Core Curriculum Review Committee
Wednesday, March 24, 2004
8:00 A.M.-10:00 A.M.
AMU 254
Approved Minutes
Members Present:
Drs. Courtright, Laatsch, Grahn, Hathaway, Lough, Byleen,
Lueger, Ksobiech, Vater, Eckman, Ropella, Snow, Fr. Laurance,
SJ, Mr. Lowrey.
Members Excused:
Drs. Deahl, Quade, Machan, Maranto
Dr. Snow called the meeting to order at 8:06 A.M.
Dr. Ropella read the opening prayer.
Approval of the minutes from Monday, February 23, 2004:
Dr. Snow asked if there were objections or comments to Dr. Machan’s amendments,
which were distributed to all committee members via e-mail on Monday, March 22.
Dr. Laatsch stated in response to Dr. Machan’s comment regarding reappointment and
replacement of committee members on the CCRC that she felt it was unfortunate that this
process is being viewed as a means of subverting the progress of the CCRC in that all reappointed members have full support of their Dean and faculty. To offset the comment,
Dr. Snow referred to a quote on page six of the minutes that states “Dr. Snow clarified
that appointments to the CCRC and the UAC are done through consultation with the
Dean” which, Dr. Snow reiterated, is the process the CCRC follows to arrive at
appointments and re-appointments to the committee.
Fr. Laurance noted that the quote reading, “Fr. Laurance stated that professors do their
own assessment in the classroom via exams” on page three seemed rather simplistic and
moved to have it struck from the minutes. Dr. Courtright stated that this idea is
fundamental and may be better stated when including the sentiment that professors
conduct ongoing assessment and are constantly involved in the assessment process
without incorporating external assessment such as that urged by the UAC. Fr. Laurance
then added that he specified that his participation in the assessment process is limited to
his involvement with the Department of Theology.
Dr. Eckman moved to approve the minutes. Dr. Lough seconded the motion. The
minutes were approved with two absentations (Drs. Grahn and Hathaway).
Chair’s Report:
(A)
Dr. Snow noted that Drs. Grahn, Hathaway, Lueger, and Vater, who were
originally appointed as replacements, have graciously agreed to serve an
additional year on the CCRC thereby completing the three-year term and placing
them in the term staggering rotation. She thanked them for their involvement in
the CCRC above and beyond the call of duty.
(B)
Dr. Snow noted that with Drs. Byleen, Lough, Machan, and Maranto ending their
terms at the end of the academic year, there is one more space allotted for a
member to rotate off, as per the term staggering policy. Dr. Courtright is next in
line.
Agenda Items:
(A)
Subcommittee Recommendations on Submissions
BIOL 006:
Dr. Ropella gave information on the course “Plants, Pathogens and People” offered by
Dr. Gail Schumann, a plant biologist with 19 years of previous teaching experience,
including experience at the University of Massachusetts. Dr. Ropella brought the text,
written by Dr. Schumann, Plant Diseases: Their Biology and Social Impact. The course
will strive to encourage students to make connections between science and their everyday
lives while also exploring such topics as the historical and cultural importance of plants.
Dr. Ropella pointed out that the course will be offered to both science and non-science
majors with an estimated enrollment of 100 students per year. She further stated that the
proposal was expertly written, incorporated in-depth examples and thorough explanation
of how core objectives are met. Therefore, the course has been recommended for
approved for inclusion in the core. Dr. Ropella also raised the question as to the
permanence of the appointment, since Gail Schumann is considered an adjunct faculty
member and stated that a letter of intent of permanent hire from the Chair might be
beneficial.
Dr. Hathaway noted that the letter from the Chair should be regarding the permanence of
the course offering and that it should not be approved if there is only one instructor
capable of teaching the course.
The question arose if there are other faculty capable of teaching the course. Dr.
Courtright replied that the instructor of the core course BIO 001 will be unable to take on
another course and that BIO 142 is not the same type of course as BIO 006 and also noted
that the department is currently unable to hire a plant pathologist. He pointed to the
precedent set by Paul Joseph in the Physics Department, which demonstrates that courses
have been approved in the past with only one instructor capable of teaching them.
Fr. Laurance questioned whether by approving the course if the University would be
committed to re-offer the course. Dr. Courtright stated that Gail Schumann will probably
be made a non-tenured permanent faculty member in an attempt to solve this problem.
Dr. Lueger then inquired as to what determines which core courses are and are not
offered each academic semester. Dr. Snow added that there is a record of which courses
have been offered throughout past semesters available for closer examination.
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Dr. Vater added that due to the superiority of the BIO 006 template, it should be made
available as an example for those departments that are having difficulty in creating
acceptable templates. Dr. Snow stated that the UAC had also reviewed the BIO 006
assessment and saw no reason for the course to be precluded from the core.
THEO 126; MATH 030; MATH 032/EDUC 032
Dr. Snow then stated that recommendation for THEO 126 would be deferred as per the
request of the relevant subcommittee, and asked for recommendation on MATH 030 and
MATH 032/EDUC 032. Dr. Ksobiech reported a split vote that occurred over the
question of whether the courses are at a high enough level to be considered core courses.
Although one subcommittee member voted for approval, two favor remanding the
courses. He further stated that the courses seemed to be at a remedial level and that
remedial mathematics courses are excluded from the core. Dr. Byleen added that there
are defects in the template, most notably a lack of examples and a general assertion that
objectives are met without concrete evidence, thereby making it difficult to determine the
level of the course. He acknowledged an attempt to add examples through inclusion of
an appendix, which caused confusion for those attempting to assess the course. Dr.
Byleen offered his opinion that the templates should be re-done to address these serious
concerns regarding the level of the courses, which is especially apparent in MATH 032.
He stated that MATH 030 doesn’t include enough information to make a judgment as to
the level of the course. He further stated that the text used in the course is traditionally a
high school mathematics textbook and the techniques explored in the text are at an
elementary or middle school level. He concluded by stating that both MATH 030 and
MATH 032 should be remanded.
Dr. Hathaway noted a desire of many of the students she advises to finish math
requirements quickly and added that the objective of the CCRC should be to provide
these students with a substantive mathematics course. She then raised the question as to
whether MATH 030 and MATH 032 would fulfill the obligation of the core to provide
students with a substantive math course. Dr. Byleen opined that he did not believe they
do.
Dr. Eckman added that there is a great deal of pressure to train students in how to teach
math, not just to understand the mathematical concepts themselves. Dr. Ropella
commented that part of knowing how to teach derives from knowing the material on a
higher level than what they are required to teach, implying that higher level math courses
should be required of elementary education majors.
Dr. Laatsch questioned if this is the only math course education majors have to take. Dr.
Byleen drew the committee’s attention to the fact that not all teachers are majors in
Letters and Sciences departments, meaning that some students do have a stronger
background in mathematics than others.
Dr. Byleen questioned if the course should reasonably be included in the core. Dr.
Hathaway noted that part of the answer to that question is to determine if non-education
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majors will take the course. Dr. Byleen replied that the course is intended for elementary
education teachers, who, according to Dr. Eckman, are all required to have content area
majors as mandated by the state.
Dr. Snow raised a question about the timing of a possible resubmission. Should
submitters be encouraged to amend the template before the end of the semester, or be
advised to revise and resubmit next semester? Since the course was funded, Dr. Byleen
inquired as to the timeline the submitters faced. Dr. Snow answered that submitters of
funded proposals were initially required to submit courses by March 1, 2004, but were
advised that they could have until September 1, 2004, due to the additional requirements,
approved by the CCRC last semester, that all submissions be approved by the relevant
College committees. Dr. Byleen offered that it seems more reasonable to allow the
submitters until September 1, 2004, to make requested revisions. Dr. Snow agreed.
Fr. Laurance questioned the goals of MATH 032. Is it a course intended primarily to
teach math? Is it a teaching methodology course? Is it a combination of both? Dr.
Eckman answered that MATH 032 has two goals: to teach future teachers the
mathematical concepts they will, in turn, be teaching their students as well as to teach the
methodologies for presenting the material. This would ensure that, upon completing the
course, students would have an improved grasp of mathematical concepts they will be
responsible for teaching as well as the tools necessary to effectively teach these
mathematical concepts to their students.
Dr. Lueger wondered why, if MATH 030 is appropriate for fulfilling the mathematical
reasoning requirement and is admitted to the core, why also include MATH 032? Dr.
Byleen replied that, although he is unsure of the specific details, he is aware of some
cases in which students pursuing a middle school teaching degree can by-pass 030 and
take only 032. Dr. Eckman also acknowledged the possibility of students by-passing
MATH 030 stating that this is a result of changes in licensing by the state. It was agreed
that knowing the specifics of this loophole would be helpful. Dr. Byleen commented that
MATH 032/EDUC 032 was submitted to allow education students to take MATH 030
and MATH 032 to satisfy the six credit Arts and Sciences mathematical reasoning
curriculum requirement. The School of Education has stipulated that only UCCS courses
can be used by its students to meet that requirement.
Dr. Snow then asked for a motion and a second on the subcommittee recommendations to
qualify BIOL 006 for the Core and to defer on THEO 126. Dr. Vater moved and Dr.
Hathaway seconded. Dr. Snow then stated that, due to a split sub-committee vote, a
decision on MATH 030 and MATH 032/EDUC 032 will be made by the entire CCRC.
She asked for a motion and a second on these courses. Dr. Hathaway moved to remand
MATH 030 and MATH 032/EDUC 032. Dr. Laatsch seconded.
(B)
Other concerns:
Dr. Hathaway voiced some concerns regarding core courses in the knowledge area of
Diverse Cultures: first, the variety of core courses offered is solely contingent upon
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which professors decide to submit templates, although there are other courses that should
and could be included in the core. She wondered how the CCRC is monitoring when
courses are offered and if it is plausible to approach departments and solicit submissions
through their subcommittees. Second, she wondered what the process is for those
students who wish to appeal if they believe a course should be included in the core, yet is
not included due to no formal submission having been made. Dr. Ropella suggested that
the CCRC first approach the departments and speak to Deans and department members
about encouraging submissions so that there is no lack of courses being offered each
semester.
Dr. Eckman then raised the topic of transferring summer credits into the University. Dr.
Hathaway explained that if a transfer course is approved as a core course, the student will
get credit for the class and it will count as fulfillment of a core requirement. Dr. Eckman
then voiced concern that, if core courses are not offered at times convenient to students,
this may result in more instructors referring students to other schools to fulfill core course
obligations. Dr. Lueger noted that with an average of 13 courses per department offered
at different times throughout the academic year, the problem might not be with lack of
course offering, but with scheduling conflicts that occurs on a student-specific basis. Dr.
Grahn agreed, stating that many times students report that they cannot get core courses
when they need to take them, however the fact is that the students would prefer the class
be offered at some alternate, more convenient time.
Dr. Hathaway added that summer courses should be monitored so that a variety of
courses are offered. Dr. Eckman also noted that the nature of summer school is budgetdriven with many out-of-state students unwilling to remain on campus to take summer
courses while additional room and board is required. These students take courses that
fulfill core requirements at other universities. Dr. Laatsch concluded that it is not ideal to
refer students to other schools (but can be done if necessary) given that the concept of
core curriculum is to give students a base in disciplines that are deemed relevant and
executed by Marquette faculty.
Dr. Hathaway noted that there are no official guidelines to determine which courses are
offered during the summer term and Dr. Ksobiech added that with decisions regarding
core courses being moved to the college level rather than the department level,
monitoring of these types of issues is more plausible. Dr. Lueger commented that the
CCRC can also make suggestions to departments regarding which courses should be
offered and when.
Dr. Snow noted that the first step in making change would be to speak with advisors and
determine if there are any trends in enrollment or student concerns regarding scheduling.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:10 A.M.
Respectfully Submitted
Jennifer Talley-Rogers
Assistant to Dr. Snow
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