MINUTES – Educational Policies Committee Meeting

April 10, 2007

 

 

Members Present: Mara Adams, Pat Connelly, Ragene Gwin, Keri Manning, Bill McAleer, Lori Rodrigues-Fisher, Jim Van Speybroeck

 

Guests: Aron Aji, Neala McCarthy, Lew Sanborne

 

Meeting Time: 3:19 - 4:50

 

Keri Manning called the meeting to order at 3:19

 

 

Item 1 – Approval of Minutes:

Motion to accept minutes of March 20 was made by J. Van Speybroeck

Seconded by M. Adams.

Motion passes.

 

No minutes available from April 3 meeting; review will take place April 24.

 

Item 2 –  Revised Course Description: EDUC 608 – Advanced Content for English / Language Arts Teachers

  • The revised course description requested by the Committee at the April 3 meeting was distributed.  With the receipt of this description, all requirements for the proposal have been fulfilled.

 

Item 3 – Certificate Proposal: East West Studies Certificate

  • The motion to approve the proposal was made by J. Van Speybroeck.
  • Seconded by P. Connelly.
  • Discussion:
    • Lew Sanborne and Neala McCarthy provided the historical and content review of the proposal.  This certificate is the result of a desire to expand ACCEL programs and to provide relevant courses pertinent to the work-related needs of the Rock Island Arsenal cohort.
    • Dean Sanborne spoke to the potential for theme based programming that can partially meet general education requirements, support global understanding, and provide more courses at the Rock Island site.  An interdisciplinary route was selected as a framework.  Three courses are yet to be built: ENG 120 as a topics course; a political science capstone course at the 400 level; and International Studies Topics course with an East-West focus. 
    • M. Adams asked if the certificate courses could be applied to a degree.  Dean Sanborne replied that the answer is affirmative and the certificate can get the participants within 20 credits of a degree.  He also told the Committee that RIA will pay for a package and that the concept has already been approved by them as a block.
    • While this currently is a certificate program only and the courses are not currently offered on campus, Dean Aji recommended eventual consideration of on-campus offerings.
    • K. Manning asked if staffing was complete.  N. McCarthy replied that ACCEL is presently determining staffing.
    • J. Van Speybroeck said this program has much potential.  L. Sanborne said it could easily move on line and that it has potential for partnerships with campuses across country for students and potential faculty.  Dean Aji spoke to possibility of an International Studies major with this type of content.
    • B. Theissen suggested addition of an added objective focused on assessment.  It was decided that the following language would be included, “identify / analyze / evaluate sources to learn about the geography, cultures and religions of the respective areas.”  The ACCEL staff welcomed that suggestion.
  • Motion carried.

 

Item 4 –  Interdisciplinary Minor in Classical Studies

  • The motion to accept the proposal came from P. Connelly.
  • Seconded by J. Van Speybroeck.
  • Discussion:
    • Dean Aji spoke to the proposal in Fr. Bud Grant’s absence.  Somewhat unusual as a minor, this program would be available to students already majoring in one of three host departments: History, Philosophy and Theology.  The model allows some insurance that classical studies are truly interdisciplinary and that the minor will go beyond a singular goal of acquisition of classical languages. It was noted that at least two departments must contribute to justify as interdisciplinary.   Dean Aji suggested it is an opportunity ‘to see how one discipline speaks with another.”
    • L. Rodrigues-Fisher clarified that the classical languages courses will not ‘count’ for foreign language general education requirements, but that when the minor is completed, the requirement for foreign language will be exempted.  If the minor is not completed, the original foreign language requirement would apply.
    • P. Connelly asked, if within the 18 credit minor, students would be exempted from 10 credits in the arts and sciences.  
    • P. Connelly asked if this program had the negative potential of ‘building an insular system’ and that presently it appears to be language-focused.  Fr. Grant had arrived by this time saying he would like to see all students eventually selecting an interdisciplinary minor and that he appreciated this central question.  He suggested the point was to tag onto a declared major in one of the three fields to provide deeper relevance.
    • Dean Aji called the classics an ‘endangered species’ and that through the capstone course their relevance will be connected to the host department more strongly.
    • Fr. Grant told Committee he appreciates the hard look that members take and accepted the suggestions.
  • Motion carried.

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Next Meeting:  Next scheduled meeting is April 24.  On the agenda are MBA International Management Certificate changes; Prerequisite and WI changes in Computer Science including a PHIL/CSCI cross listing proposal for WI course; Liturgical Theology minor proposal, and proposal items from the Nursing Department. 

 

Adjournment:

A motion to adjourn was made by M. Adams.

Seconded by P. Connelly.

Motion carried.  Meeting adjourned at 4:50 pm.

 

Minutes taken/submitted by

Ragene Gwin

 

 

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