COUNCIL ON CURRICULAR PROGRAMS AND INSTRUCTION

Thursday, 7 February 2008

3:30 p.m.

Algonquin Room - University Union

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

MEMBERS PRESENT: J. Engel, P. Kornoski, E. Mannion, A. Melkumian, K. Myers, K. Neumann, N. Parsons, C. Piletic, T. Waldrop

Ex-officio: B. Baily, D. Williams

MEMBERS ABSENT: W. Bailey, C. Kovacs

GUESTS: Vicki Nicholson, Aimee Shouse

I. Consideration of Minutes

A. 24 January 2008

APPROVED AS DISTRIBUTED

II. Announcements

1. Chairperson Parsons informed members that Faculty Senate this week decided to send the request for change in writing requirements for the Board of Trustees Bachelor of Arts (BOT-BA) degree program back to CCPI. Faculty Senate has asked that blanket waivers be issued for those BOT-BA students who plan to graduate in May but failed to take a W course before that requirement was eliminated. The BOT-BA Advisory Board will be issuing the blanket waivers since BOT-BA student appeals are heard by that body rather than by CAGAS. Ms. Williams told CCPI that there may be only one or two students who have a graduation deficiency solely due to elimination of W classes. Non-Traditional Programs Director Rick Carter has met with English and Journalism Chair David Boocker to develop a writing requirement for BOT-BA students similar to the WID requirement for other majors. He hopes to bring a revised writing requirements request back to CCPI for the February 28 meeting. Dr. Neumann suggested that since part of the problem appears to be that WID courses are specifically to address “Writing in the Disciplines,” perhaps Faculty Senate should consider making these courses broader to incorporate “Writing in the Degree.”

2. Dr. Engel, who represents CCPI on the Plus-Minus Implementation Committee, told council members that a report on the effects of the upcoming conversion will be sent to the Faculty Senate Executive Committee in the near future. Dr. Engel stated that the committee is reluctant to recommend that plus-minus grades be mandated, even for different sections of the same course. Ms. Kornoski remarked that it would be nice for the grading system to have more consistency for the sake of students, stating there is already a lack of consistency in applying the current grading system. Dr. Engel stated the committee will recommend a grade point scale of .33 for plus grades and .67 for minus grades.

3. A meeting will be held tomorrow to address the Illinois Innovative Education Delivery Alliance, a course sharing alliance to foster the concepts of homeland security across the state. The meeting will discuss the opportunities for course development in this discipline. Course sharing is available with WIU and Northern, Eastern, Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville and SIU-Carbondale, Illinois State, Governors State, and Chicago State Universities. Chairperson Parsons stated a second year of a HECA grant will provide money to enable courses in homeland security to move to an online format. She said the state is trying to develop a broader perspective on homeland security that will encompass such disciplines as Political Science, Geography, Agriculture, Sociology, Social Work, Psychology, and others. Chairperson Parsons and Registrar Alan DeRoos are WIU coordinators of the alliance. A second meeting on the topic will be held on February 27.

III. Old Business – None

IV. New Business

A. Requests for New Courses

1. POLS 454, Interest Group Politics, 3 s.h.

Motion: To approve POLS 454 (Myers/Piletic)

Change: Remove “G” from POLS 455 in the list of courses to be deleted.

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

2. POLS 456, Political Parties, 3 s.h.

Motion: To approve POLS 456 (Kornoski/Myers)

Change: Remove “G” from POLS 455 in the list of courses to be deleted.

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

VI. Reports

A. Provost’s Report - None

Motion: To adjourn (Kornoski)

The Council adjourned at 3:55 p.m.

Jeff Engel, Secretary

Annette Hamm, Faculty Senate Recording Secretary