Meeting of the Faculty Senate
General Education Committee
325 Graff Main Hall
September 16, 2013
2013-2014 Members: Sam Cocks
Nabamita Dutta
Kenny Hunt
Lisa Kobs
Bryan Kopp
Heather Mathison
Meredith Thomsen
Mary Tollefson
Yevgeniya Turov
Philosophy
Economics
Computer Science
Biology
English
Mathematics
Biology
Music
Chemistry
Members Present: Cocks, Dutta, Hunt, Kobs, Kopp, Mathison, Thomsen, Tollefson
Members Absent: Turov
Guests and Consultants: Chris Bakkum,, Registrar; Carla Burkhardt, CSH; Amelia Dittman,CBA;
Anne Galbraith, Chair of Faculty Senate; Tim Walls, CLS
The meeting was called to order at 3:31 by Meredith Thomsen, convener.
1.
Meredith Thomsen was elected chair, voice vote, unanimous.
2.
Heather Mathison was elected recorder, voice vote, unanimous.
3.
General Education Assessment:
Kenny Hunt provided an overview of the 3 year cycle of General Education (GE) Assessment.
The campus is beginning the 3rd year of the cycle. Of approximately 125 general education
courses, only half submitted assessment information during the first two years of the cycle, the
other half are expected to submit information during this year. Form A for this year is due
October 1st, Form B is due June 1st after the academic year ends, and Form C is due by July 1st of
the following academic year.
As part of this committee’s charge for the year, the GE committee will assist the GEAC
committee with the issue of non-compliance in assessment of GE courses. Courses may be
eliminated from the GE program for non-compliance. Anne Galbraith also shared the need to
remind departments that there is an appeal process that may be utilized.
Chris Bakkum and Anne Galbraith spoke of how the HLC previously dinged the campus because
no effort had been made to assess GE courses. Reports from the HLC can be found on the GE
Minutes submitted by H. Mathison
website. Patrick Barlow has also written reports which can assist members of the committee in
understanding the big picture of GE assessment.
Due to current system instability, GEAC may need to extend the deadline for submission of Form
A. Anne Galbraith indicated that the Provost supports efforts to make the assessment software
work and will look at meeting the associated needs.
4.
Chris Bakkum informed the committee of exceptions to GE courses which were granted over the
summer.
A. College of Business Administration – Substituted ART 251, ART History I (3 credits)
from UW-La Crosse for ART 102, Art Appreciation (2 credits). (Approved by Don
Sloan, Art Dept. Chair)
B. College of Science and Health – Substituted BIO 280, Anatomy and Physiology (4
credits) from Concordia University for a General Education lab science course (4
credits). (Approved by Mike Abler, Biology Dept. Assistant Chair); Substituted HED
209, Nutrition for Fitness and Health (3 credits) from UW-Waukesha and 2 credits of
ESS 100, Physical Activity, from UW-La Crosse for HPR 105, Health and Physical WellBeing (3 credits). (Approved by Mark Gibson, ESS Dept. Chair).
5. Associate Degree
Chris Bakkum shared that there is a push from the state level to assist students who have attended
UW-L in attaining some sort of credentials. An effort is being made to increase awareness of our
Associate Degree for students leaving UW-L with no bachelors degree. The 60 credits of
required classes closely resemble the GE curriculum. The Faculty Senate has requested that the
GE Committee examine 2 semester sequences to determine whether courses should be added or
deleted.
Members were concerned that several of the courses on the list were not General Education
courses and suggested the task would be more appropriate for the UCC as that committee created
the original list. The chair will request clarification from Anne Galbraith.
If the GE Committee continues with this charge, Amelia Dittman suggested that departments be
asked if courses should be added or deleted from the list. Chris Bakkum will look for language
that can be used in sending such a request to the departments.
5. Thinking about the next meeting:
Bryan Kopp will give an update on Writing in the Major
Patrick Barlow will be invited to share his perspective on GE Assessment.
The Chair will inquire about the 3 student representatives on the committee.
The Chair asked all committee members to review the HLC report and other documents on the
Faculty Senate website related to GE .
Who is in charge of the GE committee’s website?
The meeting was adjourned at 4:55 pm.
Minutes submitted by H. Mathison