Florida Institute of Technology
Undergraduate Curriculum Committee
Friday, March 30, 2012
8:00 am
F.W. Olin Physical Sciences Building
Second-floor conference room
Minutes
Meeting began at 8:01 AM.
Minutes for February reviewed: minutes were approved.
Consent agenda:
The following items were removed at the request of the department:
1. College of Aeronautics: Changing Graduation Requirements-BS Aviation Administration
Additionally, there was an item included in the COPLA online documents that was not listed in the
agenda, CRC CRM 4810 and it was noted to be included in the April UGCC Agenda.
2. College of Engineering: Adding a new course: OCE 4515
3. College of Psychology and Liberal Arts
a. ANC-COM 1010
b. Changing Graduation Requirements-Communications Minor
c. CGR-Applied Psychology, AA and BA
d. CGR-Criminal Justice, AA and BA
e. CGR-AA Liberal Arts
Motion by Windsor to approve the consent agenda. Seconded by Baum and passed.
Other:
Tabled Items from Previous Meetings:
College of Engineering: ANC ECE 3442 and ANC EGN 3050
ECE 3442-Rep. Archambault. Move to approve and passed.
ANC EGN 3050-Rep. Hadjilogiou presented the general concept that COE is attempting
to introduce research courses at every level. This is the junior level version of that research experience.
Rep. Baum raised objection to it being a 3000 level course with no prerequisites which encourages first
year students to take a 3 credit course. The class hours are more than three hours per week and it will
exceed the requirements for a three credit course. The item has been tabled for another month
pending attendance by Dr. Kalajian who can answer the questions more clearly.
A request was made to add previously tabled items to the current month on the website.
Chairperson Jones brought up the issue of meeting minutes and what the best way to post the minutes.
It was decided that once the minutes had been sent to the committee they would be posted on the web
as ‘tentative’ until the minutes were passed at the following months meeting.
Information from the Academic Affairs Council:
Chairperson Jones asked to defer information item A from the academic affairs council until Registrar C.
Young could be available to clarify some questions.
A. As requested by UGCC, the Academic Affairs Council reviewed the Free Elective policy in light of the
fact that there are courses (BUS 1301 and CSE 1301) which have restrictions in the catalog
description that state: “Noncredit for College of Business majors” or “Noncredit for CS majors.” The
associate deans of business and engineering have since determined that these two courses can
indeed be used as free electives within their colleges; therefore, the Council agreed that the Free
Elective policy should stand as currently written. The new catalog descriptions for these two
courses will include the following statements:
BUS 1301 – For College of Business majors, this course may be used only as Free Elective.
CSE 1301 – For College of Engineering majors, this course may be used only as Free Elective.
Chairperson Jones presented the FYI B from Academic Affairs council. There were no questions.
B. Since students are starting to petition for multiple associate degrees, the Academic Affairs Council
recommends the following catalog policy modeled after the current policy for multiple bachelor’s
degrees:
A student may become a candidate for a second or subsequent associate degree when
he or she has completed at least nine credit hours of additional Florida Tech work beyond the
requirements of a single associate degree in the major requiring the higher number of credits
and all requirements listed for both degree programs.
Rep. Archambault presented some information regarding possibilities of removing courses that were
considered general education to aid in the development of minors.
The inclusion of general education courses such as Physics and Calculus makes the addition of the 18-21
credit hour minor impossible. Rep. Archambault encouraged the committee to consider excluding the
‘core’ requirements from the minor requirements. Abdulla mentioned that they discussed this within
the department and acknowledged that there are some majors where the higher level math courses are
not required and it would be nice if somewhere it acknowledged that there may be additional
prerequisites required for certain courses.
Rep. Abdulla and Rep. Baum discussed the importance of advising and clarity for the minor programs.
Rep. Sale acknowledged and supporting that advising is extremely important and that if a student wants
to pursue a minor it will be important that they meet the core requirements such as Calc 1 and Calc 2 to
begin taking coursework in the minor program.
Rep. Archambault asked to clarify-that the minor program should not have to require Calc 1 and Calc 2
and up to 6 credits of science courses as part of the minor programs as they are part of the core
requirement. He indicated he would provide some language for the group to discuss and approve for
the catalog.
Rep. Rosiene-suggested that while each department has core requirements it would appear as though
students will want to be certain that they have met the core requirements as required by the minor.
Rep. Baum suggested that perhaps this issue doesn’t require inclusion into the catalog but probably is
important to have a working document for the use by the UGCC.
Rep. Buam asked Catalog Director, Liz Fox to provide some input. She suggested that perhaps a simple
statement that indicates there may be some course deficiencies that a student has to complete in
addition to the requirements for the minor. She mentioned that it probably isn’t necessary to change
the verbiage in the catalog. Rep. Stansifer -Mentioned that we either need to amend the words or take
them out.
Rep. Rosiene-mentioned that he is having some issues with international students and registrations
regarding meeting their language ESL requirements. He encouraged departments to be more judicious
in allowing international students to take classes at other universities that may not transfer back to
Florida Tech or should not be taken due to the student’s language abilities. TOEFL holds prohibit
students from taking Chemistry and other courses including the lab. Chairperson Jones suggested that
he ask R. Taylor (HUM/COM Department Head) to mention at the academic affairs council. He also
asked about students taking COM 1101 online and what that policy entailed. Chairperson Jones clarified
the policy.
Rep. Archambault began discussion about why we not allow a TOEFL hold student to take a course such
as chemistry at another university using their TOEFL requirement. Rep. Archambault inquired whether
or not it was our place to dictate safety at another university? Rep. Windsor expressed concern about
not allowing an international student to complete CHM 1000 at another university. This idea sort of
excludes them from using the RTS policy to catch up.
Karin Almasi, Associate Registrar mentioned that the TOEFL hold is in SOAHOLD which departments
have access to.
Chairperson Jones mentioned that this was more of an academic affairs council issue.
Rep. Rosiene mentioned the issue of place-holding for registration. We currently don’t have a system to
have a waitlist and how we can prevent students from registering for courses to hold places for their
friends.
Motion to adjourn. 8:49 AM
Next meeting: Friday, April 20, 2012 @ 8:00 am in F.W. Olin Physical Sciences 2nd floor conference room.
Agenda items are due by Friday, April 13, 2012. We will have a final 2011-12 meeting on April 27th IF
needed.