General Education Committee Minutes, 11/28/12
Members present: R. Baker, L. Calderon, S. Caro, L. Frey, K. Huthaily K. Reiser, N. White
Members Absent: K. McKay, F. Rosensweig
Guest: S. Bradford
The minutes from 11/14/12 minutes were amended and approved.
Communications Item:

The deadline memo for the rolling review was sent on November 15th. There are 52
Historical and Cultural Courses, 36 Natural Science with lab and 27 without lab, plus 7
mathematics courses plus 2 exam scores to be reviewed Members requested that notice be
sent when courses are posted.

Camie is in the process of notifying programs of the courses that will not be renewed fall
2013. One has asked whether any special consideration might be given because the faculty
member is out of the country. The program will need to request an exception with an
explanation of the student impact, and provide notice of when the form will be submitted.
Business Items

It is apparent that the Global & Indigenous and American & European Perspectives
definitions as well as criteria and learning outcomes require some attention given the
difficulties with the course reviews. Professors Caro and Reiser agreed to explore possible
revisions taking into consideration the University’s mission statement, the General
Education Preamble, strategic planning documents, and contrasting the groups.

The Committee discussed the difficulty in a possible incentive approach for students to take
a foreign language. Current exceptions are difficult to manage. Waiving other general
education requirements for students choosing a language would be difficult.
The committee understands the benefits of learning a language and agrees that all students
should have exposure. However, credit constraints and scheduling issues are also a reality.
Language courses are not assessable to Missoula College students. Language offerings are
mostly limited to M-F between a four- hour window.
One idea is to have a language requirement for all students, but build in flexibility that
works with majors so that the experience (not a traditional 5 credit language course) not only
teaches cultural aspects of the language, but is relevant to the major. These courses could
double- dip with another group. This could be an ad on to an existing major course,
independent study translations, examinations of an actual discipline related event where
language/ culture had an impact. Language faculty might collaborate with other disciplines
to create experiences that enhance students’ understanding of the importance of language
and culture as it relates to their field of study. Another benefit would be the de-coupling of
language with symbolic systems.
The meeting was adjourned at 5:15