COUNCIL ON CURRICULAR PROGRAMS AND INSTRUCTION

Thursday, 7 December 2006

3:30 p.m.

Algonquin Room - University Union

A C T I O N M I N U T E S

MEMBERS PRESENT: L. Conover, J. Engel, B. George, J. La Prad, A. Melkumian, K. Myers, N. Parsons, Ryan Sotelo (SGA student representative), T. Waldrop, E. Woell

Ex-officio: D. Williams

MEMBERS ABSENT: W. Bailey

GUESTS: Ron Aman, Rick Anderson, Dave Banash, Daniel Clay, Jan Clough, Rita Creger, Virginia Diehl, Ginny Dilworth, Diane Hamilton-Hancock, Vivian Incera, Inessa Levi, Hal Marchand, Vicki Nicholson, Jim Schmidt, Jeff Tindall, Dan Wise

I. Consideration of Minutes – 16 November 2006

APPROVED AS DISTRIBUTED

II. Approvals from the President and Provost

A. Approvals from the President

1. Foreign language/global issues requirement – two motions approved by Faculty Senate

· The Faculty Senate recommends either a foreign language or a global issues requirement be instituted for all students.

· Each department will institute the foreign language/global issues requirement for its majors under guidelines that will be approved by Faculty Senate.

B. Approvals from the Provost

1. Requests for New Courses

a. BIOL 350, General Ecology, 4 s.h.

b. RPTA 270, Introduction to Nonprofit Organizations, 3 s.h.

c. RPTA 470, American Humanics Management Institute: Nonprofit Youth and Human Service Organizations, 0 s.h.

d. ZOOL 408, Field Ornithology, 3 s.h.

2. Request for Change in Minor

a. Microcomputer Applications

III. Announcements

Chairperson Parsons told CCPI that Faculty Senate had raised questions about the number of hours that are listed under General Education on CCPI request forms, particularly on the change in major/minor forms. Senators wondered why some programs list 39 s.h., for example, rather than the actual number of Gen Ed hours. Chairperson Parsons recommended that CCPI ask departments to specify the actual number of hours in the Gen Ed category on these forms, even though the same courses may be listed in the “Other” category elsewhere. She also recommended changing the form so that a box is included for an “Other” category as many departments must add this to the existing format.

Motion: To reorder the agenda to move D.1. and F.2. to the beginning of New Business (La Prad/Melkumian)

MOTION APPROVED 9 YES – 0 NO – 0 AB

IV. Old Business

A. Request for New Major

1. Liberal Arts and Sciences

After its introduction at the November 16 meeting, discussion on the Bachelor in Liberal Arts and Sciences (BaLAS) was suspended when the meeting was recessed. CCPI members and guests expressed considerable concern with the proposed Environmental Studies concentration within the proposed major. Chairperson Parsons pointed out that the proposed concentration excludes coursework that is covered in the current Environmental Studies minor, specifically, courses in Health Sciences, RPTA, Economics, Computer Science, and Agriculture, which are outside the College of Arts and Sciences (COAS). Biology Chair Rick Anderson explained that, unlike courses in the Environmental Studies minor, the concentration focuses on non-human environmental studies – the natural, environmental, and abiotic/biotic components, how they react with each other, how they are measured, how data is collected, and what kinds of factors affect those interactions. Dr. Anderson stated the concentration is multidisciplinary because courses across the Arts and Sciences discipline are included to ensure coverage across the social sciences, natural sciences, and humanities.

Dr. Anderson stated he thinks the Environmental Studies minor is important and can see ways in which it could complement the Environmental Studies concentration, particularly if a student is interested in the area of public health. Dr. Parsons pointed out that there is major overlap between the proposed concentration and the minor: coursework within the minor is also covered within the concentration with the exception of those courses outside of COAS. But Dr. Anderson disagreed, stating that the courses in the two programs do not significantly overlap and have been approved as distinctly different courses with distinctly different coverage. Dr. Parsons pointed out that several courses, particularly in Track B, are duplicative, such as BIOL 451, BOT 210 and 402, GEOG 327 and 328. Dr. Parsons stated that she would discourage a student from choosing the minor in Environmental Studies if they were doing the concentration. She concluded that the concentration is not interdisciplinary and that it lacks the human component that is present in interactions with the environment.

Dr. Engel asked if courses currently available in the Quad Cities had been taken into account as part of the motivation for the new major is to make it available to non-traditional and, particularly, Quad Cities students, or if courses would need to be added at that campus. He also wondered if groups of courses will hang together enough to give some exposure to advanced methodology within the discipline so that the BaLAS will not seem to be just thrown together. COAS Associate Dean Jim Schmidt responded that the BaLAS was developed with an eye toward the Quad Cities, and what was, or could be, offered in the Quad Cities in the near future was factored into its composition. He told CCPI that a committee of chairs, faculty, and consultants made recommendations on additional courses that seemed to “hang together,” and their additions were incorporated. Dr. Schmidt expects that the introductory and capstone courses approved by CCPI on November 16 will pull the major together.

Dr. Engel asked if it is expected that the major will be popular on the Macomb campus. Dr. Schmidt responded that it is unknown if a large number of Macomb-based students will choose the major, but he does think it might be quite popular. He stated that the presumption is that it may be a more attractive program to some students because it may have more coherence and rigor than the Board of Trustees Bachelor of Arts (BOT/BA) degree program.

Dr. La Prad questioned the Individualized Program of Study concentration within the BaLAS and its relationship to the Interdisciplinary Studies degree program. He also wondered about parallels with the BOT/BA degree program and whether this would create potential problems with advisors directing students into the appropriate program. Dr. La Prad asked if the concentration was a response to a bigger problem with existing programs not meeting the needs of students. Dr. Schmidt responded that the BOT/BA was designed as a program to allow non-traditional students to be awarded credit for activities outside of traditional coursework and was intended for students who, by and large, need to receive their studies at a distance. He explained that this has changed somewhat, and there is a desire to have the BOT/BA return more to a distance-delivered program for non-traditional students.

Dr. Schmidt told CCPI that the expectation is that the Interdisciplinary Studies degree program will be administered by COAS after the BaLAS is approved, so there will be some convergence. He added that many of the students who currently enroll in the Interdisciplinary Studies degree program may find the BaLAS an attractive alternative. He stated the first two options of the BaLAS were designed to give students a more flexible education that may fit their needs better than the Interdisciplinary Studies degree. Dr. Schmidt pointed out that letters of support accompanying the request for new major show support from Provost Rallo for moving the Interdisciplinary Studies degree to COAS, as well as support for the BaLAS from BOT/BA Director Rick Carter, WIUQC Associate Dean Jeanne Clerc, and board members for the Institute for Environmental Studies.

Dr. La Prad noted that the CCPI subcommittee, when determining the definition of a concentration, identified it as only associated with the Interdisciplinary Studies program. He recalled that discussion of the concentration indicated that it would be truly interdisciplinary and would pull various programs and strengths from the different colleges. Dr. La Prad asked if the desire for it to be interdisciplinary outside COAS would remain once the Interdisciplinary Studies program comes under Arts and Sciences. Dr. Schmidt responded that he thinks it will, and noted that the Provost’s letter recommends that Interdisciplinary Studies retain a special connection with its former home, the Illinois Centennial Honors College.

RPTA professor Jeff Tindall noted that a majority of the courses recommended in the Environmental Studies concentration are in Biology. He remarked that most of his RPTA classes are not laboratory-based but involve working with schools and outdoors so that students gain a broader perspective of Environmental Studies. He told CCPI that RPTA offers some courses that they would not wish to see relegated to the “other courses as advised” category, but would prefer them to be generally included in the Environmental Studies concentration.

Dr. Anderson stated that some confusion may be inherent in the structure of the three different tracks that lead from the introductory capstone course in the BaLAS. He explained that each track groups a set of particular courses into a concentration, and the Environmental Studies concentration pulls courses out of both Track A and Track B of the Environmental Studies minor. The committee selected Arts and Sciences courses in order to provide a multidisciplinary approach to natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities comprehension. Dr. Anderson stated that if a student completes the Environmental Studies concentration and wishes to take one of the minors from RPTA or Health Sciences to continue his educational goals, that would be fine. Dr. Schmidt added that by utilizing the Paired Minors option of study, a student could select Track A or B from the Environmental Studies minor and make it part of their BaLAS degree without it being considered “other courses as advised.”

Health Sciences professor Hal Marchand noted that the proposed major shows a lot of great planning, research, and development. He expressed gratitude to former Environmental Studies Director Bill Doe for bringing the Environmental Studies minor to campus and for reaching out to Health Sciences. Dr. Marchand stated that he would like to see that type of collaboration continue and for Health Sciences to be able to contribute enrollment numbers to the proposed concentration. Dr. Marchand stated that Health Sciences is also considering revision of their programs in the Quad Cities. He stated that Health Sciences, like RPTA, wants to make sure that they will not lose their students and their courses to the proposed concentration, and that it is made clear through advising that those students interested in human environmental studies – social, psychological, political, economic – be directed to the Environmental Studies minor.

Health Sciences Chair Diane Hamilton-Hancock added that she is very much aware of the work Dr. Marchand did with Dr. Doe, and the outstanding reciprocity in their relationship. She stated there are many implications for the BaLAS on the College of Education and Human Services as a whole. Dr. Hamilton-Hancock stated she believes it would be prudent and would best serve students to include within the proposed concentration – or at least consider including – some of the non-Arts and Sciences courses from the minor that were omitted. She expressed surprise that there were no previous discussions about the proposed concentration since there had been so many collaborative discussions when Dr. Doe was at Western. Dr. Hamilton-Hancock stated that as the intent is to serve students in a wide capacity, she would like to see CCPI table the BaLAS to provide more time to discuss it with the colleges. She stated that there may be legitimate reasons that certain courses were chosen for the curriculum and other courses within the Environmental Studies minor were not considered relevant, but she would like the opportunity to discuss this before the proposal proceeds further.

Dr. Marchand expressed his interest in collaborating and moving forward together on the program. He stated that when he came to WIU, it was with the understanding that a University-wide multidisciplinary program would be developed in Environmental Studies. He added that naturally Health Sciences wishes to be kept entirely in the loop and to be complete partners in this undertaking. Dr. Marchand concluded that he supports the position of his chair, and also wishes to see COAS succeed in building this program.

College of Arts and Sciences Dean Inessa Levis urged CCPI to consider the BaLAS as soon as possible. She stated that while the College is a great supporter of collaboration, they are also focusing on supporting the Quad Cities campus. Dr. Levi stated that the impetus behind the development of the proposed major was to provide high quality educational opportunities for students that needed an alternative to the BOT/BA degree program, and she told CCPI that students need those educational opportunities now. Dr. Levi asserted that the BaLAS has been designed as a very collaborative, multidisciplinary program that would provide opportunities for a number of departments to actively participate. She stated that it is crucial that Western fulfill its obligations to students in the Quad Cities that do not have many viable alternatives, especially in terms of liberal arts and sciences.

Registrar’s office representative Donna Williams asked if COAS plans to offer more upper-level Quad Cities courses to support the BaLAS. Dr. Levi responded that as soon as the degree is approved, the college would definitely move to offer more programs. Mrs. Williams noted that WIU has an agreement with Black Hawk College not to offer General Education courses at WIUQC. Dr. Schmidt stated that COAS hopes that the degree may be attractive to Black Hawk College so that students would have an easier articulation into Western.

Motion: To table the proposal so that Health Sciences, RPTA, and other affected departments have an opportunity to discuss the Environmental Studies concentration (Parsons/Melkumian)

MOTION APPROVED 7 YES – 2 NO – 1 AB

V. New Business

D. Request for Change in Credit Hours (Reordered)

1. PHY 478, Applied Physics Internship, 12 s.h.

Current: 12 s.h.

Proposed: 1-12 s.h.

Motion: To approve PHY 478 (La Prad/Melkumian)

Correction: Specify Summer 2007 as Effective Date.

MOTION APPROVED WITH CHANGE 9 YES – 0 NO – 1 AB

F. Request for Change in Major (Reordered)

2. Physics – Option A

Motion: To approve Physics change in major (Melkumian/La Prad)

Corrections:

· Change “Directed Electives” category to “Special Courses.”

· In Core Courses, change PHY 201 to 3 s.h.

· Change existing Core Courses to 18 s.h. and proposed Core Courses to 17 s.h.

· In the proposed Minor section, change to “Phys 468 may be counted for toward a minor in Math.”

· Change total existing semester hours to 131-136 and total proposed to 135-137 s.h.

· Add notation below the chart that “16 s.h. may count toward Gen Ed.” This statement replaces the statement within Open Electives that “16 s.h. of the required Math/Science courses count as part of the total Gen Ed 55 s.h.”

MOTION APPROVED WITH CHANGES 10 YES – 0 NO – 0 AB

A. Request for 275/475 Course

1. ART 475, Intermediate Drawing, 3 s.h.

Art Department Acting Chair Jan Clough explained that the department eventually wishes to offer the course as ART 340. It is intended to remedy a gap in the department’s drawing sequence.

Suggested Changes:

· Change statement within Course Objectives to elucidate what students should be able to achieve by the end of the course.

· Change Date of First Offering to Fall 2007.

NO OBJECTIONS

B. Requests for New Courses

1. ART 411, Arts and Institutions, 3 s.h.

Motion: To approve ART 411 (Melkumian/Engel)

In response to a question regarding whether the course would discuss only art museums, Art professor Ron Aman explained that the course would also examine natural history, science and industry, and other types of museums.

Corrections:

· Change Abbreviated Title of Course to ARTS & INSTITUT

· Move the first sentence of Relationship to Existing Courses Within the Department – “There are numerous opportunities for art education majors to seek careers within arts institutions,” – to the section on Student Needs to be Served.

ART 411 APPROVED WITH CHANGES 8 YES – 0 NO – 2 AB

2. ART 437, Media. Methods, and Materials in Art Education, 3 s.h.

Motion: To approve ART 437 (Melkumian/Engel)

CCPI members questioned the five class hours per week; it was explained that ART 437 is a studio course that meets twice a week for two and a half hours, and that lectures are interspersed with studio activities.

Corrections:

· Change the heading of “Class Hours per Week” to “Studio Hours per Week.”

· Shorten Catalog Description to read, “This course develops an understanding An overview of media, processes, materials, techniques, and methods appropriate for the elementary and secondary school classrooms. Course cContent is structured to integrates the art education major’s studio courses with art historical and multicultural uses of traditional/ and non-traditional media, methods, and materials for producing works of visual art.”

· Under Course Objectives, change “Students will learn to,” to “Students will be able to,” and change the second bullet from “understand safety and health risks …,” to “explain safety and health risks …”

· Replace information under Relationship to Existing Courses Within the Department with “None.”

· Minor grammatical changes.

ART 437 APPROVED WITH CHANGES 8 YES – 0 NO – 2 AB

C. Request for Multiple-Title Approval

1. PSY 490, Seminar, 1-3 s.h. (repeatable to 12 s.h.)

Motion: To approve PSY 490 (Melkumian/La Prad)

MOTION APPROVED 10 YES – 0 NO – 0 AB

E. Request for New Minor

1. Jazz Studies

Motion: To table Jazz Studies until a representative of the department can be present (Melkumian/Engel)

MOTION APPROVED 10 YES – 0 NO – 0 AB

F. Requests for Changes in Majors

1. Art Education

Motion: To approve Art Education change in major (Melkumian/La Prad)

Corrections:

· Move Art Teacher Certification courses to a new “Special Courses” category.

· Add a notation underneath the chart that “6 s.h. of the major will count toward Gen Ed.”

· Change the last sentence in “Summary of Changes” to, “In order to accommodate the introduction deep freezing of ART 411* (Arts and Institutions) 461 (Arts and Crafts for Special Education), art education majors may now fulfill their Special Education requirements through SpEd 310.”

ART EDUCATION APPROVED WITH CHANGES 8 YES – 0 NO – 2 AB

3. Psychology

Motion: To approve Psychology change in major (Conover/La Prad)

Corrections: In the Directed Electives category, specify “Choose from 15 s.h. of the following:” at the top of the existing column, and “Choose 18 s.h. from the following:” at the top of the proposed column, replacing the notations at the bottoms of each column.

PSYCHOLOGY APPROVED WITH CHANGES 10 YES – 0 NO – 0 AB

VI. Reports

A. CCPI Subcommittee on Academic Terms – Final Report

Chairperson Parson told CCPI that the report reflects data provided by Donna Williams and Vicki Nicholson, and survey data from Tere North. It also includes information relating to the proposed baccalaureate certification, a minority report relating to the certification, and guidelines for the post-baccalaureate certification intended as an example.

Motion: To send the report to the Senate Executive Committee (Melkumian/Myers)

MOTION APPROVED 9 YES – 0 NO – 1 AB

B. Provost’s Report – None

Motion: To adjourn (Parsons)

The Council adjourned at 5:04 p.m.

Ed Woell, Secretary

Annette Hamm, Faculty Senate Recording Secretary