ENG 301
Faculty: C. Baraw
Decision: Approved w/suggestions (8-0-0)

Course: LIT 488
Faculty: J. West
Decision: Approved (6-0-0)

7. Old Business: To be discussed at the next meeting
a. W-Course Approval Process: continue discussion regarding possible move to approve faculty rather than course by course approval
b. Assessment: continue discussion regarding ongoing assessment of approved proposals
c. Transition of W-Courses to LEP program: continue discussion regarding implications of LEP on WAC Program

Motion to UCF to approve the following approved writing intensive courses:

Course: ENG 398 Multimedia Writing
Faculty: J. Tarbox

Course: GEO 260 Population Geography
Faculty: J. Dagostino

Course: ENG 301
Faculty: C. Baraw

Course: LIT 488
Faculty: J. Wes