Educational Policies Committee

Tuesday, April 12, 2005

 

Members Present:  

Corinne Winter, Bill Hixon, Tom Hill, Martin Hansen, Mara Adams, Barb Wiese

Jeremy Burke, Dan Zeimet, Kari Rogers

 

Guests: Bea Jacobsen, Keri Manning, Sandra Quinn 

 

Excused: Ragene Gwin, Dave O’Connell, Kim Bennett

 

 

1. Approval of Minutes –

 

Motion to approve the minutes of April 5, 2005: T. Hill; Second: K Rogers

 

Minutes approved

 

 

2. New History Courses Proposed

 

Motion to approve: M. Adams; Second: K. Rogers

 

+HIST 219 Early East Asia (3 cr.)

+HIST 367 Twentieth Century American Women (3 cr.)

 

K. Manning began the discussion.  Developing these two new courses was part of the expectations for her when she was hired. The East Asia course helps to expand upon the existing Euro emphasis within the History Department.  The American Women course helps to bring SAU up to speed in this area since many universities offer a course on this topic.  It will be taught in a variety of ways and could perhaps be viewed as a topics course.  Both of these courses will be offered approximately once a year.  The catalog description will indicate that the American Women course will change in the topics covered.    

 

Discussion ensued about the name of the course. It was agreed that HIST 367 will change its name to American Women Topics, with a subtitle change each year.  A student could take the course more that once.

 

J. Burke will work with K. Manning to create the required documentation for general education.  Both of these courses will be given a Humanities designation.

 

Amended motion to approve the courses with the title change and pending J. Burke’s general education approval.

+HIST 219 Early East Asia (3 cr.)

+HIST 367 American Women Topics (3 cr.)

Motion approved.

 

 

3. Women’s Studies Interdisciplinary Minor:  5-Year Review

 

Motion to approve: M. Adams; Second: B. Hixon

 

(The following was submitted to EPC in written form. NOTE: The name of HIST 367 was changed to American Women Topics by the above action reported in section 2 of the minutes.)

PROPOSED ACTIONS

1.  Add the following courses to the minor:

a.  WMST 320 Irish Women and Film (new course; core course).

               b.  WMST 340  Women and Madness (new course; core course).

               c.  HIST 367 American Women     (new course; core course)

                         NOTE: Name changed to American Women Topics.   

               d.  HIST 320 Medieval Women: In Their Own Voices (core course)      

              e.  SOC 225  Sex and Gender (affiliate course)

               f.  SOC 240 Race and Ethnicity (affiliate course).          

              g.  SOC 323 Marriage and the Family (affiliate course)

               h. CRJU 487/587 Race, Class, Gender, and Criminal Justice (affiliate course).

               i.  MGMT 337 Gender in Organizations (affiliate course).

 

These additions reflect the energy and expertise of new faculty from several departments and an interest gender in other disciplines.  While new courses in the humanities are being added as core courses, a number of social science courses are being included at the affiliate level.

 

WMST 320 will serve as a course in the Irish Studies minor as well as the Women’s Studies minor. (See separate attachment for documentation on this course as part of Irish Studies). It provides Women’s Studies with a course focused on Irish culture.  Paired with WMST 315 (Latin American Women’s Issues), these courses address the two cultures in which St. Ambrose has well established study abroad programming, Ireland and Ecuador. 

 

WMST 340 provides a flexible structure for important interdisciplinary scholarship.  Focused on the stereotype of the “madwoman,” the course can be taught as a history course or a criminal justice course; it could also be a literature course.  Faculty from those departments have committed to teaching the course, perhaps as cross-listed with topics courses in their departments.

 

HIST 367 provides for a core course in the History Department, shifting women’s history from a “topics” status to a course of its own.  The focus on American history reflects the expertise of the faculty member developing the course.  (Topics courses in women’s history have been taught in the History Department over two decades.) 

 

HIST 320  provides a women’s history course that explores early western women.  Current scholarship in this area has expanded the richness of resources and representations in this time period.  This course complements with HIST 367 which focuses on more recent women’s history.    

 

SOC 240 was formerly part of the Women’s Studies minor.  At the time of the last program review, however, staffing was in flux and so it was set aside.  We are pleased to return it to the roster.

 

SOC 225 was created since the last Women’s Studies program review; its subject matter makes it an important contribution to the minor.

 

 SOC 323 was included in the minor under its former number, SOC 310.

 

CRJU 487/487 addresses a range of ways that difference functions in society from the perspective of Criminal Justice.  This course allows an opportunity for Criminal Justice minors to earn a course toward the Women’s Studies minor while satisfying credits in his or her major, an opportunity which might lead to more minors from Criminal Justice. (One of the very first Women’s Studies minors was a Criminal Justice minor.)  

 

MGMT 337, a course created after our last program review is a more appropriate course in the College of Business than MGMT 325, which we are dropping, due to its focus on gender in the workplace.  We are pleased to continue to have a course in the College of Business.

 

     2. Delete the following courses:

          a.  SOC 322 . The instructor who taught the course is no longer with the University.

          b.  HIST 240, 336, 337, 338.  A new instructor will be teaching these courses as of Fall 2005.  We

                have decided to set these courses aside until the new faculty decides to commit them to the

                 minor.

          c.  MGMT 325.  This course will be replaced with the new, and more appropriate, MGMT 337.

          d.  SOC 310.  This course has been replaced by SOC 323, the current course number.

 

 3. No courses are to be changed in name or renumbered; requirements for the minor remain the same although several courses have been added to both core and affiliate offerings. (See description of the minor below). 

 

 4.  Two current courses, WMST 201 and WMST 315, and two new additional courses, WMST 320 and 340 are proposed as fulfilling General Education requirements in Humanities. WMST 201 and 315 had been approved as courses fulfilling social science general education requirements but given the new General Education Program, and given the home departments of faculty teaching these courses, identifying them as Humanities is more appropriate. Materials supporting the General Education proposals appear in the General Education attachment. (Note: the General Education status of non-WMST courses in the minor are reviewed as part of the program reviews of their particular departments.)

 

OVERALL DESCRIPTION OF THE DEPARTMENT AND ITS PROGRAMS

 

1.  Catalog description  (changes appear in italics): 

Students pursuing a women’s studies minor must select a mentor from members of the Women’s Studies Advisory Committee.  The mentor will guide and direct the student in selecting courses.

Requirements for the Interdisciplinary Minor: 18 credits including WMST 201, 390.  At least six credits from: ENGL 222, HIST 320, HIST 367 , PSYCH 203, 312, THEO 310, 340, WMST 315, 320, 340.  Up to six credits from:  COMM 203, CRJU 487/587, ENGL 304, HED 207, MGMT 337, SLVN 201, SOC 225, SOC 240, SOC 323. THEO 300, THEO 362, WMST 350.

+WMST 201. Women’s Studies: A Cross-Cultural Introduction        3 credits

Provides an overview of topics and approaches that mark women’s studies across disciplinary and cultural boundaries.

WMST 310.  Topics in Women’s Studies     3 credits

Explores a particular issue related to women and/or gender in an interdisciplinary setting.  Prerequisite: Instructor permission.

+WMST 315.  Latin American Women’s Issues       3 credits

Explores the challenges and the opportunities facing Latin American women of the past and present.  Prerequisite: Sophomore status.

+ WMST 320.  Irish Women and Film                          3 credits

Explores representations of Irish women in film and their roles in Irish culture in relation to issues of morality and justice.  Examines the construction of film, the Irish film industry, and the influence of Irish politics on Irish filmmaking, as well as the way these topics create specific conditions of possibility for Irish women.

+WMST 340                                                                      3 credits

Explores the role of culture and politics in defining and treating “mental illness’ especially as it has marginalized or oppressed passionate, unconventional, and disobedient women of the past and present.

WMST 350.  Independent Study                                  1-3 credits

Directed individual reading, research, and/or writing on topics approved by the Women’s Studies Advisory Committee.  Prerequisite: Instructor permission.

WI-WMST 390.  Women’s Studies Seminar              3 credits

The capstone experience in the program.  Provides an opportunity for scholarly research and writing in an interdisciplinary setting.  Prerequisites: WMST 201 and six credits of course work in the minor, or instructor permission.

 

2. Significant changes since the last program review:

 

Changes in the Program over the past five years have included:

  1. Continued participation of WMST 201 in first-year learning communities, paired with different courses.
  2. Presence of new staffing—faculty interested in being part of Women’s Studies, either teaching in the program or offering ideas for events and lectures.
  3. Recognition of the minor as an option for fulfilling the second level of the content areas of General Education.
  4. Revival of the Women’s Studies Advisory Committee. 
  5. Collaboration with Ambrose Women for Social Justice, an extracurricular group dedicated to raising campus and community awareness regarding issues of economic and social justice.  The Fall 2004 conference with Barbara Ehrenreich as keynote speaker brought enthusiasm and energy to these issues.
  6. Membership in a consortium of Iowa Women’s Studies programs, bringing together faculty and students to share ideas and resources.
  7. Further development of the Women’s Studies Resource Center.  Staffed by a work-study assistant, this space has provided visibility for the program and resources for students and faculty.
  8. Strong collaboration with other departments, organizations, and a variety of campus events, most recently National History Day.
  9. Growth in numbers of minors.  Currently 8 students have formally declared the minor and several are minoring without having declared it formally.  Only one of these graduates in Spring 2005; most are currently sophomores.  The numerical growth is matched by the commitment of this group of students, several of whom will attend the Collegiate Conference on Global Women and Human Rights this April in Washington, DC.
  10. A webpage has provided the program with more visibility; a brochure and better established contact mechanisms allows for better information to reach our students and faculty more efficiently.

 

3. Outside consultation:

No formal outside consultations have taken place.  The Director, however, meets regularly with Women’s Studies Program Directors in the State of Iowa, and is a member of a national listserv for program directors.  The Program further is a member of the National Women’s Studies Association and receives its publications and news announcements.

 

4. Any long-range plans (next five years) for the department

1.   To continue to increase the number of minors.

2.   To add funding for two more courses to the annual WS budget

3.   To develop stronger ties with the community beyond the campus through a speakers’ bureau.

4.   To build on the current energy of our minors, providing them with avenues for developing their interests and acting upon their concerns.

5.  Add a student member to the Advisory Committee

 

ASSESSMENT OF THE DEPARTMENT AND ITS PROGRAMS

 

A) Departmental Minor Assessment Plan

1)       Departmental Mission Statement:

Women's Studies at St. Ambrose University is an interdisciplinary program which explores and assesses human experience through the lens of contemporary scholarship on women and gender. Women's Studies focuses on issues of diversity and emphasizes student-centered pedagogy and critical thinking.  Thus the program implements the University's mission in that it creates a climate of learning which "fosters self respect" and enables participants "to develop intellectually, spiritually, ethically, socially, artistically, and physically in order to enrich their own lives and the lives of others."

 

   2) Learning Objectives for Minors:

 1. An understanding of the social construction of knowledge and the function of gender as a category of analysis.  (Understanding)

2. An understanding of the variety of contemporary feminist perspectives and facility in using them to formulate a critical approach. (Understanding, Skill)

3.  Knowledge of the achievements of women, past and present, and an understanding of the ways in which difference enriches society. (Understanding)

4.  An understanding of the dynamics of power and empowerment, especially with regard to social change. (Understanding, Attitude)

5. An awareness of one's connections to and responsibilities towards peoples and systems within US society and around the world. (Understanding, Attitude)

6. The ability to articulate analyses and assessments--through speaking, writing, and non-verbal modes. (Skill)

7.  The ability to utilize multidisciplinary approaches. (Skill)

8.  The ability to work collaboratively. (Skill)

9.  Facility in research methods and strategies, including the use of electronic information resources. (Skill)

 

   3) Methods for Assessment in the Minor:

1. Monitoring Syllabi.  The Director has kept a file of syllabi of new and updated courses in the Women’s Studies Resource Center.  These serve as an information resource as other courses are designed or considered for approval in the minor; they have been reviewed in order to assess the development of the minor and to insure that as a whole, the program is meeting its objectives. 

2.  Surveying Graduates and Undergraduates.  A survey of graduates and undergraduates was conducted during this academic year, but with a small response rate.  Overall, the responses were very positive, demonstrating that, at least for this small sample, the program is achieving its learning objectives. A common sentiment is a call for more courses in the minor.

3. Student Portfolios.  Portfolios of graduating minors are kept on file.  Completing these portfolios has been made part of  WMST 390, but the process is on-going while a student is taking courses in the minor.  These are reviewed annually by the Women’s Studies Program Director.

 

These methods were chosen because they provide documentation regarding courses in the minor, they give both undergraduates and graduates a voice in shaping the minor, and they are tasks that are manageable and efficient.

 

While there is no formal method of feedback to students in the program, advising meetings as well as informal conversations help to keep students alert to changes in the minor and the rationale for various requirements..

 

Meeting the Program’s Objectives

Because of their key roles in the minor, WMST 201 and 390 bear a special responsibility in achieving the objectives; most minors take 201 as they begin the curriculum and 390 as they complete it.  The core and affiliate courses complement and extend the work of WMST 201 and 390.   In the “Proposal for Inclusion in the Minor,” attached to each of the non-WMST course syllabi, as well as in the syllabi themselves, instructors describe how each their courses meet specific objectives.  The following is a general summary of the ways in which courses in the program meet the program’s objectives.

 

1. Objective 1.   Minors understand the social construction of knowledge and the use of gender as a category of analysis.  These principal tenets of women’s studies are addressed in WMST 201 and 390 through readings and discussions; they are demonstrated in the substantial research papers and projects that students complete for WMST 210 and 390.  However, other courses also contribute to their understanding of these ideas: WMST 315-340, THEO 340, PSYCH 203 and 312, SOC 322, HED 205, ENGL 304, COMM 203, SOC 225, and HIST 320 and 367.

 

2. Objective 2.  The variety of contemporary feminist perspectives is introduced in WMST 201 and reinforced in WMST 390 when each student studies various feminist theories and selects one to use as the basis of the seminar paper.  Other courses address these issues, notably, ENGL 222, HIST 320 and 367, SOC 323 THEO 340, and WMST 340.

 

3. Objective 3.  Achievements of women are studied in WMST 201 and 390, especially achievements linked to social movements such as suffrage.  Readings, research, and discussion of women’s achievements take place in a wide range of courses including all of the history and English offerings, HED 207, and THEO 340, and WMST 320.

 

4. Objective 4.  The dynamics of power and empowerment are analyzed through readings and discussion in WMST 201 and 390; the former studies contemporary issues through the lens of power relationships; the latter requires students to address the role of power structures in their various research topics.  Other courses that address these concerns include: WMST 315-340, PSYCH 312, ENGL 222, THEO 340, THEO 300, COMM 203, SOC225, 240 and 323, HIST 320 and 367.

 

5. Objective 5.  The global focus of WMST 201, particularly the attention given to the economic relations between women in the US and women in developing nations stresses responsibility on both a local and a global level.  The seminar paper for WMST 390 requires an action component: a discussion of action to be taken to address issues raised in each paper.  Most clearly, SVLN 201 encourages in students a sense of responsibility which is complemented in other courses:  THEO 382, 300, 340, HED 207, and PSYCH 203 and 312, SOC 225, 240, 323, and HIST 367.

 

6. Objective 6.  In WMST 201, the ability to articulate analyses and assessments is developed through small group discussion, oral presentations involving a mix of media, and a research paper.  In WMST 390, the emphasis is on the scholarly paper, though discussion and response to others’ papers is also required.  Most of the history and English courses, along with WMST 310-340, PSYCH 312, THEO 340, SOC 225, 240, 323 and HED 207 also develop this skill.

 

7. Objective 7.  Use of multidisciplinary sources is seen clearly in the readings for WMST 201; these are drawn from a range of social sciences, creative writers, theologians, and philosophers.  In WMST 390, many of the common readings are by theorists from different academic areas; in addition, for the seminar paper, each student works with a faculty member in the area of the paper’s topic.  Other courses using multidisciplinary materials include: PSYCH 312, ENGL 304, and WMST 310-340, HIST 320 and 367.

 

8. Objective 8.  WMST 201 includes considerable group work and a final project which students can work on collaboratively.  In WMST 390, peer interaction forms a large part of the writing process--both in pre-writing and revision stages.  WMST 310-340, ENGL 222, ENGL 304, SOC 240, 323, and HED 207 also foster collaborative strategies. HIST 367 includes in-class simulation exercises.

 

9. Objective 9.  WMST 201, and to a greater degree, WMST 390 develop research skills in students through the research assignments for each of these courses. WMST 320, PSYCH 312, THEO 300 and 340, ENGL 304, HED 207, and HIST 320 and 367 also include substantial research components.

 

A fuller elaboration of the courses and the program objectives they fulfill can be found in the grid on the following page.

Objective

 

   1

     2

    3

    4

     5

    6

    7

    8

     9

Course

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WMST201

 x

 x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

WMST310*

 

x

x

 

 

x

x

 

x

WMST315

x

x

 

x

x

x

x

x

 

WMST320

x

 

 

x

 

x

x

x

 

WMST340

x

x

 

x

 

x

x

x

 

WMST350*

x

x

x

x

 

x

x

 

x

WMST390

x

x

 

 

 

x

x

 

x

ENGL222

 

x

x

x

 

x

 

x

 

HIST 320

x

x

x

x

 

 

x

 

x

HIST 367

x

x

x

x

x

x

 

 

x

PSYCH203

x

 

 

 

x

x