Curriculum Committee Minutes
May 1, 2001
Present: Barry, Beck, Breitenbach, Clark, Kirkpatrick, Kontogeorgopoulos, Lendermann, Livingston,
Mehlhaff, Neff-Lippmann, Pasco-Pranger, Pinzino, Sugimoto, Tomhave, Warning, Washburn
Warning called the meeting to order at 9:04 a.m.
Asian Studies Curriculum Review:
Barry reported that the Asian Studies Program has requested that the curriculum review scheduled for
2001-2002 be deferred to 2002-2003. The Program is instituting two new assessment plans and would
like the opportunity to use the information garnered from these assessment plans to undertake a major
review of the Program; the Program also needs to take under consideration the report of an outside
consultant hired this year. ACTION: Beck M/S/P approval of a deferral of the review of the Asian
Studies curriculum from 2001-2002 to 2002-2003.
Breitenbach observed that, if the new core curriculum passes, the Committee is likely to get numerous
requests for deferrals of curriculum reviews; he asked the Committee whether it would be useful to shift
all the reviews scheduled for 2001-2002 to the following year, especially since the Committee will be very
busy reviewing courses for the new core. Warning suggested that the Committee could adopt a tacit
policy of approving deferral requests. Mehlhaff objected to this suggestion, saying that the Committee
should not offer an invitation or an excuse for putting off reviews; he also observed that some
departments (like the sciences) are unlikely to be deeply affected by the change in the core curriculum in
that they won't need to create new courses for it. Washburn listed the few departments due for review
next year, observing that many of them are in fact science departments. Breitenbach withdrew his
suggestion.
English Department Curriculum Review:
Barry reported that the review is still under consideration. The chair of the Department has responded to
questions put to him by the Subcommittee, but other issues still need to be addressed.
Curriculum Committee Final Report:
The Committee reviewed and approved for recommendation to the Faculty Senate in the Final Report the
following additional charges and work to be carried over:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
review the question of whether to affiliate with special domestic programs;
review and assess the Special Interdisciplinary Major;
review the requirement limit of nine units in the major;
assess the fallow year core procedures; and
evaluate the departmental/program reviews for Chemistry, History, Geology, Internships,
Latin American Studies, and Physics.
Thank-yous and Goodbyes:
The Committee extended special thanks and valedictory wishes to Ken Stevens upon his retirement;
Stevens has served on the Committee twelve of the last eighteen years. The Committee also thanked
Micah Lendermann for his exemplary service as student representative to the Committee and
congratulated him on his impending graduation.
Pinzino M/S/P adjournment at 9:20 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Molly Pasco-Pranger