Graduate Curriculum Committee – December 2, 2010 Meeting Minutes
Dr. Jeannine Perry called the meeting to order at 3:34 p.m. The following members were present:
Dr. Jennifer Apperson
Dr. Gretchen Braun
Mrs. Kathy Charleston
Dr. Audrey Church
Dr. Sharon Emerson-Stonnell
Dr. Lily Goetz
Dr. Frank Howe
Dr. Pat Lust
Dr. Rachel Mathews
Dr. Jennifer Miskec
Dr. Jeannine Perry
Dr. Lissa Power-deFur
Dr. Gerry Sokol
Dr. Gena Southall
The following members were absent: Dr. William Burger, Ms. Mary Carroll-Hackett, Dr. David
Locascio, and Ms. Abbey O’Connor. Others present were: Dr. Vonnie Colvin.
Crissy Sampier from the LancerCard Office shared information on the new off-campus ID card.
Program Coordinators provide her a list of student names with Longwood L numbers. They produce
cards without a picture of student and return cards to the Program Coordinator for distribution. Each
Coordinator must check a picture ID when distributing the cards. Students are able to put money on
the cards (online) to use where Lancer Cash is accepted. It also provides them with a student ID that
is useful for other types of discounts. Dr. Perry thanked Ms. Sampier for her work to make this
happen for our graduate students – definitely something we have wanted for some time.
The newly approved Graduate Council is charged with appointing the Chair of the Graduate
Curriculum Committee. Since the new Council must be elected and elections will occur early in the
spring 2011 semester, Dr. Perry will serve as Chair for the remainder of this academic year.
CSDS – Proposed changes to admission criteria to this program: (Additions in bold)
“In addition to the general admission requirements, applicants must have a 3.00 undergraduate GPA and have
completed the general test of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) within the last five years.
Applicants who already hold a master’s degree are exempt from the GRE requirement. “
Dr. Power-deFur moved and Dr. Braun seconded and the motion carried unanimously.
Accrediting Bodies – A request to consider accepting Transnational Association of Christian
Colleges and Schools (TRACS) as an accrediting agency for baccalaureate degrees for entrance to
Longwood’s graduate programs. Dr. Apperson moved to not approve this accrediting body, Dr. Lust
seconded and the motion carried unanimously.
Assessment – Dr. Perry brought a proposal from EPC to update/change the Assessment statement
found in both the undergraduate and graduate catalogs. Rationale: The current statement contains
outdated references and is less than complete. The proposed statement tries to give a better
explanation of assessment for students.
Current Statement:
The purpose of assessment at Longwood University is (a) to help individual students develop to their fullest
potential and (b) to improve the educational programs of the University. In the case of both the student and the
University, we intend to assess how effectively consensually-developed goals are being achieved, and based
on these assessment data, we intend to generate recommendations and plans of action that will help achieve
these goals.
In 1986 the Virginia Senate adopted Joint Resolution 83 directing state institutions of higher education to
"establish assessment programs to measure student achievement." Additionally, the Southern Association of
Colleges and Schools requires for accreditation that an institution "must define its expected educational results
and describe how the achievement of these results will be ascertained." (Criteria for Accreditation: Commission
on Colleges, Section III: Institutional Effectiveness, 1989.) Student participation is therefore required. The
University may withhold transcripts for three months for graduating students who fail to participate.
Proposed Statement:
Continuous assessment is a fundamental characteristic of institutional accreditation as defined by the
Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. The Commonwealth of Virginia
requires that public universities measure students' academic achievement. Longwood University requires all
students to participate in assessment as a condition of graduation.
The purpose of assessment at Longwood is (a) to help individual students gauge their learning and (b) to
improve the educational programs of the institution. In the case of both the student and the institution, we
intend to assess how effectively consensually-developed goals (for example, core competencies and student
learning outcomes in general education and the majors) are being achieved, and, based on these assessment
data, we intend to generate recommendations and plans of action that will help achieve these goals.
Assessment may take different forms (standardized testing, submission of portfolios, evaluation of papers or
research projects according to a common rubric) may involve different configurations of students (a
randomly-selected group, all the graduating majors in a particular discipline, the students in a specific class).
Assessment results are reported within the institution and to external audiences. Longwood does not report
individual student scores, but each student has an impact on overall scores. Student participation is therefore
required. Students who fail to participate may lose their priority ranking for registration and housing. The
institution may withhold transcripts for three months for graduating seniors who fail to participate.
When assessment does not take place as part of a regularly-scheduled course, students will be contacted by
email at least two weeks in advance of the required assessment. Students will be excused from this
assessment in the same manner as they may be excused from a Longwood class (see the student handbook
or university catalog) or a makeup time will be provided.
After discussion, Dr. Howe suggested Dr. Perry and Ms. Charleston rework the document to remove
references to undergraduates and bring back to the Committee at the February meeting. The Committee
agreed with his suggestion.
Dr. Perry moved for adjournment at 4:09 p.m.