GENERAL EDUCATION COMMITTEE MINUTES, 10/29/14
CALL TO ORDER / ROLL CALL
Members present: S. Bradford, L. Calderon, S. Caro, M Cracolice, R. Fanning, J.
Randall, T. Shearer, L. Calderon, K. Reiser, G. Weix
Ex-officio Members present: B. Howard, N. Lindsay
Members Absent/ Excused: K. Huthaily, N. McCrady, T. Squires,
Guest: Heather Bruce, Diversity Advisory Council Co-Chair
Minutes: The minutes from 10/1/14 were approved.
COMMUNICATION

The Diversity Advisory Council is interested in the possibility of a Diversity General
Education Requirement. It is researching how other campuses have addressed the issue
The Council conducted research and now has data that indicates the campus climate
could use some improvement. The research involved focus groups of students with
disabilities, international students, Native American students, LGBQ students, African
American Students, and females. Some have had terrible experiences on campus. It
was also reported that the curriculum often displays a white European perspective.
The General Education Committee has had issues with the vague criteria of the
Indigenous and Global and American and European Perspective as well as others.
Further consideration of this issue was tabled to allow the Committee to do its’ rolling
review work. It would be helpful to clarify requirements and bring them into alignment
with something more meaningful. The MUS Core has a diversity category.
The Council is looking into a possible umbrella of Knowledge, Identity, and Power. It
was suggestion that oppression also be included. The University has done a good job of
celebrating diversity but not such a good job of transforming the culture. The Council
hopes to have a more refined proposal by next fall. This of course will need to make its
way through the General Education Committee, ASCRC, and the Faculty Senate. The
strategic plan has been approved by the Faculty Senate and it includes diversity as a
value.
BUSINESS ITEMS

The Work Groups reported on the status of their reviews. Group 3 again had
issues with the forms not being completed correctly. Professor Reiser is
requesting revised forms. The subcommittee asked whether one-time-only
general education status should be considered for RLST 291. Group 4 had
questions regarding the assessment section. It is not necessary to have a one-toone correlation with the learning goals. Assessment can be broader. Some
departments submitted old forms. The rationale for some 300 level general
education courses was questioned. The average freshmen student should be
able to succeed in general education course. The committee may at some point
want to consider an advanced general education track for advanced students.
Often students in majors with a tight curriculum take general education courses
as juniors or seniors.

Several courses in the Literary and Artistic category were approved by Group 1
(below). Geoscience will be asked to provide a clearer counting of required
credits. The other forms are still pending.
Several courses from Group 2 were approved (appended below). Professor
Shearer has contacted instructors for follow-up on the other forms.

A late form for the proposed Neuroscience to qualify for the language exemption
will be reviewed by Group 3.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 5:10p.m.
GROUP 1 CONSENT AGENDA
Literary and Artistic Studies
CLAS 155 L
GRMN 322L
GRMN 340L
MCLL 191
MUSI 134
NASX 239
Survey of Classical (ancient Greek and Latin) Literature
Advanced German Cinema
Nature and the Environment in German Literature and Film
Human Rights Issues in Literature and Film of the Portuguese Peaking
World
Music and Song of Ireland
Native North American History &Art
GROUP 2 CONSENT AGENDA
Language Exemptions
Biology - option Cell & Molecular Biology
Biology - option Ecology & Organismal Biology
Biology - option Field Ecology
Biology - option Genetics & Evolution
Biology - option Human Biological Sciences
Biology - track Teaching General Science Broadfield
Biology- option Biological Education
Biology- option Natural History
BS in Business Administration
Computer Science and Mathematical Sciences- BS Combined
Computer Science BS
DBS: Medical Technology (3+1 track)
DBS: Medical Technology (4+1 track)
Neuroscience, Molecular and Cognitive options
Biology - option in Microbial Ecology
Microbiology
Symbolic Systems
CSCI 135Fundamentals of Computer Science I
CSCI 136Fundamentals of Computer Science II
Historical and Cultural Studies
CLAS 180Environment and Nature in the Classical World