Educational Policies Minutes, October 21

Members Present: Kris Eitrheim, Ragene Gwin, Bill Hixon, Bill McAleer, David O’Connell, Randy Richards, Lori Rodriguez-Fisher, Barb Wiese, Corinne Winter

Guests: Linda Brown, Richard Dienesch, Kuo-Ho Yang, Tom Burns, Robert Mitchell, Amy Hakeman, Barbara Walker, Brenda Peters

Motion to approve minutes of Oct. 7 Barb Wiese, Second Bill Hixon

One amendment – the name of the department proposing the Exercise Science major is Health, Physical Education, and Sport Science

Minutes approved with amendment

1. Program Review - Physics

Motion for approval: Barb Wiese, Second: Bill Hixon

Discussion:

The department feels that their assessment has not changed much in the past five years.

They propose to switch the 300-level WI course from PHYS 317 (Modern Physics) to PHYS 306 (Electronics) because while the writing assignments seemed an extra burden for students in Modern Physics, they can be more easily integrated into Electronics which already includes required lab reports. Tom Burns has worked with Mike Hustedde to assure that the revised course will fulfill WI requirements. The department will work with current majors to be certain that as the switch is made, they do not end up missing a WI course.

The department proposed to delete three courses: Physics 160 (Basic Electronics), NSCI 202 (Earth Science), and ENGR 310. Those courses have not been taught for a number of years. The rule of thumb is that a course that is not taught on a regular basis should not be in the catalogue. One difficulty arose regarding the first two courses. Those courses are sometimes accepted as transfer courses especially for ACCEL students. Even portfolio credit requires that the student’s work fulfill the objectives of a course that exists at SAU. In order to provide for transfer students, the department amended their proposal by deleting PHYS 160 and NSCI 202 from the list of courses to be dropped.

The department proposes to decrease the Math requirement for the major in Engineering Physics from 18 to 15 semester hours which is the number required for the general Physics major. Within the required 15 hours of Math, the Physics student will have taken all of the Math courses that are helpful for a Physics major. Further math skills are acquired through physics courses themselves.

The department intends to develop a sequence of experiments for advanced lab and experimental research and to invest in the necessary resources for those experiments. The department feels that the planning of experiments has been somewhat haphazard in past years and that insufficient resources have been devoted to the needs of the advanced lab.

Physics uses a student portfolio for assessment of learning in the major. There was some discussion of various departments’ experience of the portfolio process. Physics, due to small number of majors, finds the process manageable.

A question was raised about a statement under departmental objectives that included discussion of issues on uses of science and technology. The department clarified that they consider it part of their job to raise awareness of such issues, not to evaluate student positions. The issues are pointed out in discussion in a number of courses where they are relevant.

The motion to accept the Program review with the amended list of courses to be dropped passed.

2. Program Review: Finance, Economics, and Decision Sciences

Motion to accept : Kris Eitrheim, Second: Ragene Gwin

Discussion: Linda Brown reminded the committee that many changes in the department were approved by Ed Policies in the Spring of 2003. The committee expressed appreciation for the summary of those changes that is included in the Program Review document. Changes to be approved with the review include new mission and vision statements, a new name for the department, a new assessment plan, and four course changes.

A question was raised regarding the request for approval of Personal Finance as a General Education course. Should that wait for the new director of General Education? Upon being assured that a new director is likely to be on board soon, the committee suggested tabling action on that one course until the director can participate in the discussion. The department had no objection to the delay since they do not plan to offer the course in the spring of ’04. Bill Hixon made a motion to amend the motion to read that the Department Review will be approved with the exception at this time of the new general education course; it was accepted as a friendly amendment.

A question was asked about the statement under long range plans regarding a possible application process for the College of Business. Such a process might help the department track majors better in order to assure that they receive the best possible advising. Could the department work with Records and Registration for better tracking? Under the present system, students might not declare a major until quite near their graduation and an undeclared major is not known to Records and Registration either.

Another question was raised about long range plans for a possible “consumer panel.” Why did the review state that some resources could be needed? It is possible that professionals from outside of SAU should sit on such a panel and those persons should receive an honorarium. The department is not anticipating that any large amount would be involved.

Regarding assessment, the department was asked how class discussion was used as part of assessment? Students are asked about their perspective on what they are learning. Many of them are working and can comment on practicality of skills for the job. Others can comment on how one course has helped them in a subsequent course.

Linda Brown informed the committee that since the revisions in the Finance curriculum there has been an increase in the number of majors. There are about 40 current majors, each following one of three possible tracks. Most of them are following the new catalogue. The department was complimented on that and other evidence of growing quality of instruction within the department.

Motion passed with the friendly amendment.

3. Proposed new major – Exercise Science. Proposed by the department of Health, Physical Education, and Sport Science

Motion to approve: Ragene Gwin Second: Barb Wiese

Amy Hakeman reminded the committee that the major had been approved as a concept by Ed. Policies in 1998 and has been in development since that time. The major is designed to prepare student who intend to pursue graduate study in some field; it does not stand alone as preparation for any job. Students might continue in Physical Therapy or Chiropractic for example. The proposed major provides good preparation for graduate study because of its academic focus.

The department was asked about the Senior Seminar. It is a one-credit course serving all majors in HPESS. Ragene Gwin informed the committee that it has been taught twice. It includes a research project (though not a project involving human subjects), some work on the portfolio the department requires of all majors, and a little bit of advice on next steps toward a career. It also provides an opportunity for majors to understand the variety of fields within HPESS and to share information with one another.

The department was asked whether an Introduction course would be helpful. No.

The committee looked at grids that were prepared outlining how students could meet the requirements for the degree within four years. Since the major requires specific courses in Biology and Chemistry, for example, which typically fill up before the last students register, could late - registering students find themselves unable to complete the requirements? The grids provide samples only and most students should be able to work everything in. One might need to take a summer course. The department was advised that all of the proposed grids assumed that an incoming student would already have met the Modern Language requirement by having taken three years of a language in high school. Statistics show that half of our students would still need some language courses.

There was discussion of the heavy requirements for the major – 73 credits. A number of other majors have been asked to review programs with a view to reducing number of credits. It was noted that the 73 credits includes all of the requirements including many general education courses. No requirements are hidden as pre-requisites. The department expressed certainty that, given the future choices for these majors, all of the required courses are necessary.

The department was asked to comment on provision for lab experience within the major. Lee Lohman does not have lab space. Some courses, such as Motor Learning, do include hands-on experience, and the department believes that is sufficient for the major.

The major does work for students coming in on “Tract I” for the DPT. They would graduate with a BA in Exercise science during their fourth year at SAU. During that year they would also have begun their graduate work.

Where would majors come from? PT has indicated an impression that perhaps half of the students who want to do the DPT would choose the major in Exercise Science. Would the major bring in new students – There is no evidence to that effect. Would the major take students away from other majors – e.g. Biology and Psychology? There could be some reduction of majors in those fields but Brenda Peters of Biology stated that most likely the change would not be enough to affect staffing. There might be an increased need for sections of some general education Biology courses. Does the program need to seek national certification? No.

POINT OF NOTE: Last year, planning passed a Template that must be met by anyone proposing a new program. The Template can be found on the Provost’s Web Page (on the first page of “Provost,” scroll down to the bottom and click on STRATEGIC PLANNING). Educational Policies is bound by that template whenever new programs are brought forth. It does not apply in this case because the program was already approved in concept and because no new courses or other resources are required. Groups proposing new programs should provide the information required by the template when bringing materials to Ed. Policies.

MOTION PASSED.

Agenda items for Nov. 11: Program Review Industrial Engineering (Materials due by Oct. 28), Proposal for new general education course - “Survey of Internal Business and Managerial Studies” (materials already received), material provided by Hope Guardina regarding assessment of portfolio process.

Motion to adjourn Bill Hixon; Second Kris Eitrheim. Adjourned 4:45.

Submitted by Corinne Winter