Educational Policies Committee

Tuesday, February 22, 2005

 

Members Present: Corinne Winter, Dave O’Connell, Ragene Gwin, Tom Hill, Martin Hansen, Mara Adams, Barb Wiese, Lori Rodrigues-Fisher, Brenda Peters, Dan Zeimet, Kim Bennett, Kari Rogers 

 

Guests:  Paul Koch, Patrick Budelier, Keith Haan, Joan Trapp

 

Excused: Bill Hixon

 

 

1. Approval of Minutes

 

Motion to approve the minutes of February 8, 2005: D. O’Connell ; Second: M. Adams

 

Minutes approved

 

 

2. Department of Music: 5-Year Review

 

Motion to approve pending approval of general education requirements by Brenda Peters: T. Hill; Second: K. Rogers

 

A summary of the proposed changes as submitted to EPC follow in sections a, b, c, d below:

a. Creation of new courses

  • MUS 090:Music Fundamentals (1 cr.)
  • MUS 105: Piano Class II (1 cr.)
  • MUS 106: Voice Class (1 cr.)
  • MUS 318: Marching Band / Jazz Band Procedures (2 cr.)

 

b. Courses renumbered or changed in substance

  • MUS 122: String Ensemble will remain in place and MUS 119: St. Ambrose University-Community Symphony Orchestra will be added to reflect the group’s identity
  • MUS 322: Vocal Materials and Methods for Music Education change to          MUS 322: Secondary Choral Methods
  • MUS 244: Music for the Elementary Classroom Teacher – Add 25 hours of field experience for music majors taking this course.

 

c. Proposed changes in program requirements

Bachelor of Music Education:

  • All music education majors are required to take MUS 244
  • Instrumental majors must take MUS 318: Marching Band / Jazz Band Procedures

Music Minor

No actual requirement changes, but students will be strongly encouraged to take MUS 319: Conducting.

 

d. Changes in curriculum and program requirements since spring 1999

  1. MUS 099: Recital Attendance (no credit)
  2. MUS 114: Irish Music in the World
  3. MUS 317: Introduction to Music Theatre in cross-listed with THTR 317
  4. MUS 320: Conducting Practicum renumbered to MUS 419: Independent Study
  5. MUS 320 became Conducting II: Vocal
  6. MUS 321: Conducting II: Instrumental was added
  7. MUS 323: Music Material and Methods was split into 2 courses to target instrumental and vocal majors (MUS 322: Vocal Materials and Methods for Music Education and MUS 323: Instrumental Materials and Methods for Music Education)
  8. 60-hour Review for all music majors at the end of their sophomore year (or at the end of their first semester at SAU for transfer students) is conducted by a committee of permanent faculty and consists of an interview and evaluation of the student’s performance in music classes, general classes, ensembles, and solos.

 

 

K. Haan presented 3 additional handouts (General Education Course Evidence of Teaching to the Humanities Goals, Assessment Tools and Procedures, Students Skill Levels in Music Theory Courses) to be added to the hard copy of the program review.

Additional comments were made by the Music Department faculty.

  • The Music Department recognizes that they have not adequately documented assessment, partially due to the fact that they have their students with them for 4 years in the department and are very cognizant of their strengths and weaknesses.  The Department is working to remedy this by further documentation.
  • They are increasing requirements for music theory students to help improve their scores in this area.
  • Further artifacts for general education requirements were presented.
  • Students entering with music deficiencies will be helped in the MUS 090 class.
  • A major liability to the program currently is the lack of a music computer lab.  This is due to lack of space / facilities on campus.  It does make recruiting difficult.  There are no student or instrument lockers available, again due to the lack of space.  There are infrastructure problems in the building including lack of sound barriers, lack of power for computers, and no air conditioning.

 

Questions / comments / suggestions from the Committee are followed by responses / changes from the Department.

  • Categories for grading will be realigned so that all % are included – p. 4.
  • The lab course will be customized to fit each class based on student needs.
  • Will adding another requirement cause a problem for students?  Response: It already takes many music education majors more than 4 years to complete the program.
  • How do you assess your overall program?  Response:  We view other schools to see what they are doing.  We look at internal problems students have had and improve courses based on that information.  We look at graduate school exams that our students have taken and have found that students are able to go right into graduate school without needing further course work. 
  • Have you done any graduate surveys?  Response:  Not within the last 5-10 years.  We may want to look at doing that again.
  • Will additional resources (i.e., adjuncts) be required for the new courses being proposed? Response:  We currently have a pool of about 15 adjuncts.  Adjuncts are relied on to teach many of the courses both for general education and music majors.  Three adjuncts regularly participate in meetings, recitals, etc.
  • Where will the piano room in the basement of Davis go when that facility is not used for faculty / academics.  Response:  We don’t currently have a back-up plan for that.  (Rodrigez-Fisher and Koch indicated that the university will find a space for them when that happens.)

 

The program review was approved based on finalizing general education requirements with B. Peters.

 

 

3. Upcoming Meetings

March 1 -  Educational Leadership – New program proposal

                  Discussion with Deans about EPC’s role in approving minors

March 15 – No meeting

March 22 - Computer and Information Sciences / Master of Science in Information

                   Technology Managements – 5-year Review

                    Finance, Economics, and Decision Sciences Department – Changes to

                    courses

 

Motion to adjourn: R. Gwin;  Second:  M. Adams

Adjournment at 4:00  

 

Submitted by Barb Wiese