University Requirements Curriculum Committee
Minutes, December 7, 2012
Members Present: Natalie Caine-Bish, Michael Fisch, Mary Ann Haley, LuEtt Hanson, Linda HoeptnerPoling, Jeremy Jarzembak, Tina Kandakai, Ralph Lorenz, Tracey Motter, Donald Palmer, Elizabeth
Sinclair-Colando, Clarence Uher, Deidre Warren, Clarence Wunderlin
Members Absent: Joanne Arhar, Thomas Brewer, Kenneth Burhanna, Jessie Carduner, Rozell Duncan,
Pamela Evans, Robert Faley, Harold Fry, Fran Haldar, I. Richmond Nettey, Elwin Robison, Jonathan
VanGeest, Robert Walker, Breanne Yonkof
Guests: Vicki Bocchicchio, Jeff Wattles, Thom Yantek
The meeting was called to order at 2:34 PM by Chairperson Palmer..
The minutes of the meeting of November 9, 2012 were approved without revision.
Discussion Items:
Discussion based upon the report of the Experiential Learning Requirement subcommittee was introduced
by Ralph Lorenz. URCC members are in the approval chain for some of the ELR approval processes, and
thus it is important that members be well-educated about the overall procedures. Many members of the
URCC are new this year and haven't had the benefit of discussions from previous years. The ELR
subcommittee thinks that there is a need to provide additional education about the ELR to URCC
members (and others). The following points were discussed:
1. Should we propose some sort of training/workshop for the URCC on the ELR review process?
Would this best be handled within a regular URCC meeting or in a separate event (such as through
the FPDC)?
2. Should we require or recommend in stronger terms the use of the ELR rubric in the evaluation of
ELR course and section proposals? (The rubric is currently only a resource for helping submitters
to stay on track.)
3. For the sake of consistency, should we involve the ELR subcommittee to a greater degree in the
approval process, by having the subcommittee screen all ELR proposals before the large committee
sees them? If the subcommittee were to be responsible for giving final approval on the form, it
could eliminate the possibility of a faculty member at the URCC level rejecting something that has
been approved already at the Chair/Director level.
4. In some cases individuals have served in a dual capacity (Chair and URCC representative) in
signing approval for an ELR—should we address this situation in any way in order to have more
diversity in the approval process?
5. Do we need to flesh out the appeal process by involving the subcommittee?
Dr. Lorenz presented the instructions and form for the approval of ELR non-course activity and moved
approval of the form. This was seconded by LuEtt Hanson and after short discussion, the motion passed
without dissent.
After further discussion it was decided to continue discussion of the intentions of the ELR at the January
meeting and to address the processes for approval of the ELR at the February meeting.
Course Proposals:
Department of Political Science POL 20001 – Political Methods was proposed as an ELR course. Dr.
Yantek presented the case for approval. Dr. Haley moved approval with a second from Dr. Wunderlin.
The course was approved unanimously.
Dr. Palmer surrendered the chair’s position to Dr. Lorenz during the next course for consideration.
Honors College HONR 13597 – Western Identity was proposed as a course in the Kent Core. Vicki
Bocchicchio and Jeff Wattles presented the case for approval, noting that the course is interdisciplinary in
character and is meant to provide an introductory Honors experience for those freshmen students who are
not able to take the Honors colloquium. Motion for approval was made by Dr. Haley and seconded by
Dr. Sinclair-Colando. The course and assessment plan was approved unanimously.
Dr. Palmer resumed the position of chair.
College of the Arts, School of Music proposed Kent Core Assessment Plans for two courses.
MUS 22111 – The Understanding of Music
MUS 22121 –Music as a World Phenomenon
Motion for approval was made by Dr. Lorenz and seconded by Dr. Hanson. The assessment plans were
approved unanimously.
Dr. Haley of the College of Arts and Sciences presented the following Kent Core Assessment Plans:
From the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
CHEM 10030 – Chemistry in Our World
CHEM 10031 – Chemistry in Our World Lab
CHEM 10050 – Fundamentals of Chemistry
CHEM 10052 – Introduction to Organic Chemistry
CHEM 10053 – Inorganic and Organic Laboratory
CHEM 10054 – General and Elementary Organic Chemistry
Dr. Haley moved approval of the assessment plans with a second from Dr. Wunderlin. The motion was
approved unanimously.
Consideration of the submission from Computer Sciences was postponed until copies of the proposal
could be made.
Department of Geography
GEOG 10160 – Introduction to Geography
GEOG 17063 – World Geography
GEOG 17064 – Geography of the US and Canada
GEOG 21062 – Physical Geography
GEOG 21063 – Physical Geography Laboratory
GEOG 22061 – Human Geography
Dr. Haley moved approval of the assessment plans with a second from Dr. Wunderlin. The motion was
approved unanimously.
Department of Geology
GEOL 11040 – Earth Dynamics
GEOL 11041 – Earth Dynamics Lab
GEOL 11042 – Earth History
GEOL 11043 – Earth History Lab
GEOL 21062 – Environmental Geology
GEOL 21080 – Oceanography
Dr. Haley moved approval of the assessment plans with a second from Dr. Wunderlin. The motion was
approved unanimously.
Department of Mathematics
MATH 11008 – Explorations in Modern Mathematics
MATH 11009 – Modeling Algebra
MATH 11010 – Algebra for Calculus
MATH 11012 – Intuitive Calculus
MATH 11022 – Trigonometry
MATH 12001 – Algebra and Trigonometry
MATH 12002 – Analytic Geometry and Calculus
MATH 12011 – Calculus with Precalculus I
MATH 12012 – Calculus with Precalculus II
MATH 14001 – Basic Mathematical Concepts I
MATH 14002 – Basic Mathematical Concepts II
Dr. Haley moved approval of the assessment plans with a second from Dr. Wunderlin. The motion was
approved unanimously.
Time was given for the members of the URCC to read and consider the submission from Computer
Sciences. The course was CS 10051 – Introduction to Computer Science
Dr. Haley moved approval of the assessment plan with a second from Dr. Wunderlin. The motion was
approved unanimously.
Department of Pan-African Studies
PAS 23001 – Black Experience I: Beginnings to 1865 - assessment with revision in course content
PAS 23002 – Black Experience II: 1865 to Present - assessment with revision in course content and
catalog description
Dr. Haley moved approval of the assessment plans with a second from Dr. Wunderlin. The motion was
approved unanimously.
Department of Physics presented revision of prerequisites for the Kent Core classes with large-Scale
changes to certain courses with a revision in the prerequisites to include MATH 12001 as an alternative
prerequisite to PHY 12201, PHY 13001 (KC), PHY (KC) 13011
Dr. Haley moved approval of the proposal with a second from Dr. Wunderlin. The motion was approved
unanimously.
The committee considered an ELR proposal from the School of Theatre and Dance for DAN 47175, a
Capstone Project. The motion for approval was made by Dr. Lorenz and seconded by Dr. Hanson. The
motion was approved unanimously.
The committee considered the request from the School of Theatre and Dance to update THEA 41115 as a
replacement for THEA 41114. The motion for approval was made by Dr. Lorenz and seconded by Dr.
Hanson. The motion was approved unanimously.
The Chair informed the committee that he had approved revision of the prerequisites for two writing
intensive courses MUS 32212 Music History 1750-1900 and THEA 41026 Playwriting.
There being no other business, the meeting was adjourned at 3:55 PM.
Respectfully submitted by Donald Palmer, Chair