COUNCIL ON CURRICULAR PROGRAMS AND INSTRUCTION

Thursday, 19 October 2006

 

3:30 p.m.

Algonquin Room - University Union

 

A C T I O N   M I N U T E S

 

 

MEMBERS PRESENT: W. Bailey, L. Conover, J. Engel, J. La Prad, A. Melkumian, K. Myers, N. Parsons, T. Waldrop, E. Woell

Ex-officio: B. Baily, D. Williams

 

MEMBERS ABSENT: B. George

 

GUESTS: Matt Clark, Marko Kranjc, Vicki Nicholson, Polly Radosh, Miriam Satern

 

I.     Consideration of Minutes –21 September 2006

 

       Correction: Add “… and permission of instructor” to prerequisites for BIOL 479.

 

       APPROVED AS CORRECTED

 

II.    Approvals from the Provost

 

       A.       Requests for New Courses

 

                  1.      EIS 304, Field Work in Educational and Interdisciplinary Studies, 1 s.h. (repeatable to 2 s.h.)

                  2.      IDT 235, Instructional Materials Development, 3 s.h.

                  3.      IDT 451, Implementing and Facilitating Instruction, 3 s.h.

                  4.      IDT 496, Senior Portfolio and Resume Preparation, 1 s.h.

                  5.      POLS 308, Political Psychology, 3 s.h.

                  6.      POLS 400, Comparative Public Policy, 3 s.h.

 

       B.       Requests for New Options

 

                  1.      Instructional Methods and Training

                  2.      Instructional Multimedia and Web-Based Development

                  3.      Instructional Simulation and Games

 

III.   Announcements

 

       Chairperson Parsons drew members’ attention to an excerpt from Faculty Senate minutes, previously emailed to CCPI members, in which discussion centered on CCPI’s role in University assessment efforts.  She asked members if they wished to add further discussion of this item to the agenda.

 

Motion: To add to the end of New Business discussion of CCPI’s involvement in assessment of student learning, as discussed at this week’s Faculty Senate meeting (Melkumian/La Prad)

 

MOTION APPROVED  9 YES – 0 NO – 0 AB

 

IV.  Old Business – None

 

V.    New Business

 

          A.    Request for Change in Course Description and Prerequisite

 

                  1.     MATH 183, Computer Algebra System Lab, 1 s.h.

                          Current:        An introduction to computer algebra systems in the study of algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and calculus, focusing on multiple forms of representation, exploring conjectures, problem solving, and communicating results.  (Except by special permission, students must co-register in MATH 133.  Proficiency credit is available for students with experience using a computer algebra system.)

                                                Prereq: MATH 129 or MATH 131 or equivalent (C grade or better), and co-registration in MATH 133 or by special permission

 

                          Proposed:     An introduction to computer algebra systems in the study of calculus, focusing on exploring conjectures, solving problems, and communicating the results.  An opportunity for undergraduate research for the interested student.  (Except by special permission, students must co-register in MATH 231 or have some computer programming experience.  Proficiency credit is available for students with experience using a computer algebra system.)

                                                Prereq: ‘CS 211 and CS 212’ or ‘CS 225’ (C grade or better), and co-registration in MATH 231, or by special permission

 

                          Motion: To approve MATH 183 (Engel/La Prad)

                         

                          Corrections:

· Change proposed prereq to CS 211 and CS 212 (C grade or better), or CS 225 (C grade or better), and co-registration in MATH 231, or by special permission of the department chair.

· Change the first bullet under Rationale for Change to read, “This change will not affect our majors, since both Math 183 and Math 231 were and will remain required core courses.”

 

                           It was noted that the prerequisite change will result in an increase in degree program hours for two majors – Meteorology and Physics – since neither currently require computer science.  CCPI members expressed the need for letters of support from these two departments prior to approval of the requested changes.  Mathematics professor Marko Krancj stated that an email was sent to all College of Arts and Sciences chairs informing them of the proposed changes and that they have generally been received positively.  CCPI members noted that some departments require MATH 183 currently only because it is a co-requisite of MATH 133, so this will result in a reduction of required hours for them; it was stated that Business, for example, anticipate eliminating the MATH 183 requirement from their majors.

 

                          Motion: To table MATH 183 (Conover/Engel)

 

                          MOTION TO TABLE APPROVED  9 YES – 0 NO – 0 AB

 

Ms. Nicholson asked whether CCPI would need to see change in major requests for    Meteorology and Physics since the MATH 183 change would add three hours to their “other required courses.”  It was remarked that Physics may want to change their program somewhere else rather than adding three hours.  CCPI members felt that if the majors decide to add the additional hours, even though it is required as a result of a change in another department and not by choice, this should go through the normal curriculum channels, including CCPI and Faculty Senate.

 

          B.     Request for Change in Course Title, Description, Credit Hours, and Prerequisites

 

                  1      WS/KIN 470, Women and Sport, 2 s.h.

                          Current:        Women and Sport, 2 s.h.

An in-depth study of women and sport in the United States.  An attempt is made to separate fact from myth by studying completed research concerning women sports participants.

Prereq: None

 

                          Proposed:     Gender and Sport, 3 s.h.

Examines relationships between gender, sport and physical activity.  Gender is examined within the context of stereotypes and the structure/philosophy of sport and physical activity.  Sport and physical activity are investigated as social institutions relative to cultural constructions of gender.

                                                Prereq: WS 190 or permission of instructor

 

                  Motion: To approve WS/KIN 470 (Melkumian/Conover)

 

                  MOTION APPROVED  9 YES – 0 NO – 0 AB

 

          C.     Request for Change in Major

         

                  1.     Mathematics

 

                  Motion: To approve change in Mathematics major (Melkumian/Woell)

 

                  Corrections:

·         Change “Same” in Existing column to a detailed list of current requirements and semester hours.

·         Move “CS 211 and 212, or equivalent” from Directed Electives to Other category.

 

It was noted that UTEC will also need to approve the request before it goes on to Faculty Senate.  The WID Committee has reviewed and approved the request.

 

In response to a question, Dr. Krancj stated that the changes to do not affect the number of hours in the Mathematics Teacher Education minor but they do change the core.  CCPI requested that Mathematics submit, for the sake of clarity, a change in option form for the non-teaching option, as well as re-submitting the change in major form with revisions. 

 

Motion: To table change in Mathematics major (La Prad/Conover)

 

MOTION TO TABLE APPROVED  9 YES – 0 NO – 0 AB

 

          D.    Requests for Changes in Minors

 

                  1.     Mathematics

                  2.     Statistics

 

                  Ms. Nicholson stated that the Statistics minor request – to change the two references of MATH 181 to MATH 183 – could be handled in her office. CCPI requested that the changes in the Mathematics minor be spelled out on the chart featured on the change in minor form rather than just briefly summarized.

 

                  Motion: To table change in Mathematics minor (Melkumian/Myers)

 

                  MOTION TO TABLE APPROVED  8 YES – 1 NO – 1 AB

 

          E.     Draft Request for New Program Development Form

 

                  CCPI reviewed a Request for New Program Development form that is being proposed by Provost Rallo to be approved in conjunction with new program requests.  Associate Provost Baily explained that the form was developed partly as a response to the movement for greater University planning and budgeting so that when academic colleges submit program proposals, those can be considered in light of the academic master plan.  She stated that proposals should not move through the curriculum approval process without a statement that the University supports the concept – that it is in line both budgetarily and with the number of expected majors and degrees awarded annually – as shown on the proposed Request for New Program Development form. 

 

                  The form includes sign offs by the department chair, college dean, Associate Provost for the Quad Cities (if programs are to be offered at WIUQC), Associate Provost and Director of Graduate Studies (for graduate programs only), and the Academic Vice President.  The form does not require a CCPI or Faculty Senate sign-off but would need to accompany the new program requests that do go before these bodies for approval.  Dr. Baily stated that the use of this form will prevent departments from developing and submitting curriculum for new programs that cannot realistically be supported financially by the University or do not have the support of the college dean and/or academic vice president.  She asked CCPI to not consider any new program requests unless the Request for New Program Development form is attached, with the exception of requests which have already begun development, such as the BA in Liberal Arts. 

 

                  Dr. Baily was asked if there were any plans to develop a similar form for requests for new courses or majors.  She responded that as long as these requests include information regarding new equipment, library resources, and additional faculty needed, that should be sufficient.

 

          F.     Discussion of CCPI’s Involvement in Assessment of Student Learning

 

                  A senator at the Faculty Senate meeting of October 17 expressed a desire for the Senate’s councils to become move involved in using assessment, such as applying assessment to the curriculum evaluation process.  It was suggested that CCPI’s statement on its new course request form – “Where relevant, explain how results of assessment of student learning indicate a need for this course in the department offerings” – could be strengthened.  The senator suggested that as the curriculum moves through the approval process, the concrete results of assessment can be seen to be reflected in new course development. 

 

                  CCPI expressed concerns that the revised statement should not limit responses to only the results from assessment of student learning but should be broad enough to include other factors in new course development, such as providing students with an alternative course in the major, discussions with employers, internship experiences, repeated requests by students, or requirement by an accrediting body. 

 

                  After discussion of possible wording, CCPI decided to change to sentence under “Justification of Course: Student Needs to Be Served” to read, “Explain how results of assessment of student learning indicate a need for this course in the department offerings.  Describe other rationale that contributed to the development of this course.”

 

VI.     Reports

 

A.         CCPI Subcommittee on Academic Terms – Update

 

Chairperson Parsons reported that the CCPI subcommittee met last Thursday to consider suggested recommendations for limiting future comprehensive majors to 44-66 s.h. and future minors to 16-24 s.h., discussion of designations for academic terms that do not have standard usage (emphasis, track), and guidelines for the proposed interdisciplinary studies consideration and the pre-baccalaureate certification.  Chairperson Parsons said that definitions still need to be tightened, and she will be sending the draft documents to CCPI subcommittee members for review.  She reminded CCPI members that the recommendations for semester hour caps on majors and minors will only apply to new, not-yet-developed programs but not to existing programs.  She indicated this seems to be a cause of confusion on campus and at Faculty Senate but is specified in the subcommittee’s charge.

 

Chairperson Parsons meets with the Senate Executive Committee on Tuesday, along with the chairs of the General Education Review Committee, the Council for International Education, and the foreign language/global issues subcommittee, to discuss the impact of their respective initiatives on the foreign language/global issues requirement.

 

B.         Provost’s Report – None

 

Motion: To adjourn (Myers)

 

The Council adjourned at 4:53 p.m. 

 

 

Ed Woell, Secretary

 

 

Annette Hamm, Faculty Senate Recording Secretary