Advanced Master Gardener
Education Committee
9:00-10:30a.m.
12/06/2010
Present:
Julie Riley, Sharon Hoffbeck, Jane Baldwin, Sue Lincoln
1. Missed class policy:
We have had requests to allow students who have missed core
classes make them up so they can receive their AMG status.
Julie said that in the Master Gardener program, she asks students
not to miss more than 4 classes, but does not require that they
make up the time because there is a final exam they must pass in
order to become Master Gardeners.
The requests for special consideration we have received are:
a. Carol Ross: Carol complete all of the requirements for last
year’s program, but did not turn in the paperwork because she
said she was too busy. Jane spoke with her encouraging her to
turn in the forms telling her that it only took a few minutes to
fill out. Carol chose not to turn in the paperwork by the
deadline, though, and wants us to accept it anyway and give her
the AMG status for last year.
After discussion we decided to approve her request.
b. Ruth Kirchner: Ruth was sick for class #2 of the Soils core. She
would like to be able to apply the make-up class that Julie
recently had for her missed class. Julie’s make-up class was for
those who could not come to the snow day class, but Ruth wants
to use it for class #2 instead. Ruth also feels that since she came
to class on the snow day (didn’t get the message it had been
cancelled) that she should be given this exception.
After discussion, it was agreed that we would approve her request
for this year only. Julie will not be giving make-up classes on a
regular basis in future years, and if people miss a class and
there’s no make-up class scheduled, they simply won’t be allowed
to complete that year’s requirements.
We then had a discussion about the missed class policy in
general. Sharon strongly feels that under university policy we do
not have the right to dictate what is an acceptable reason for
missing a class and what is not. We either allow a missed class
with a make-up requirement attached, or we do not allow missed
classes at all. She feels that this policy must be applied equally
to everyone across the board without regard to the reason for the
missed class. Sharon also feels that missing 2 classes is too
many.
Jane felt that we should allow missed classes, but also feels that
the committee has the right to dictate what is an acceptable
reason for missing and what is not. Sharon strongly disagreed
with her, and pointed out that we have to follow university policy
which will not allow us to discriminate.
Jane also suggested that we should consider allowing people who
miss a class to do something like read the textbook for this year’s
core and then do a 45 minute presentation to the MG monthly
meeting.
2.
Next year’s core: Julie asked us to begin thinking about what we’d
like the core to focus on next year. It was generally agreed that
Plant Physiology would be a good topic, but I’m not sure if we made
a firm decision on that.
3.
Possibility for CEU class: Julie suggested that perhaps Steve
Brown would possibly be interested in doing a 3 hour CEU class for
us on fertilizers. We had a discussion and basically agreed that
would be a good class to offer.
4. Directory suggestion: Jane suggested that it would be nice if AMG
classes could be listed in the directory. We discussed the fact that
we don’t usually have those classes organized by the directory’s
deadline, but any that were could certainly be included. The
deadline for the directory submission is February.
Sue suggested that perhaps instead of depending on the Directory to
notify Master Gardeners of classes the AMG committee plans, the
MG Vice President should contact the AMG education committee
directly. Once the VP has the information, they can disseminate it
to the Master Gardeners.
Jane is also looking for people to give educational presentations at
the monthly MG meetings, and would like us to encourage Advanced
Master Gardener students to perhaps think about it as a possibility
to fulfill their volunteer hour requirement. This opportunity could
be included in the AMG blurb in the monthly newsletter.
5. Power point presentation: Julie said that Judy Brindles has done a
power point presentation on perennial pairings. We discussed Judy
presenting it at a Master Gardener meeting.