ASCRC Minutes 3/11/08
Members Present: R. Bangadi J. Blunt, I. Crummy, J. Graham, E. Henderson S.
Lodmell, J. Luckowski, P. Muench, K. Nalty M. Nielsen, P. Silverman, S. Smillie, L.
Tangedahl, H. Thompson, G. Weix
Members Absent/Excused: A. Walker-Andrews
Ex-Officio Present: M. Hoell, D. Micus
Guest: J. Tompkins
Chair Thompson called the meeting to order at 2:15 p.m.
The minutes from 2/26/08 were amended and approved.
Communications:
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Faculty Library Committee
The Faculty Library Committee drafted a resolution that includes adding an ex-officio
member from the library to ASCRC and Graduate Council. The Library would like
to be involved in the review of new programs that affect library acquisitions.
The committee discussed the recommendation and does not support the addition of an
ex-officio member. The Library is welcome to participate in ASCRC by having a
faculty member volunteer to serve as a voting member of the committee. ASCRC
suggested that the resolution be sent back to the Faculty Library Committee and not
go forward to the Faculty Senate. [Chair Thompson spoke with Professor Vonessen,
Chair-elect of the Faculty Library Committee and the Faculty Senate Chair regarding
the issue. Since the resolution is on the agenda as first reading, they agreed to voice
ASCRC concerns at the Senate meeting so that the resolution could be revised for
vote at the April meeting.]
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Curriculum Consent Agenda
A member of ECOS had concerns about the crosslisting of ENLT/ENFM 320 so it
was removed from the consent agenda. The syllabus has been posted and the member
has a call in to the Chair of English.
Business Items:
Curriculum Review Follow-up
The Science Subcommittee reviewed the program modification from Computer
Science. Accreditation of the Computer Science program requires at least 30
semester hours of study in humanities, social sciences, arts and other disciplines. The
proposal, including language to revise requirements for the major in Computer
Science, was approved.
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NC Grading Option
Professor Blunt followed up with the Composition Department. Faculty did not see
any reason that ENEX 200 should have the NC grading option. ASCRC approved
removing this wording from the catalog language.
Melanie Hoell provided data on the use of the NC grading option. The option is used
rarely; It is primarily used by for ESL students and is not abused..
The following catalog language was approved.
Current Catalog Language (p. 22) Proposed Catalog Language
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No Credit Grading in
Composition (NC)
No Credit (NC) Grading in Composition
and Developmental Courses
Students enrolled in English 100 and 101
and COM 101 are graded by the
traditional letter grades of A through F or
are given NC for no credit. The NC grade
is awarded when exceptional progress has
occurred but the student needs to repeat
the course. The NC grade does not affect
grade point average.
Students enrolled in ENEX 101, WTS
100D, WTS 101, MAT 002D, MAT 005D,
and MAT 100D are assigned the traditional
letter grades of A through F or a grade of
NC (no credit). The NC grade is awarded
only when exceptional progress has
occurred but the student needs to repeat the
course to be fully ready for the next level.
The NC grade does not affect grade point
average.
MCLL Placement Exam Catalog Language
ASCRC considered the suggested catalog language. Committee members were
concerned that the department has no way of enforcing the exam; Registrar Micus
indicated that Banner can handle this problem. There needs to be an incentive for
students to place into the appropriate course level. Often more advanced students
retake entry level courses. One suggestion was to add a check box for “Experience
with a Foreign Language” to orientation registration / advising folder. Another
approach is to enforce placement exams at the level of enrollment in the introductory
language courses. Perhaps the chairs of the competency departments could meet to
discuss parallel procedures and catalog language for placement exams. The Modern
and Classical Language competency is different from the others because not all
students will have had a foreign language in high school and some will likely choose
majors that require a symbolic systems sequence. Chair Thompson will ask the
department to discuss parallel procedures with the Math department, and will invite
the Chair to ASCRC to explain the proposal.
Review of Draft General Education Criteria
ASCRC discussed the drafts submitted by the General Education Committee and
made several suggested revisions. The drafts still need to be reviewed for parallel
structure and tense. Professor Weix, the General Education Committee chair, will
communicate the suggestions to the subcommittee chairs. There was concern that the
Social Science language did not include input from Psychology and that the language
was very ambiguous. It was suggested that the Natural Science category include a
listing of the natural sciences. There was concern that many of the current natural
sciences courses would not meet the new criteria. This was resolved by
differentiating between lab and non-lab courses.
Good and Welfare
Chair Thompson encouraged members to take the time to see the Rembrandt Etchings on
exhibit in the Meloy Gallery of the Montana Museum of Art and Culture.
The meeting was adjourned at 4:00 p.m.