UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATIONAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
Minutes for Wednesday, August 31st, 2011
Lintner Conference Room (Fireplace Room) 3:00-4:30 PM
Present:
Excused:
L. Batts – Student Rep.
S. Berg – Philosophy
K. Brown – Exercise Science
J. Byrd – Business Admin.
P. Cartor – Psyc/Soc/CJS
K. Cooter – Education
K. Golemboski – MLS
L. Hartford – Art
B. Holland – Nursing
P. Holt - Chemistry
C. Kane – Resp. Therapy
N. Lopez – Global Languages
M. Mahoney – History/P.S.
L. Needham – Communication
A. Olsen – Registrar
R. Pfaadt – Comm. Chair/Liberal Studies
C. Pfeffer – VPAA
F. Raymond – Economics
R. Schrader – Accounting
J. Stemmer – Library
M. Thompson – Theology
K. West – English
M. Ackerman – Math
M. Ali – Computer Science
Absent:
R. Burchard – Music
M. Mattei – AIT
Guests:
G. Bosley – Int’l Programs
G. Ellis - IDC
F. Hutchins – Soc/Anth/CJS/Geog
The meeting was called to order at 3:02 PM. Bob Pfaadt opened the meeting with a prayer.
Margaret Mahoney moved to approve the minutes from the meeting of April 6th, 2011. Nelson Lopez seconded the
motion. The motion passed and the minutes were approved.
I. Bellarmine College of Arts & Sciences
A. Anthropology
Pam Cartor/Frank Hutchins
1. Anthropology Minor
A Minor in Anthropology would offer a cross-cultural and international component to
our degree choices at Bellarmine. It would pair well with majors that channel students
into careers in which they will encounter cultural diversity and a wide range of global
issues. These would include business, economics, history, communications, FLIS, and
political science. This minor would offer Sociology and Psychology majors a theoretical
and practical foundation for working with people from a variety of backgrounds, which is
increasingly the case in these professions. Health sciences and education students who
can fit the minor requirements into their schedules would have an enhanced set of skills
for working with patients, health care professionals, and students who are ethnically
diverse. Required and elective geography courses are included in the minor so that
students better grasp relationships between people and the places they inhabit. Finally,
the Minor in Anthropology would represent a concrete and long-term commitment to our
QEP objectives, and to goal #4 of our General Education goals.
Pam Cartor gave the floor to Frank Hutchins who reviewed the proposed minor (see Attachment A). He
said he is interested in teaming up with other departments to create cross-disciplinary courses, such as the
Anthropology of Business.
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Discussion ensued. Gabriele Bosley noted the popularity of anthropology courses among study abroad
students. Frank Raymond expressed concerns regarding resources for the program. Drs. Cartor and
Hutchins noted most of the courses in the minor are already being taught, so the only new resources needed
would be one or two adjunct faculty, one of whom already teaches.
Richard Schrader questioned the fact that students could theoretically obtain the minor without having to
take a 300-level course in the subject area. It was determined there is no policy in place stating minors
must have a 300-level course in the discipline. If desired, Carole Pfeffer suggested changing the language
to state “select three courses from the following, one of which must be a 300-level course.”
A vote was taken; the motion to approve the new minor passed unanimously.
2. New Course – ANTH 310 – Anthropology of the Mind and Body (3)
Catalog Description:
The Anthropology of Mind and Body introduces students to concepts in medical anthropology.
Medical Anthropology is a subfield of anthropology that draws upon social, cultural, biological,
and linguistic anthropology to better understand those factors which influence health and well
being (broadly defined), the experience and distribution of illness, the prevention and treatment of
sickness, healing processes, the social relations of therapy management, and the cultural
importance and utilization of pluralistic medical systems.
Dr. Hutchins reviewed the above proposal (see Attachment B). He stated this course was originally offered
as an IDC course, and he has re-designed it to include mental health issues and as well as physical health
issues. He noted that many nursing students took the course when it was offered under IDC, and he stated
he would be willing to offer it through IDC to make it more flexible for nursing students.
Frank Raymond moved to approve the new course. Mil Thompson seconded the motion. Beverly Holland
asked about pre-requisites; Dr. Hutchins noted there are no pre-requisites for the course, but a student does
have to have junior or senior standing. Karen Golemboski asked if the IDC version of the course would
have the same content; Dr. Hutchins stated he would adjust the course content as needed to fit with what
the students need/want.
A vote was taken; the new course passed unanimously.
B. Biology Curriculum Changes
1.
2.
3.
Anthony Lentz
Change FLIS requirement to two 100 level courses (to be consistent with most other A&S departments).
Reduce BIOL 300 (a service course) from 4 credits to 3 credits, a change endorsed by the Lansing School.
Change one BIOL elective to a general elective for B.A. in Biology students.
Tony Lentz reviewed change number one. It was noted that the change is only for the B.A. curriculum; it does
not affect the B.S. curriculum. Discussion about the change to the FLIS requirement ensued. Nelson Lopez
expressed concern about the program not having the foreign language requirement at the 200 level. Carole
Pfeffer asked for clarification about whether the requirement could be fulfilled if a student tests out of 100-level
foreign language. The answer was yes. The change was accepted with one vote of “nay.”
Dr. Lentz reviewed the second item above. Beverly Holland noted that the Nursing program supports the
change, and will create a one-hour credit to replace the one lost when BIOL 300 becomes a 3-credit course.
Frank Raymond asked for more background information about the change. Dr. Lentz stated the recitation
component of the course had become unproductive for the students. He also noted it is difficult to find enough
instructors to teach the large number of recitations. Christy Kane noted the change will work well for students
transferring in with a pathophysiology credit, as at many other institutions the course is 3 credits.
A vote was taken; the motion to approve the change passed unanimously.
Dr. Lentz reviewed the third change. There were no comments/questions.
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C. Political Science
Margaret Mahoney
1. New Course – P.S. 3xx – Civil Liberties(3)
Catalog Description:
The investigation of how social and political forces play a role in the development of legal
doctrine, focusing on the First, Fourth, Fifth, and Fourteenth Amendments, including the right to
privacy and Equal Protection issues.
2. New Course – P.S. 3xx – Constitutional Law
(3)
Catalog Description:
A study of constitutional law, with emphasis on the power of government, the role of the judiciary
in applying constitutional standards to the issues of separation of powers, federalism, and
economic regulation.
Margaret Mahoney moved to accept the new courses (see Attachments C and D). She announced the
motion also involves removing P.S. 345 from the catalog, since the content of that course is a combination
of the content of the two new courses. Nelson Lopez seconded the motion to approve the new courses.
The motion passed unanimously.
II. IDC Report
Graham Ellis
Graham Ellis reviewed the 2010-2011 State of the IDC Report (see Attachment E).
III. Old Business
No old business was brought to the table.
IV. New Business
Gabriele Bosley distributed information about Bellarmine’s new Bilateral Partner Universities, as well as
information about faculty teaching opportunities abroad (see Attachments F and G).
Frank Raymond expressed some concerns regarding the Bookstore’s handling of textbook orders. Carole Pfeffer
noted she has been receiving the same reports from the Deans and is working to correct the situation. She
announced that anyone with any specific problems regarding textbook ordering should be sure to report them to
his or her school’s Dean immediately.
V. Announcements
Nelson Lopez shared information about “Reel Guate”: The 18 th Latin American Film Festival, which runs
September 14th through October 2nd, with films being screened at Bellarmine and at the University of Louisville.
For more information, contact Dr. Lopez at nlopez@bellarmine.edu or visit www.louisville.edu/spanish/filmfestival.
Lara Needham announced the 3rd Annual Ethics Essay Contest for Women Undergraduate Students, sponsored by
the Humana Foundation and the Institute for Media, Culture and Ethics at Bellarmine University. She noted the
contest is open to all female undergraduate students at Bellarmine, and the final date for submissions is September
22, 2011. She noted the essay should be about a woman – current or past – who has been an inspiration to the
writer through her courage and leadership.
Margaret Mahoney moved to adjourn the meeting. Steve Berg seconded the motion. The meeting adjourned at 4:19
PM.
The next meeting of the Undergraduate Educational Affairs Committee will be held Wednesday, September
28th, from 3:00-4:30 in the Fireplace Room.
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