MEMORANDUM
TO:
Members of the LSA Executive Committee
FROM:
Pam Rinker
DATE:
September 21, 2011
SUBJECT:
Summary of LSA Curriculum Committee Minutes
for September 13, 2011
1. Dean Terry McDonald thanked the Curriculum Committee for their service
to the college and informed the committee about several new curricular
developments on the horizon.
2. Phil Deloria, Associate Dean for LSA Undergraduate Education,
introduced himself as chair and informed the committee of two basic
ground rules.
3. The new Academic Minor in Sustainability to be offered by the Program in
the Environment was approved effective W12.
4. The proposed Sustainability Scholars Certificate was deferred.
5. The new concentration and academic minor in Astronomical Sciences were
deferred.
6. The recommendations of the R&E Subcommittee Report were accepted.
7. Summer 2011 course approvals were ratified.
8. September course approval requests were acted upon.
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LSA CURRICULUM COMMITTEE
Minutes of September 13, 2011
Present: Phil Deloria (Chair); Pallavi Abraham, LSASG; Andrea Alajbegovic, LSASG; Paula Berwanger,
Linguistics; Caroline Canning, LSASG; Tim Dodd, Academic Advising; Kalli Federhoffer, German;
Benjamin Fortson, Classical Studies and Linguistics; Phil Gorman, Academic Advising; Lori Gould,
Dean’s Office; Marjorie Horton, Dean’s Office; Kristen Moore, Math; Neil Marsh, Chemistry; Tim
McKay, Physics and Honors; John Mitani, Anthropology; Jennifer Myers, Residential College; Esrold
Nurse, Student Academic Affairs; Damani Partridge, Anthropology and DAAS; Sushama Pavgi, MCDB;
JoAnn Peraino, Dean’s Office; Pam Rinker, Dean’s Office; Shelly Schreier, Psychology; Donna Wessel
Walker, Honors; and Evans Young, Dean’s Office.
Guests: Dean Terry McDonald, and Mike Shriberg, Graham Institute
The meeting came to order at 3:10 pm.
CURRENT ISSUES IN LSA UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION
Dean Terry McDonald made his annual visit to the Curriculum Committee to thank members for their time
and effort. The committee plays a very important role in shaping the college’s curriculum and helping
departments through the process. Dean McDonald said that he always reads the meeting minutes and
appreciates the committee’s thinking through many complex issues. He also reminded faculty on the
committee that they are elected by LSA to represent the college rather than their own departments.
Dean McDonald informed the committee about several new curricular developments on the horizon. A new
proposal has been jointly developed by Philosophy, Political Science, and Economics to create a
multidisciplinary concentration named Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE). Linguistics and
Philosophy, with input from a few psychologists, have proposed a new concentration in Cognitive Science.
A committee has been formed to examine how to better serve the Neuroscience concentrators, a program
supported by MCDB and Psychology. An LSA Task Force has recommended ways to integrate intensive
language study with study abroad during the Spring or Summer Terms, with the aim of providing
opportunities for students to complete the language requirement in one year. LSA is considering the creation
of terminal master’s degree programs, in which undergraduates would complete their undergraduate degree in
three years and be able to immediately pursue a graduate degree. NYU and Stanford have long-standing
programs using this concept, and four or five LSA departments have expressed interest.
The Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP) has great success engaging students in Natural
Science research projects. The college is interested in exploring possible curricular options for UROP
experiences in the Humanities and Social Sciences. A task force between LSA and the School of Education
is working on developing joint degrees that include both LSA and education courses, especially in
departments such as Biology, Chemistry, and Physics. One goal of this task force is to define and provide the
training needs of future teachers. LSA has been invited to participate in an E-textbook program that would
provide documents electronically to lower the high cost of printed textbooks. Lastly, LSA students are
working on a broader statement about academic integrity that would be more positive than current syllabi
statements that focus on violations and punishments.
ASSOCIATE DEAN PHIL DELORIA
Phil Deloria, Associate Dean of Undergraduate Education, introduced himself as chair of the Curriculum
Committee and welcomed everyone. He began by informing members about two basic ground rules for
meetings. First, all faculty who have a direct conflict of interest are required to recuse themselves and
leave the room. Second, when the agenda includes a course approval request from an instructor’s own
department, they may stay in the room to answer questions but are not to advocate for a decision.
A total of twelve members on the committee have a vote: nine instructors, three from each of the primary
disciplines (HU/SS/NS); and three students appointed by LSA-Student Government. The student alternate
may vote in case of an absence. Dean Deloria votes in case of a tie. The committee also includes eleven exofficio, non-voting members who represent their own areas of expertise and answer questions that arise
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during discussions. Their input is very helpful to the committee’s ability to make informed decisions. This
year, he plans to call each decision to a vote as an official record. Dean Deloria also drew the committee’s
attention to the last four pages of their packet (see attached document) that detail each step in the LSA
course approval process and this year’s annual memo to chairs and directors about course approvals. He
reminded the committee that decisions are not considered official until they have been reviewed by the
Executive Committee. Until then, committee discussions are confidential.
NEW ACADEMIC MINOR IN SUSTAINABILITY
The committee approved a new Academic Minor in Sustainability submitted by the Program in the
Environment (PitE) effective W12. Whether or not it would replace the existing Academic Minor in
the Environment is not yet resolved.
SUSTAINABILITY SCHOLARS CERTIFICATE (GRAHAM ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY INSTITUTE)
The Graham Environmental Sustainability Institute and the Program in the Environment worked closely to
develop the attached new sustainability proposals: 1) PitE’s new academic minor; and 2) the Sustainability
Scholars Certificate. Mike Shriberg, Education Director of the Graham Institute, joined the committee to
answer questions and speak to possible changes. Both Graham and PitE considered the certificate and
academic minor as complementary to one another, expecting that many students would want to earn both.
Viewing the proposal from a broader, college-wide perspective, the Curriculum Committee questioned the
amount of overlap in courses and content. Without a rule excluding them from completing both, students
would figure out the fastest way to complete the 11-credit Sustainability Certificate and take a few more
courses to earn the academic minor as well. The committee asked: Should LSA students be able to
complete both or choose one or the other?
The following academic policies have long been established for double-counting courses between
concentrations and minors: only one course can count toward both a concentration and minor; and any
number of courses can count toward two concentrations. Undergraduate certificates, however, are a fairly
recent addition to the undergraduate curriculum. The college has not developed any guidelines to address
an overlap between certificates, minors, and concentrations. Thus, the committee deferred discussion of
the Sustainability Scholars Certificate until 9/20/11. They needed more time to think through the issues
and resolve three questions in particular: What specific elements distinguish certificates from academic
minors? Does LSA need to establish a college policy about exclusion? If yes, what changes would be
needed in the Graham proposal to conform to the policies?
NEW CONCENTRATION AND ACADEMIC MINOR IN ASTRONOMICAL SCIENCE
As background for these proposals, a memo from Sally Oey pointed to the department’s highly successful
concentration in Astronomy and Astrophysics, which prepares students for a scientific or technical career,
with the majority continuing on to graduate studies. The new Concentration in Astronomical Science would
provide non-science students with substantive expertise in astronomy, a fundamental understanding of
science, and the ability to communicate about astronomy and science with a lay audience. The remaining
curriculum would be more interdisciplinary than their core concentration, placing astronomy in a wider
context that includes global study of our Earth and, if the student chooses, another interdisciplinary area.
The goal of the new minor is similar in spirit, but without the emphasis on communication skills.
Over the past several years, the Curriculum Committee has changed the requirements for concentrations
and academic minor from the policies written in the LSA Bulletin. They evaluate new proposals in
comparison to the level of academic rigor in existing college programs. Thus, new concentration proposals
are expected to include several 400-level courses. Academic minors must include some upper-level
courses, with at least one at the 400-level. In response to the Course Approval Subcommittee’s concerns
about insufficient 400-level courses, Prof. Oey argued that several faculty members had spent considerable
time consulting with students and developing these proposals to comply with the official guidelines in the
LSA Bulletin. In the past year, Astronomy also had laid the groundwork for both new programs by creating
three intermediate level courses: ASTRO 205, Exploring the X-ray Universe; ASTRO 220, New
Discoveries in Astronomy; and ASTRO 305, Astronomy in the Community. In view of these stiffer
requirements, Prof. Oey doubted the feasibility of even designing such a new concentration. She cited
ASTRO 429 as the department’s only existing 400-level course without upper-level Physics prerequisites.
3
The upper-level prerequisites of the remaining ASTRO courses at this level would pose serious difficulties
for non-science concentrators. Developing yet another 400-level course at this point would pose
significant resource issues.
The committee deferred a decision on Astronomy’s new concentration and academic minor because they
did not meet current college requirements. Astronomy may need to put these proposals on hold until it has
the resources to broaden the curriculum and create less technical 400-level courses. In view of the intended
audience of non-science concentrators, the committee also questioned whether the title “Astronomical
Science” accurately reflected the content. They suggested something less focused, perhaps along the lines
of Astronomy and Society.
RACE & ETHNICITY PROPOSALS
Associate Dean Evans Young summarized the process the R&E Subcommittee uses to review R&E
proposals. Substantial course content (over half) must address specific issues stated in the proposal
form. The committee accepted the recommendations of the subcommittee summarized on the attached
report.
Approved (3)
New / Blanket
1. ASIAN 248/RELIGION 248. Jesus Comes to Asia: Conversion and its Consequences.
Deirdre de la Cruz. W12
This course provides a broad introduction to the history of Christian conversion and its legacy in
the regions now known as South, East, and Southeast Asia. It is essentially a course about cultural
encounter and conflict, and thus engages some of the most fundamental questions of how
difference has been construed by various actors throughout time. Race and ethnicity are central
themes in this course and examined through the lens of religious conversion. We will devote
substantial attention to the following issues: (1) the meaning of race, ethnicity, and racism; (2)
racial and ethnic intolerance and resulting inequalities in the context of Christian conversion; and
(3) comparisons and intersections of racial and ethnic discrimination with other forms of
discrimination, in particular class and religion.
2. HISTORY 247/AAS 247. Modern Africa. Nancy Hunt.W12
This is an entry-level survey of modern African history from 1850 to the present. Racism and
racialization are introduced as a key theme. Conceptual meanings of race, ethnicity, and racism
are introduced early on in the course, and the lectures, course readings and exams are designed
to show how racism, racializations, social identity formation (including ethnic and racialized
identities) have been key factors in the social, economic and cultural history of Africa since the
abolition of the slave trade in the early 19th century.
3. HISTART 208/AAS 208. Introduction to African Art and Visual Culture. David Doris W12
In every class meeting, students are compelled to face the prejudices regarding race and social
and cultural difference that we all bring to the study of “Africa.” Such prejudices are deeply
imbedded, even unconscious; and those “personal” preconceptions, we learn, have long been
played out on a global stage. This course is also devoted to exploring the cultural machinery by
which racial and ethnic stereotyping are produced and reproduced as meaningful and “true” in
anthropological photographs that measure “otherness” as biological difference; in art exhibitions
that depict African art as infantile, uncivilized predecessor of European modernism; in the
cultural displays at world’s expositions, where Africans and others were in effect made to
perform versions of themselves for curious European and American audiences.
Deferred (1)
Recertification / Blanket
4.
PHIL 355. Contemporary Moral Problems. Sarah Buss. W12
This course is designed to meet the LSA R&E Requirement by addressing moral issues related to
race and ethnicity, particularly how conceptions of race and ethnicity figure in social inequality. It
will also focus on comparisons with how other kinds of social identities, as of nationality, gender,
and class, figure in social inequality and consequently raise issues of justice and obligation. We
4
will explore one of the deepest questions of moral philosophy at the most foundational level: What
makes discrimination wrong? On what basis can differential treatment of different beings ever be
justified?
This question moves us to the frontiers of justice, because some intuitive answers to this question
suggest that our moral obligations to others even cross species lines and may extend to the unborn.
We will also evaluate several controversial moral issues by reviewing key philosophical positions on
these issues and arguments for and against these positions. We will also consider the more general
issues these arguments raise (e.g., what are our most basic moral obligations? When is it appropriate to
blame someone for wrong-doing?).
SUMMER COURSE APPROVAL ACTIONS (See Appendix I)
1. Summer course approval actions were ratified: 2 new courses; 51 modifications; and 2 deletions.
SEPTEMBER COURSE APPROVAL REQUESTS (See Appendix II)
1. The committee approved a total of 84 course approval requests: 32 new courses; 43 modifications;
and 9 deletions.
2. The following courses were approved for distribution and/or college requirement effective W12:
a. HU: ASIAN 272, 307, and 368
b. ID: ASIAN 366, GERMAN 378, and RCIDIV
305
c. MSA/BS-Eligible: PHIL 305
d. NS/BS-Eligible: EARTH 277 and 333
e. SS: HISTORY 376
3. The committee deferred 1 new course approval request, WOMENSTD 452, due to insufficient time.
4. The committee deferred 6 course approval modifications:
a. ASIAN 370 due to insufficient time
b. ENVIRON 404 pending title confirmation
c. FRENCH 112, ITALIAN 112, PORTUG 112, and SPANISH 112 pending
additional information
The meeting was adjourned at 5:10 pm.
NEXT MEETING:
Course Approvals, September 20, 2011
5
MEMORANDUM
TO:
Members of the LSA Executive Committee
FROM:
Pam Rinker
DATE:
October 5, 2011
SUBJECT:
Summary of LSA Curriculum Committee Minutes
for September 20, 2011
1. Minutes for 9/13/11 were approved.
2. The Sustainability Scholars Certificate was approved, excluding students earning PitE’s
Academic Minor in Sustainability.
3. The committee reaffirmed as college policy the conclusion of a prior discussion on
11/9/10: LSA departmental undergraduate certificates are not sanctioned by the college nor
do such certificates appear on student transcripts. As a liberal arts college, LSA created
academic minors with 15-18 credits as the appropriate academic plan that is secondary to a
concentration.
4. The committee deferred Informatics’ request for a double minor with Statistics.
5. Several concentration modifications were approved.
6. The International Studies concentration was deferred.
7. Several modifications to academic minors were approved.
8. Course approval requests were acted upon.
9. MOVESCI 231 was approved for non-LSA degree credit effective W12.
6
LSA CURRICULUM COMMITTEE
Minutes of September 20, 2011
Present: Phil Deloria (Chair); Pallavi Abraham, LSA-SG; Andrea Alajbegovic, LSA-SG; Paula Berwanger,
Linguistics; Tim Dodd, Academic Advising; Benjamin Fortson, Classical Studies and Linguistics; Phil
Gorman, Academic Advising; Lori Gould, Dean’s Office; Marjorie Horton, Dean’s Office; John Mitani,
Anthropology; Kristen Moore, Math; Neil Marsh, Chemistry; John Mitani, Anthropology; Esrold Nurse,
Student Academic Affairs; Sushama Pavgi, MCDB; JoAnn Peraino, Dean’s Office; Pam Rinker, Dean’s
Office; Shelly Schreier, Psychology; Donna Wessel Walker, Honors; Anna Witkow, LSA-SG; and Evans
Young, Dean’s Office.
The meeting came to order at 3:10 pm.
MINUTES
Minutes for 9/13/11 were approved.
SUSTAINABILITY SCHOLARS CERTIFICATE (GRAHAM ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY INSTITUTE)
The committee reviewed the attached proposal for a Sustainability Scholars Certificate to be administered by
the Graham Environmental Sustainability Institute effective W12. They were concerned about the amount of
overlap in courses and content between this certificate and the recently approved Academic Minor in
Sustainability (PitE). They approved the Sustainability Scholars Certificate, excluding LSA students earning
an Academic Minor in Sustainability. They may choose between one or the other, but not both. The
committee delayed further discussion of two more general questions: Other than the number of credits, what
characteristics distinguish certificate programs from academic minors? What academic policies are needed
with regard to students earning both a certificate and a minor with overlapping courses?
LSA DEPARTMENTAL UNDERGRADUATE CERTIFICATES
In view of approving the Sustainability Scholars Certificate created by a program outside the College, the
committee discussed the possible development of LSA departmental certificate programs. They reaffirmed as
college policy the conclusion of a prior Curriculum Committee discussion on 11/9/10: LSA departmental
undergraduate certificates are not sanctioned by the college nor do such certificates appear on student
transcripts. As a liberal arts college, LSA created academic minors with 15-18 credits as the appropriate
academic plan that is secondary to a concentration.
DOUBLE MAJOR AND MINOR IN INFORMATICS AND STATISTICS
LSA academic policies already allow students to earn multiple concentrations in different departments with
no limit on double-counting courses. Thus, a double major in Informatics and Statistics requested by
Informatics did not need approval. For academic minors, however, students may double-count only one
course toward a minor and a concentration, and no courses may be double-counted between two minors.
Thus, the committee deferred Informatics’ attached request for a double minor as an exception to the rule.
They temporarily delayed a broader discussion about the college’s general academic policies concerning
double minors.
CONCENTRATIONS
The attached concentration modifications were approved:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Astronomy and Astrophysics (W12)
RC’s Drama (W12)
French & Francophone Studies (W12)
History (F11)
Informatics (W12)
Brain, Behavior, and Cognitive Science (W12)
Women’s Studies (W12)
7
Modifications for the International Studies concentration were deferred. The committee is concerned about
how the Center for International and Comparative Studies plans to administer the proposed language
requirement for the concentration and provide course seats for the growing number of concentrators.
Associate Dean Deloria said he would talk with Ken Kollman, Director of the International Institute, about
possible ways to strengthen the program. JoAnn Peraino, Enrollment and Curriculum Manager, and Phil
Gorman, Academic Advising Director, volunteered to talk with Kollman about ways to manage enrollment.
ACADEMIC MINORS
Modifications to the following academic minors were approved (see attached proposals):
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Afroamerican African Studies (W12)
Astronomy and Astrophysics (W12)
Community Action and Social Change (W12)
French & Francophone Studies (W12)
Gender, Race and Ethnicity (renamed to Gender, Race, and Nation) (W12)
History (F11)
LSA COURSE APPROVAL REQUESTS
1. The committee approved a total of 90 LSA course approval requests: 8 new courses; 63 modifications;
and 19 deletions as summarized in the Appendix.
2. ASIAN 370 was approved for ID distribution effective W12.
NON-LSA COURSE APPROVAL REQUESTS
Kinesiology wants to divide MOVESCI 230 into two separate courses. The committee approved MOVESCI
231 for non-LSA degree credit effective F12.
The meeting was adjourned at 5:10 pm.
NEXT MEETINGS:
Course Approval Subcommittee, September 27, 2011
Course Approvals, October 4, 2011
8
MEMORANDUM
TO:
Members of the LSA Executive Committee
FROM:
Pam Rinker
DATE:
October 12, 2011
SUBJECT:
Summary of LSA Curriculum Committee Minutes
for October 4, 2011
1. Elizabeth Anderson, Chair of Undergraduate Studies in Philosophy, was invited to answer
questions about a new concentration in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE).
2. R&E proposals were acted upon.
3. The committee deferred a new Central Eurasian Studies Academic Minor.
4. The committee discussed a possible change in the College Policies for Academic minors.
5. Corrections to RC’s Academic Minor in Urban Studies were approved.
6. Course Approval Requests were acted upon.
9
LSA CURRICULUM COMMITTEE
Minutes of October 4, 2011
Present: Phil Deloria (Chair); Pallavi Abraham, LSA-SG; Andrea Alajbegovic, LSA-SG; Paula Berwanger,
Linguistics; Caroline Canning, LSA-SG; Tim Dodd, Academic Advising; Kalli Federhoffer, German;
Benjamin Fortson, Classical Studies and Linguistics; Phil Gorman, Academic Advising; Lori Gould, Dean’s
Office; Marjorie Horton, Dean’s Office; Kristen Moore, Math; Neil Marsh, Chemistry; Tim McKay, Physics
and Honors; John Mitani, Anthropology; Jennifer Myers, Residential College; Damani Partridge,
Anthropology and DAAS; Sushama Pavgi, MCDB; JoAnn Peraino, Dean’s Office; Pam Rinker, Dean’s
Office; Shelly Schreier, Psychology; Anna Wittow, LSA-SG; and Evans Young, Dean’s Office.
Guest: Elizabeth Anderson, Chair of Undergraduate Studies in Philosophy
The meeting came to order at 3:10 pm.
MINUTES
Minutes for 9/20/11 were approved.
NEW CONCENTRATION IN PHILOSOPHY, POLITICS, AND ECONOMICS (PPE)
Elizabeth Anderson, Chair of Undergraduate Studies in Philosophy, was invited to talk about a new
concentration in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE), an interdisciplinary program focused on
political economy. As detailed in the attached proposal, the concentration would integrate the questions,
methods, and subject matter presented in courses from Philosophy, Economics, and Political Science. She
noted that careful management will be essential in order for students to graduate with a mastery of three
major approaches to understanding human beings and their social and political interactions. In addition,
concentrators will need intensive advising and ongoing consultations to choose from such a wide range of
issues. The PPE committee agreed that Philosophy would administer the new program, in part because they
have an advising structure in place that uses tenured faculty. As a relatively small department, Philosophy has
limited resources to meet the demand of students interested in PPE. Prof. Anderson said that the admissions
process outlined in the proposal would prevent an explosion of concentrators. The initial launch in W12 will
be limited to 20 students, with an eventual cap of around 75. She hopes that careful advising will allow
current course offerings to suffice. The committee deferred the PPE concentration and PPE 300. They asked
the PPE committee to consider the following issues:
1. Articulate the rationale for the concentration in more detail.
2. Clarify the Math/calculus prerequisite, ideally requiring all students to take the same course
regardless of prior study.
3. Decide whether or not to exclude any specific concentrations and/or academic minors based on
significant overlap of courses required in each concentration. Students in a second concentration
should achieve a value-added education, rather than automatically completing enough courses to
qualify for both.
4. Elaborate more on the promised 400-level core courses, ideally submitting new carfs for review
along with PPE 300 and the PPE concentration.
5. Map out a few possible pathways students might use to complete the concentration within the
allotted number of terms. Even though students’ choices will vary a lot based on their specific
interests, such scenarios of course elections can be a valuable exercise in thinking about how the
“conceptual concentration” can be completed by a real student.
10
RACE & ETHNICITY PROPOSALS
The committee accepted the recommendation of the R&E Subcommittee (see attached report for
details).
APPROVED (1)
Recertified / Blanket
1. PHIL 355. Contemporary Moral Problems. Sarah Buss. W12
ACADEMIC MINORS (proposals attached)
1. The committee deferred a new Central Eurasian Studies Academic Minor, with a request that NES
review and update the course list they submitted last year.
2. Corrections to RC’s Academic Minor in Urban Studies were approved.
COLLEGE POLICIES FOR ACADEMIC MINORS AND UNDERGRADUATE CERTIFICATES
Academic minors were created several years ago primarily to offer additional breadth in undergraduate
studies. The College’s recent approval of certificates prompted the Curriculum Committee to review the
policies for academic minors and consider a new rule for certificates. Current LSA policies allow students to
earn multiple concentrations in different departments with no limit on double-counting courses used to meet
the concentrations. For academic minors, however, students may double-count only one course toward both a
minor and a concentration. No overlap in courses is permitted in the courses satisfying two minors.
To simplify College policies, the committee considered deleting academic minor policy # 6 (see page 11 of
the LSA Bulletin): “Students may not elect a concentration and an academic minor, or two academic minors,
in the same academic unit, unless a specific exemption to this policy is noted in the academic minor
description in this Bulletin.” The committee deferred approval of this change until next week to consider
unintended consequences. Members will ask various departments what they think about deleting this policy.
If approved, it would leave exclusion rules up to each department with regard to academic minors within the
unit.
LSA COURSE APPROVAL REQUESTS
3. The committee approved a total of 35 LSA course approval requests: 14 new courses; 63
modifications; and 3 deletions as summarized in the Course Approval Appendix.
4. The following courses were approved for distribution effective W12:
a. HU: ASIAN 306/RELIGION 306, ASIAN 314, 369, and 374; HISTORY 103; and PHIL 286
b. SS: ASIAN 371; HISTORY 104; HISTORY 316/MEMS 316/WOMENSTD 316; and LACS 321
NEXT MEETINGS:
Discussion, October 11, 2011
Subcommittees, October 25, 2011
11
MEMORANDUM
TO:
Members of the LSA Executive Committee
FROM:
Pam Rinker
DATE:
November 2, 2011
SUBJECT:
Summary of LSA Curriculum Committee Minutes
for October 11, 2011
1. Minutes for 10/4/11 were approved.
2. The committee continued last week’s discussion about revising college policies for academic
minors.
3. The committee approved the deletion of rule #6 for academic minors. They also approved
the adoption of grading policies #6 and #7 in the policies for concentrations to replace rule
#5 for academic minors.
4. The committee also discussed the need to create college policies for undergraduate
certificates and how they intersect with academic minors and concentrations.
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LSA CURRICULUM COMMITTEE
Minutes of October 11, 2011
Present: Phil Deloria (Chair); Pallavi Abraham, LSA-SG; Andrea Alajbegovic, LSA-SG; Paula Berwanger,
Linguistics; Caroline Canning, LSA-SG; Tim Dodd, Academic Advising; Benjamin Fortson, Classical
Studies and Linguistics; Phil Gorman, Academic Advising; Lori Gould, Dean’s Office; Marjorie Horton,
Dean’s Office; Kristen Moore, Math; Neil Marsh, Chemistry; Tim McKay, Physics and Honors; John Mitani,
Anthropology; Jennifer Myers, Residential College; Damani Partridge, Anthropology and DAAS; Sushama
Pavgi, MCDB; JoAnn Peraino, Dean’s Office; Pam Rinker, Dean’s Office; Shelly Schreier, Psychology;
Anna Wittow, LSA-SG; and Evans Young, Dean’s Office.
The meeting came to order at 3:10 pm.
MINUTES
Minutes for 10/4/11 were approved.
COLLEGE POLICIES FOR ACADEMIC MINORS AND UNDERGRADUATE CERTIFICATES
The committee continued its discussion from October 4, 2011, about changing the rules for academic minors,
as well as establishing new rules for undergraduate certificates. The proposal was deferred last week to consider
any unintended consequences of deleting policy #6 as listed in the attached current policies for academic
minors: “Students may not elect a concentration and an academic minor, or two academic minors, in the same
academic unit, unless a specific exemption to this policy is noted in the academic minor description in this
Bulletin.” The committee thought that a single rule no longer works for all departments, especially units that
offer more than one minor in specific languages. Other departments, such as Math, would not allow students to
earn both a concentration and minor. In any case, rule #8 would suffice in governing course overlap: “Students
may not use more than one course to meet both the requirements of an academic minor and the prerequisites or
requirements of a concentration.” They expressed a concern that these double-counting rules allow students to
earn multiple concentrations much more easily than academic minors.
The committee approved the deletion of rule #6 for academic minors. As a consequence, departments would
determine any exclusion rules with regard to academic minors within the unit. They also approved the
adoption of grading policies #6 and #7 as listed in the attached current policies for concentrations to replace
rule #5 for academic minors: “Courses in the academic minor must be elected for a grade.”
1. Students may not elect courses in an academic minor using the Pass/Fail grading option.
2. A department or program may include Experiential or Directed Reading/Independent Study courses
that are graded on a Credit/No Credit basis in an academic minor, but all other courses in the minor
must be taken for a grade.
In view of the recent approval of the Graham Scholars Certificate in Sustainability, the committee also
discussed the need to create college policies for undergraduate certificates and how they intersect with
academic minors and concentrations. This discussion will continue pending drafts of revised proposal forms
and policies for academic minors and undergraduate certificates.
The meeting was adjourned at 5 pm.
NEXT MEETINGS:
Subcommittees, October 25, 2011
Course Approvals, November 1, 2011
13
MEMORANDUM
TO:
Members of the LSA Executive Committee
FROM:
Pam Rinker
DATE:
November 9, 2011
SUBJECT:
Summary of LSA Curriculum Committee Minutes
for November 1, 2011
1. Minutes of 10/11/11 were approved.
2. Recommendations of the R&E Subcommittee were accepted.
3. Astronomical Science was deferred as a new concentration and academic minor.
4. Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE) was approved as a new concentration.
5. Central Eurasian Studies was approved as a new academic minor.
6. Modifications to the American Culture concentration were approved.
7. Modifications to the academic minor in Paleontology were approved.
8. Removal of the Pass/Fail option for courses at Camp Davis was approved.
14
LSA CURRICULUM COMMITTEE
Minutes of November 1, 2011
Present: Phil Deloria (Chair); Pallavi Abraham, LSA-SG; Andrea Alajbegovic, LSA-SG; Paula Berwanger,
Linguistics; Caroline Canning, LSA-SG; Tim Dodd, Academic Advising; Kalli Federhoffer, German; Benjamin
Fortson, Classical Studies and Linguistics; Phil Gorman, Academic Advising; Lori Gould, Dean’s Office;
Marjorie Horton, Dean’s Office; Kristen Moore, Math; Neil Marsh, Chemistry; Tim McKay, Physics and Honors;
Jennifer Myers, Residential College; Damani Partridge, Anthropology and DAAS; JoAnn Peraino, Dean’s Office;
Pam Rinker, Dean’s Office; Shelly Schreier, Psychology; Anna Wittow, LSA-SG; and Evans Young, Dean’s
Office.
The meeting came to order at 3:15 pm.
MINUTES
Minutes for 10/11/11 were approved.
RACE & ETHNICITY
The committee accepted the R&E Subcommittee’s recommendations as summarized in the attached
report:
APPROVED (1)
New / Blanket
1. HISTORY/ASIAN 205. Modern East Asia. Pär Cassel. W12
APPROVED (1)
Recert / Blanket
2. HISTORY / GERMAN 322. The Origins of Nazism, Culture and Politics in Germany, 18911945. Kathleen Canning & Anne K. Berg. W12
Deferred (1)
New / Topic
3. HISTORY 103. Introduction to Religion: From Rastafari to the Sun Dance. Paul C. Johnson.
W12
NEW CONCENTRATIONS
1. Astronomical Science was deferred effective W12. The committee was concerned that the title
might mislead the targeted non-science students and possibly discourage them from pursuing the
concentration. The department is considering this issue.
2. Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE) was approved effective W12. This interdisciplinary
program focuses on political economy by integrating the questions, methods, and subject matter
in courses from Philosophy, Economics, and Political Science. As the home department,
Philosophy will launch the program in W12 for a maximum of 20 students and provide intensive
advising for each concentrator. The committee discussed two issues related to the concentration.
First, students would be able to complete the PPE concentration by taking mostly POLSCI courses,
thus allowing them to earn a second concentration in Political Science by taking only three more
courses. Second, the committee considered whether students should be able to count the
prerequisites toward their distribution requirements. In both instances, the committee decided
against any limits in order to give the department and concentrators maximum flexibility.
NEW ACADEMIC MINORS
1. Astronomical Science was deferred effective W12. The committee was concerned that the title
might mislead the targeted non-science students and possibly discourage them from pursuing the
academic minor. The department is considering this issue.
2. Central Eurasian Studies was approved effective W12. This minor will be administered by the
Center for Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies (CREES).
15
MODIFICATIONS TO CONCENTRATIONS AND ACADEMIC MINORS
1. Modifications to the American Culture concentration were approved effective W12.
2. Modifications to the academic minor in Paleontology were approved effective W12.
COURSES TAKEN AT CAMP DAVIS
Joel Blum, Director of Camp Davis, requested that the Pass/Fail option be removed for all students attending
the summer camp, including guests. His primary objective is to continue the upward trajectory of increased
focus on academics. In his experience, some students who take courses Pass/Fail do not put forth their best
effort. The Committee approved this proposal effective Su12. Blum will make students aware of this new
policy in all publicity for the program and in the Course Guide and Time Schedule. This policy will be
enforced by RO Student Services staff by reviewing all student records immediately after the drop/add
deadline and changing any P/F choices to graded. The same policy applies to 4th term language courses that
must be taken for a grade.
COURSE APPROVAL ACTIONS
1. A total of 35 course proposals were approved as summarized in Appendix I: five new courses; 13
modifications; and 17 deletions.
2. BIOLOGY 256 was deferred until next week pending clarification of the advisory prerequisites.
3. The following courses were approved for distribution:
a. HU: ENGLISH 240 (F12) and ENGLISH 329/ENVIRON 329 (Su12)
b. ID: PPE 300 (W12)
c. NS:PHYSICS 114 (W12)
The meeting was adjourned at 4:15 pm.
NEXT MEETING:
Discussion, Tuesday, November 8, 2011
16
MEMORANDUM
TO:
Members of the LSA Executive Committee
FROM:
Pam Rinker
DATE:
November 15, 2011
SUBJECT:
Summary of LSA Curriculum Committee Minutes
for November 8, 2011
1. Minutes for 11/1/11 were approved
2. The committee approved revisions to the academic policies for non-graded courses.
3. A new concentration and academic minor in Interdisciplinary Astronomy were approved.
4. Modifications to the International Studies concentration were approved.
5. Modifications to RC’s Drama concentration were deferred.
6. The committee reviewed College policies for concentrations and academic minors and
formulating new policies for undergraduate certificates.
17
LSA CURRICULUM COMMITTEE
Minutes of November 8, 2011
Present: Evans Young, Acting Chair; Phil Deloria, Chair; Pallavi Abraham, LSA-SG; Andrea Alajbegovic,
LSA-SG; Paula Berwanger, Linguistics; Tim Dodd, Academic Advising; Kalli Federhofer, German;
Benjamin Fortson, Classical Studies and Linguistics; Phil Gorman, Academic Advising; Lori Gould, Dean’s
Office; Marjorie Horton, Dean’s Office; Kristen Moore, Math; Neil Marsh, Chemistry; Tim McKay, Physics
and Honors; Jennifer Myers, Residential College; Esrold Nurse, Academic Affairs; Damani Partridge,
Anthropology and DAAS; Sushama Pavgi, MCDB; JoAnn Peraino, Dean’s Office; Pam Rinker, Dean’s
Office; Shelly Schreier, Psychology; Donna Wessel Walker, Honors; and Anna Wittow, LSA-SG.
The meeting came to order at 3:10 pm.
MINUTES
Minutes for 11/1/11 were approved as amended.
NON-GRADED COURSES
The attached revision to the academic policies for non-graded courses was approved effective immediately.
CONCENTRATIONS AND MINORS
1. A new concentration and academic minor in Interdisciplinary Astronomy were approved effective W12.
2. Modifications to the International Studies concentration were approved effective W12.
3. Modifications to RC’s Drama concentration were deferred pending corrections.
COURSE APPROVAL ACTIONS
1. Two courses were approved effective W12 (see Appendix): BIOLOGY 256 (new) and PSYCH 290
(modification).
2. BIOLOGY 256 was approved for NS/BS Eligibility.
ACADEMIC POLICIES
The committee reviewed College policies for concentrations and academic minors and formulating new
policies for undergraduate certificates. They will resume this discussion in December.
The meeting was adjourned at 4:30 pm.
NEXT MEETING:
Discussion, November 15, 2011
18
MEMORANDUM
TO:
Members of the LSA Executive Committee
FROM:
Pam Rinker
DATE:
December 14, 2011
SUBJECT:
Summary of LSA Curriculum Committee Minutes
for December 6, 2011
1.
Minutes of 11/8/11 were approved.
2.
The admissions process for Communication Studies concentrators was discussed.
3.
Recommendations of the R&E Subcommittee were accepted.
4.
Modifications for concentrations in Drama and Spanish were approved.
5.
Modifications to the Academic Minor in Spanish were approved.
6.
Modifications to the Academic Minor in Writing were deferred.
7.
Course approval requests were acted upon.
19
LSA CURRICULUM COMMITTEE
Minutes of December 6, 2011
Present: Phil Deloria (Chair); Pallavi Abraham, LSA-SG; Andrea Alajbegovic, LSA-SG; Paula Berwanger,
Linguistics; Caroline Canning, LSA-SG; Kalli Federhoffer, German; Benjamin Fortson, Classical Studies and
Linguistics; Phil Gorman, Advising; Lori Gould, Dean’s Office; Marjorie Horton, Dean’s Office; Kristen
Moore, Math; Neil Marsh, Chemistry; John Mitani, Anthropology; Jennifer Myers, Residential College; Esrold
Nurse, Advising; Damani Partridge, Anthropology and DAAS; Sushama Pavgi, MCDB; JoAnn Peraino,
Dean’s Office; Pam Rinker, Dean’s Office; Shelly Schreier, Psychology; Donna Wessel Walker, Honors; Anna
Wittow, LSA-SG; and Evans Young, Dean’s Office
Guests: Stephen Debacker, Cheryl Erdmann, and Susan Douglas
The meeting came to order at 3:10.
MINUTES
Minutes for 11/8/11 were approved.
POLICY CHANGES FOR CONCENTRATIONS AND ACADEMIC MINORS
As a follow-up to their meeting on 11/8/11, the committee continued to consider the consequences of
proposed changes to the policies for concentrations and academic minors, as indicated in the attached current
requirements and drafts of revised policies. Stephen Debacker, Professor of Mathematics, was invited to
share his concerns about the proposed changes from the perspective of the natural sciences. First, he thought
that deleting rule #6 was problematic: “Students may not elect a concentration and an academic minor, or
two academic minors, in the same department or program unless a specific exemption to this policy is noted
in the academic minor description in this Bulletin.” In the committee’s view, rules #6 and #8 overlapped.
They proposed eliminating rule #6 and relying on rule #8 for students who want to concentrate and minor in
the same department: “Students may not use more than one course to meet both the requirements of an
academic minor and the prerequisites or requirements of a concentration.” Debacker argued that the current
rule #6 is a general rule that applies to all departments, thus keeping the Curriculum Committee responsible
for changes while also allowing departments to request exemptions to the rule. If the revised policies for
academic minors were approved, he thought that each unit would have to publish its own rules as to whether
concentrators could also earn a minor offered by the same department. If they decided to disallow both a
concentration and minor, advisors would have to deal with students who wanted to do so.
Debacker also was concerned about the inclusion of prerequisites in rule #8, which was added a few years
ago. In his opinion, this policy was biased against natural science departments. In fulfilling prerequisites,
natural science concentrators would have already completed many of the lower-level courses required for an
academic minor. In that case, requiring them to take an additional three to five courses to earn a minor would
add to their already heavy course load. It also would restrict them from taking more electives at the 300- and
400-level, thereby enhancing their education. In Debacker’s view, this policy penalizes natural science
departments, especially ones such as Math that choose to be honest and list all concentration prerequisites up
front. Some other departments take the easier road by listing them as course prerequisites. The committee
will continue this discussion in January.
COMMUNICATION STUDIES
Susan Douglas, Chair of Communication Studies, and Cheryl Erdmann, Undergraduate Program
Coordinator, were invited to answer questions about their proposed requirements for admission to the
concentration in F12:
1.
To declare Communication Studies as a concentration, the student must have completed
COMM 111 for credit and COMM 101, 102 and 211 with a grade of C- or higher in each
course.
20
2.
The student's average grade point in these three courses must be at least 2.7 (32.4 honor
points).
3.
If a student does not meet these criteria, he or she will not be admitted into the concentration.
However, if s/he so desires, s/he may retake one prerequisite course (in accord with LSA policies),
and if the student meets the criteria above with the new grade s/he earns in the course replacing the
old grade, s/he may declare a Communication Studies concentration.
Last year, a total of 51 concentrators were waitlisted for required courses until the department increased class
sizes. With 165 applications for F12, they expect a total of about 500 concentrators next year. Nonetheless, in a
recent exit survey, seniors expressed they were very satisfied with their studies, especially in preparing them for
a job/career soon after graduation. Meanwhile, 481 new freshmen have expressed interest in Communication
Studies. Susan Douglas asked the committee to help them find a way to resolve these serious enrollment
pressures. To date all of their classes have been taught by a small number of tenured or tenure-track faculty and
only two lecturers, too few to meet the burgeoning demand. This fall, they hired a new one-term lecturer who
felt overwhelmed by the amount of work. For W12, they have hired a new lecturer to teach three new 400-level
courses on a trial basis.
In 2001 Communication Studies proposed a required minimum 2.7 GPA for COMM 101, 102 and 211, which
the Curriculum Committee approved. At that time, the committee asked the department to allocate 75% of all
classes for concentrators and 25% for non-concentrators to allow others access. This year’s committee informed
Douglas that it was up to the department to allocate enrollment in all their classes. Some departments reserve
100% of the spaces for concentrators in some required classes. She thought raising the reserve cap for
concentrators to 90% would go a long way to resolve the current enrollment pressures. She also reported recent
data indicating that Communication Studies actually would have 100 fewer concentrators if they had not
imposed the 2.7 minimum GPA in 2001.
Each year students without the required 2.7 GPA continue taking courses required for the concentration and
then apply in their senior year. This fall the department rejected six seniors who were unable to graduate.
This caused serious problems not only for the students and their families, but also for the department,
Academic Advising, and college administrators. It is imperative that they find a way to address this problem.
Thus far, they have “strongly encouraged” students to declare the concentration in their junior year without
any power to enforce this policy. Communication Studies would like to require that students apply in their
sophomore or junior year, thus eliminating the problematic applications from seniors. As an example,
Organizational Studies requires students to submit an application during the sophomore year. The committee
deferred this proposal pending more discussion next week.
RACE & ETHNICITY
The committee accepted the R&E Subcommittee’s recommendations as summarized in the attached
report:
APPROVED
New /Topic
1. HISTORY 103. Introduction to Religion: From Rastafari to the Sun Dance. Paul C. Johnson.
W12
Recert / Blanket
2. AAPTIS 331. Introduction to Arab Culture: Race, Ethnicity, and Gender Issues. Raji M.
Rammuny. W12
3. FRENCH 363. Caribbean Studies: Métissage, Gender, and Identity in the Caribbean. Jarrod
Hayes. W12
4. GERMAN 464. Postwar German Ethnicities in Literature and Culture. Kader Konuk. W12
5. HISTORY/ASIAN STUDIES 207. Introduction to Southeast Asian History. Victor Lieberman.
W11
6. HISTORY 240. The World Since 1492. Douglas Northrop. W11
7. WOMENSTD/NURSING 220. Perspectives in Women’s Health. Lisa Kane Low and Joanne
Montino Baily. W12
21
DEFERRED
New / Blanket
8. HISTORY 309. After Alexander: The Hellenistic Age in the Mediterranean and the Near East.
Ian Moyer. F12.
MODIFICATIONS TO CONCENTRATIONS AND ACADEMIC MINORS (see attachments)
3. Modifications to the Drama concentration were approved effective W12.
4. Modifications to the Spanish concentration and academic minor were approved effective F12.
5. Modifications to the Academic Minor in Writing were approved effective F12.
COURSE APPROVAL ACTIONS
4. A total of 25 course proposals were approved as summarized in Appendix I: 5 new courses; 19
modifications; and 1 deletion.
5. Eight course proposals marked as discussion items were deferred because the meeting had to
adjourn late. These courses will be considered next week.
6. The following courses were approved for distribution or college requirement:
a. HU: ASIAN 331/PHIL 331/RELIGION 331; CSP 105; HISTORY 239 and 309
b. SS: ORGSTUDY 201
c. BS: ENVIRON 453/NRE 453 and WOMENSTD 452/PSYCH 430
The meeting was adjourned at 5:05 pm.
NEXT MEETING:
Course Approvals & Discussion, Tuesday, November 13, 2011
22
MEMORANDUM
TO:
Members of the LSA Executive Committee
FROM:
Pam Rinker
DATE:
January 18, 2011
SUBJECT:
Summary of LSA Curriculum Committee Minutes
for December 13, 2011
1. Minutes of 12/6/11 were approved.
2. Discussion continued about enrollment pressures in Communications Studies.
3. Modifications were approved for three concentrations.
4. Modifications were approved for four academic minors.
5. Course approval requests were acted upon.
6.
Esrold Nurse, Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs, presented the annual Academic
Advising update.
23
LSA CURRICULUM COMMITTEE
Minutes of December 13, 2011
Present: Phil Deloria (Chair); Pallavi Abraham, LSA-SG; Andrea Alajbegovic, LSA-SG; Paula Berwanger,
Linguistics; Caroline Canning, LSA-SG; Tim Dodd, Advising; Kalli Federhoffer, German; Benjamin
Fortson, Classical Studies and Linguistics; Phil Gorman, Advising; Lori Gould, Dean’s Office; Marjorie
Horton, Dean’s Office; Kristen Moore, Math; Neil Marsh, Chemistry; Tim McKay, Honors; John Mitani,
Anthropology; Jennifer Myers, Residential College; Esrold Nurse, Advising; Damani Partridge,
Anthropology and DAAS; Sushama Pavgi, MCDB; JoAnn Peraino, Dean’s Office; Pam Rinker, Dean’s
Office; Shelly Schreier, Psychology; Donna Wessel Walker, Honors; Anna Wittow, LSA-SG; and Evans
Young, Dean’s Office
Guest: David Smith, Assistant to the Assistant Dean for Student Academic Affairs
The meeting came to order at 3:10.
MINUTES
Minutes for 12/6/11 were approved.
ENROLLMENT PRESSURES IN COMMUNICATION STUDIES
The committee continued last week’s discussion about proposed changes to the Communications Studies
admissions process effective F12 (see attachment). They suggested the following toolkit from which the
department could pick and choose. The committee recommended implementing changes for one year in order
to assess their effectiveness. The committee did not approve the department’s request to return to a 2.7 GPA
requirement for declaring the concentration.

Requiring students to declare the concentration no later than their junior year, thus eliminating
the problem of seniors who want to declare

Reducing the current 25% reserve cap for general enrollment in 400-level classes, especially
small seminars, perhaps to 10% or restricting all spaces to concentrators in specific high-demand
classes

Enforcing the prerequisites for 400-level classes to ensure the necessary spaces for concentrators

Increase the number of spaces as needed
MODIFICATIONS TO CONCENTRATIONS
Changes to the following concentrations were approved effective W12 (attached):
1. Earth and Environmental Sciences
2. Philosophy
3. BBCS, Neuroscience, and Psychology
MODIFICATIONS TO ACADEMIC MINORS
Changes to the following academic minors were approved (attached):
1. History of Philosophy effective W12
2. Medical Anthropology effective W12
3. Writing effective F12
24
COURSE APPROVAL ACTIONS
7. Eight courses were approved as listed in the Appendix (3 new courses and 5 modifications).
8. CLCIV 126 approved for HU distribution.
ACADEMIC ADVISING AND THE UNDERGRADUATE EXPERIENCE
Esrold Nurse, Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs, gave the annual Academic Advising update as detailed
in the attached PowerPoint presentation. As one major topic, he informed the committee about Strategic
Partnerships they have developed including: a new Prospective Student Call-In Program; Transfer Credit
Protocols; Orientation and New Student Programs; Michigan Learning Communities; a better infrastructure
for Athletics and the Academic Success Program; and increased contact with academic departments and
units. There have been an increased number of students who are under pressure to concentrate in a program
that will lead to a job soon after graduation. Advisors provide students with more meaningful information
about other options such as English and History. They also has been collaborating more with the Career
Center,
As a second major topic, SAA has identified a number of challenges and obstacles faced by LSA students:
significant increases in enrollment for four consecutive years; greater demand for accountability; crisis
management and students with disabilities or psychological impairments; and renewed pressure for
concentrations in career-oriented programs and areas of study. More help is needed to serve the growing
number of undergraduates who want to take UC 225, an undergraduate internship course for credit. In order
to address this need and tie UC 225 more closely to departments, Nurse mentioned the possibility of shifting
oversight responsibility back to faculty. Advising also may propose a parallel upper-level internship course
to accommodate juniors and seniors whose departments don’t have such a course.
Nurse noted that these challenges are stretching their limited resources, and, if not addressed, could change
the fabric of the college. LSA now has a total of 17,000 undergraduates, an increase of 12% over ten years.
Rather than an annual bulge, he thinks this increase may be a new normal. Departments are feeling the
weight of these changes unevenly. The number of Natural Science concentrators has increased, especially in
Biology and Neuroscience. The latter now ranks as the fifth or sixth largest concentration in the College.
Math and Chemistry have also gained more concentrators.
Social Science concentrators now account for 2/3 of LSA students. Psychology and Brain, Behavior, and
Cognitive Science (BBCS) are by far the largest, followed by Economics and Political Science.
Communication Studies is now the fourth largest concentration after Sociology and History. Meanwhile,
there are fewer English concentrators and more in Spanish. Two interdisciplinary concentrations are very
popular as well, the Program in the Environment and International Studies.
Enrollment in academic minors ranks as follows: Math, Economics, Spanish, and German. A significant
number of students in Engineering and the Business School also complete LSA academic minors. With
increased interest in community involvement, more students are completing Social Work’s academic minor
in Community Action and Social Change (CASC). Enrollment in joint programs also increased, especially
RC’s Crime and justice.
The meeting was adjourned at 5:05 pm.
NEXT MEETINGS:
Subcommittees: January 10, 2012
Course Approvals: January 17, 2012
25
MEMORANDUM
TO:
Members of the LSA Executive Committee
FROM:
Pam Rinker
DATE:
January 25, 2012
SUBJECT:
Summary of LSA Curriculum Committee Minutes
for January 17, 2012
1. Minutes of 12/13/11 were approved.
2. Enrollment pressures in Communication Studies were discussed.
3. R&E Subcommittee recommendations were approved.
4. New concentrations in Biomolecular Science and Interdisciplinary Chemistry were approved.
5. Modifications to nine concentrations were approved.
6. Modifications to five academic minors were approved.
7. A request by the School of Information was approved.
8. Course approval requests were acted upon.
26
LSA CURRICULUM COMMITTEE
Minutes of January 17, 2012
Present: Phil Deloria (Chair); Pallavi Abraham, LSA-SG; Paula Berwanger, Linguistics; Melissa Burns, LSASG; Caroline Canning, LSA-SG; Tim Dodd, Advising; Benjamin Fortson, Classical Studies and Linguistics;
Lori Gould, Dean’s Office; Marjorie Horton, Dean’s Office; Neil Marsh, Chemistry; John Mitani,
Anthropology; Jennifer Myers, Residential College; Esrold Nurse, Advising; Sally Oey, Astronomy; Damani
Partridge, Anthropology and DAAS; Sushama Pavgi, MCDB; JoAnn Peraino, Dean’s Office; Pam Rinker,
Dean’s Office; Shelly Schreier, Psychology; Donna Wessel Walker, Honors; Anna Wittow, LSA-SG; and
Evans Young, Dean’s Office
MINUTES
Minutes for 12/13/11 were approved.
ENROLLMENT PRESSURES IN COMMUNICATION STUDIES
As a follow-up to the committee’s discussion on 12/6/11, Susan Douglas, Chair of Communication Studies,
submitted a revised proposal about changes in the admissions process (see attachment). The committee noted
that the department’s enrollment pressure especially affects small, upper-level seminars, and that restricting
some of these courses to junior and senior concentrators should diminish this problem. The committee
discussed each of the proposed requirements for admission to the concentration effective Fall 2012:
1. To declare Communication Studies as a concentration, the student must have completed COMM
111 for credit and COMM 101, 102 and 211 with a grade of C- or higher in each course.
2. The student's average grade point in these three courses must be at least 2.7 (32.4 honor points).
3. If a student does not meet these criteria, he or she will not be admitted into the concentration.
However, if s/he so desires, s/he may retake one prerequisite course (in accord with LSA
policies), and if the student meets the criteria above with the new grade s/he earns in the course
replacing the old grade, they may apply again as a concentrator. Students are urged to declare as
soon as they complete and receive a grade for their final required prerequisite.
4. Students must declare no later than the end of the winter term of their junior year.
The committee approved requirement number one. They did not approve requirement number two. The
committee’s concern was that the proposal for a minimum 2.7 GPA in prerequisites is presented as an
instrument to control the number of concentration declarations. Since it appears that students with grades
lower than 2.7 in these introductory courses have been successful in upper-level Communication Studies
courses, the academic rationale for the minimum grade requirement is unclear. Phil Deloria stated that
requirement number three had been withdrawn in subsequent discussions with Douglas.
With regard to requirement number four, the committee thought that the end of winter term in students’
junior year was too late and recommended moving it up to the beginning of Fall term. Once these changes in
the admission process are implemented, they recommended that the department try them for the next year
and keep track of enrollment data to ascertain their success in easing enrollment pressures.
RACE & ETHNICITY
As recommended by the R&E Subcommittee and summarized in the attached report, seven R&E proposals
were approved:
New / Blanket (2)
1. SAC 316 / ITALIAN 316. Screening Italian Americans. Giorgio Bertellini. F12.
2. SAC 333. Fascist Cinema. Markus Nornes / Johannes von Moltke. F12.
27
New /Topic (1)
3. RCHUMS 334. Special Topics in the Humanities: The Harlem Renaissance: The New Negro
Movement. Lawrence Davis. W12.
Recert / Blanket (4)
4. ITALIAN 311. Making Difference in Italy. Paolo Squatriti. F12.
5. AMCULT / WOMENSTD 235. From Harems to Terrorists: The Middle East in Hollywood Cinema.
Evelyn Alsultany. W12.
6. EDUCATION 118. Introduction to Education. Anne Ruggles Gere. F12.
7. HISTORY/AMCULT/WOMENSTD 371. Women in American History since 1870. Regina
Morantz-Sanchez. W13.
CONCENTRATIONS
The attached new concentrations were approved effective F12:
1. Biomolecular Science
2. Interdisciplinary Chemistry
The attached concentration modifications were approved effective F12:
1. Computer Science
2. Informatics
3. Interdisciplinary Physics
4. Linguistics
5. Mathematics
6. Neuroscience
7. Physics
8. Sociology
9. Women's Studies
ACADEMIC MINORS
The attached modifications to academic minors were approved effective F12:
1. Biochemistry
2. Gender, Race, and Nation
3. History of Philosophy
4. LGBTQS
5. Physics
COURSE APPROVAL ACTIONS
1. A total of 90 course proposals were approved as summarized in the Appendix, including 24 new courses,
60 modifications, and 6 deletions.
2. The following courses were approved for distribution and/or college requirement:
a.
b.
c.
HU: AMCULT 354/ENGLISH 312/ENVIRON 354; ASIAN 256, 258, 264, 359, 362, and 375;
HISTORY 102; JUDAIC 260/HISTORY 269/RELIGION 260; JUDAIC 265/HISTORY 256;
JUDAIC 323/HISTART 323/HISTORY 350/NES 323/RELIGION 324; POLISH 215; and SAC
350 and 354
NS/BS: EARTH 158 and EARTH 159
QR2: BIOPHYS 120
28
SCHOOL OF INFORMATION
A request by the School of Information to modify SI 110 by replacing the SOC 110 crosslist with UC 110
was approved.
The meeting was adjourned at 4: 50 pm.
NEXT MEETING:
Discussion, Tuesday, January 24, 2012
29
MEMORANDUM
TO:
Members of the LSA Executive Committee
FROM:
Pam Rinker
DATE:
February 5, 2012
SUBJECT:
Summary of LSA Curriculum Committee Minutes
for January 24, 2012
1.
2.
3.
4.
Minutes of 1/17/12 were approved.
Renaming the concentration in Brain, Behavior, and Cognitive Science (BBCS) to
Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience (BCN) was approved.
The committee continued its discussion about changing College policies for academic
minors.
Ted Spencer, Associate Vice-Provost and Executive Director of Undergraduate
Admissions, and Erica Sanders, Managing Director of Academic and Educational
Affairs in Undergraduate Admissions, presented data about the entering class of
Fall 2011.
30
LSA CURRICULUM COMMITTEE
Minutes of January 24, 2012
Present: Phil Deloria (Chair); Pallavi Abraham, LSA-SG; Paula Berwanger, Linguistics; Melissa Burns,
LSA-SG; Caroline Canning, LSA-SG; Tim Dodd, Advising; Kalli Federhoffer, German; Benjamin Fortson,
Classical Studies and Linguistics; Lori Gould, Dean’s Office; Marjorie Horton, Dean’s Office; Neil Marsh,
Chemistry; Jennifer Myers, Residential College; Esrold Nurse, Advising; Sally Oey, Astronomy; Damani
Partridge, Anthropology and DAAS; Sushama Pavgi, MCDB; JoAnn Peraino, Dean’s Office; Pam Rinker,
Dean’s Office; Shelly Schreier, Psychology; Donna Wessel Walker, Honors; Anna Wittow, LSA-SG; and
Evans Young, Dean’s Office
Guests: Ted Spencer and Erica Sanders
The meeting came to order at 3:10 pm.
MINUTES
Minutes for 1/17/12 were approved.
CONCENTRATIONS
The committee approved Psychology’s request to rename the concentration in Brain, Behavior, and
Cognitive Science (BBCS) to Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience (BCN).
POLICIES FOR ACADEMIC MINORS
The committee continued its ongoing discussion about changing College policies for academic minors.
The first issue is a proposal to delete the current rule #6 and allow rule #8 to govern overlap between
minors:. This change would allow each academic unit to decide whether or not students could earn
multiple minors in the same department. A second proposal is to remove prerequisites from rule #8. The
discussion was tabled until data is gathered with regard to specific concentrations and minors.
6. Students may not elect a concentration and an academic minor, or two academic minors, in the
same department or program unless a specific exemption to this policy is noted in the academic
minor description in this Bulletin.
8. Students may not use more than one course to meet both the requirements of an academic
minor and the prerequisites or requirements of a concentration.
UM ADMISSIONS
Ted Spencer, Associate Vice-Provost and Executive Director of Undergraduate Admissions, and Erica
Sanders, Managing Director of Academic and Educational Affairs in Undergraduate Admissions, presented
data about the entering class of Fall 2011. Common Applications for Fall 11 increased around eight
thousand from the previous year. Each application is assigned to three separate readers who provide a
holistic and contextual review. Spencer reported very high in-state median scores for admitted LSA
students, including a 3.9 GPA and SAT and ACT scores of 2160 and 31. AB or IB credit was granted to
over 3,000 admitted first-year students. The incoming class comprises 25% of underrepresented students
(African-American, Hispanic American, Native American, or Asian American) and 4% from other
countries. The average number of undergraduates who complete their degree is way above most national
universities: 76% in four years, 87% in five, and 90% in six. With a 96% freshmen retention rate, UM
ranks slightly below Columbia and Yale (99%), Princeton, Stanford and Penn (98%), and Duke, Harvard,
Northwestern, and UVA (97%).
31
The Survey of Freshmen Admits (SOFA), administered every five years, provides the Office of Undergraduate
Admissions with a wide range of data. The survey includes what factors students consider most important in
school selection. Academic reputation, career preparation, and availability of majors are factors for which UM
is rated highly. For about 50% UM typically ranks lower among in-state and out-state students on other
factors, such as personal attention, emphasis on undergraduate vs. graduate education, and cost of attendance.
The SOFA survey also asked students to consider their one-word images of the schools and colleges to which
they applied. Many in-state students associate U-M with words such as prestigious, challenging, intellectual,
and diverse, while many of those from other states rank athletics and fun above the others.
The Provost has set a target of 26,500 total undergraduate education applications. The UM website, the most
common source of information for prospective students, is being reviewed by the Vice- Provost of
Communications to identify possible improvements. Eighty percent high school students who participate in
Campus Day rate their class visits very highly. In addition to Undergraduate Admissions, active participants
in recruiting efforts are many: 1300 alumni volunteers who contact every admitted student and address
questions; Dean’s Office staff responsible for recruiting and financial aid; and President Coleman who sends a
personal letter encouraging every applicant to come to UM. Spencer mentioned several future issues that will
need to be addressed, including: significant budget cuts to K-12 schools; the large number of students who
don’t meet UM’s language requirement for admission; ; and how to deal with online courses taken in high
school.
The meeting was adjourned at 5:10 pm.
NEXT MEETINGS:
Subcommittees, January 31, 2012
Course Approvals, February 7, 2012
32
MEMORANDUM
TO:
FROM:
Members of the LSA Executive Committee
Pam Rinker
DATE:
February 15, 2012
SUBJECT: Summary of LSA Curriculum Committee Minutes
for February 7, 2012
1.
Minutes for 1/24/12 were approved as amended.
2.
The committee discussed the Registrar’s Office proposal to change the names of
items that appear at the top of student transcripts.
3.
Recommendations on the attached R&E Subcommittee Report were accepted.
4.
Modifications to the following concentrations were approved effective F12:
a.
Biochemistry
b.
Classical Studies: Classical Archaeology; Classical Civilization; Classical
Languages and Literatures; Ancient Greek Language and Literature; and
Latin Language and Literature
c.
German
d.
Honors Economics
e.
Philosophy
f.
Women’s Studies
5.
Modifications to the Screen Arts and Culture concentration were deferred pending
clarification of a few questions.
6.
Modifications to the following academic minors were approved effective F12:
a.
Classical Studies: Classical Archaeology; Classical Civilization; and
Language, Literature, and Culture of Ancient Rome
b.
Epistemology and Philosophy of Science
c.
History of Philosophy
d.
Women’s Studies: Gender and Health; and LGBTQS
6. Course approval requests were acted upon as summarized in the attached report.
33
LSA CURRICULUM COMMITTEE
Minutes of February 7, 2012
Present: Phil Deloria (Chair); Pallavi Abraham, LSA-SG; Paula Berwanger, Linguistics; Melissa Burns, LSASG; Caroline Canning, LSA-SG; Tim Dodd, Advising; Kalli Federhoffer, German; Benjamin Fortson, Classical
Studies and Linguistics; Lori Gould, Dean’s Office; Marjorie Horton, Dean’s Office; Tim McKay, Honors; John
Mitani, Anthropology; Jennifer Myers, Residential College; Esrold Nurse, Advising; Sally Oey, Astronomy;
Damani Partridge, Anthropology and DAAS; Sushama Pavgi, MCDB; JoAnn Peraino, Dean’s Office; Pam
Rinker, Dean’s Office; Shelly Schreier, Psychology; Susan Tepaske-King, Academic Advising; Donna Wessel
Walker, Honors; Anna Wittow, LSA-SG; and Evans Young, Dean’s Office
The meeting came to order at 3:10 pm.
MINUTES
Minutes for 1/24/12 were approved as amended.
REGISTRAR’S PROPOSAL
The committee discussed the Registrar’s Office proposal to change the names of items that appear at the top of
student transcripts. The changes would provide a clearer hierarchy of the student’s major, minor, and lesser,
specialized study programs, and substitute the term “Major” in place of the College’s current usage,
“Concentration.” They also would simplify the names of academic minors, by omitting “Academic Minor in” from
each title. The following example, based on the one in the RO’s proposal, shows the proposed changes in the
degree block of entries at the head of the transcript:
Current transcript degree block
School/College:
Field(s) of Specialization:
Literature, Science & the Arts
American Culture
Asian Studies
Entrepreneurship
Academic Minor in Linguistics
Degree:
Bachelor of Arts
Awarded:
26-APR-2012
Example of revised transcript degree block
School/College:
Major:
Minor:
Special Studies:
Degree:
Awarded:
Literature, Science & the Arts
American Culture
Asian Studies
Linguistics
Entrepreneurship
Bachelor of Arts
26-APR-2012
Phil Deloria noted that any decision would have to be implemented in multiple stages across the College and in
publications. Since the LSA Faculty Code uses the term Concentration, the faculty may need to approve these
changes. The committee was not in agreement about using “Special Studies” as the term for certificates and other
small programs of study but agreed that using the terms “Major” and “Minor” would be helpful. However, they
expressed concerns about any unintended consequences. They also thought changing all the names was very
important to create subdivisions differentiating the relative importance of each with regard to the number of
required courses. For example, in the current transcript, Engineering’s Program in Entrepreneurship appears to
carry the same weight as a concentration. The discussion was tabled due to time constraints.
34
R&E COURSE APPROVALS
The committee accepted the following recommendations of the R&E Subcommittee:
Approved (2)
New /Topic
2. AAS 432 / ENVIRON 434. Violent Environments: Oil, Development and the Discourse of Power.
Omalade Adunbi. W13.
3. REEES 405. Topics in Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies: Blood Feuds and Clashes of
Civilizations: The Balkans and the Caucasus. Krista Goff. Sp12.
Approved (2)
Recert / Blanket
4. AAS 322 / ENVIRON 335. Introduction to Environmental Politics: Race, Class and Gender. Omolade
Adunbi. F12.
5. AMCULT / WOMENSTD 243. Introduction to Study of Latinas in the U.S. Lawrence La FountainStokes. W12.
CONCENTRATIONS
Modifications to the following concentrations were approved effective F12 (attached):
1. Biochemistry
2. Classical Studies: Classical Archaeology; Classical Civilization; Classical Languages and Literatures;
Ancient Greek Language and Literature; and Latin Language and Literature
3. German
4. Honors Economics
5. Philosophy
6. Women’s Studies
Modifications to the Screen Arts and Culture concentration were deferred pending clarification of a few
questions.
ACADEMIC MINORS
Modifications to the following academic minors were approved effective F12 (attached):
1. Classical Studies: Classical Archaeology; Classical Civilization; and Language, Literature, and Culture
of Ancient Rome
2. Epistemology and Philosophy of Science
3. History of Philosophy
4. Women’s Studies: Gender and Health; and LGBTQS
COURSE APPROVAL ACTIONS
1. A total of 22 courses were approved as summarized in the Appendix (5 new courses and 17
modifications).
2. ENGLISH 303: Distribution request was deferred pending additional information.
3. The following courses were approved for distribution:
a. HU: ENGLISH 311/THTREMUS 328; HISTART 338; HISTORY 101; and ROMLANG 251/
GTBOOKS 251
b. NS: ANTHRBIO 363
The meeting was adjourned at 4:30 pm.
NEXT MEETING:
Discussion, February 14, 2012
35
MEMORANDUM
To: Members of the LSA Executive Committee
From: Pam Rinker
Date: March 7, 2012
RE:
Summary of LSA Curriculum Committee Minutes
for February 14, 2012
1. Minutes for 2/7/12 were approved.
2. The committee approved proposed changes to rules #6 and #8 in LSA Policies
for Academic Minors.
a. Current Policies
b. Revised Policies
3. Palavi Abraham, Melissa Burns, and Anna Wittow, members of the
Curriculum Committee and LSA-SG Student Academic Affairs
Subcommittee, reported on three projects.
a. The committee approved moving forward with the first resolution.
b. Discussion of the second and third resolutions was tabled due to time
constraints.
36
LSA CURRICULUM COMMITTEE
Minutes of February 14, 2012
Present: Phil Deloria (Chair); Pallavi Abraham, LSA-SG; Paula Berwanger, Linguistics; Melissa Burns, LSA-SG;
Tim Dodd, Advising; Kalli Federhoffer, German; Benjamin Fortson, Classical Studies and Linguistics; Lori
Gould, Dean’s Office; Marjorie Horton, Dean’s Office; Neil Marsh, Chemistry; John Mitani, Anthropology;
Jennifer Myers, Residential College; Sally Oey, Astronomy; Damani Partridge, Anthropology and DAAS;
Sushama Pavgi, MCDB; JoAnn Peraino, Dean’s Office; Pam Rinker, Dean’s Office; Shelly Schreier, Psychology;
Donna Wessel Walker, Honors; Anna Wittow, LSA-SG; and Evans Young, Dean’s Office
The meeting came to order at 3:10 pm.
MINUTES
Minutes for 2/7/12 were approved.
POLICIES FOR ACADEMIC MINORS
The committee continued its discussion of two changes in the current policies for minors. The first proposal is to
delete rule #6 and rely solely on rule #8 to control course overlap between concentrations and minors. The
second is to remove “prerequisites” from rule #8.
a. Students may not elect a concentration and an academic minor, or two academic minors, in the same
department or program unless a specific exemption to this policy is noted in the academic minor
description in this Bulletin.
8. Students may not use more than one course to meet both the requirements of an academic minor and
the prerequisites or requirements of a concentration.
The committee noted that policies for minors have not been thoroughly examined for several years. Initially
minors were intended to provide students with more opportunities to broaden their liberal arts education. Thus
students could not earn a concentration and minor within the same department. In the last few years, departments
have created a variety of new programs across the disciplines, including ones that are interdisciplinary. Because
of this growth in LSA’s undergraduate curriculum, the committee considered two options with regard to deleting
rule #6: 1) keep #6 because minors are meant to be value-added by requiring students to complete 3 or 4
additional courses beyond concentration prerequisites; or 2) expand the definition of minors to include
concentrations and minors that seem closely related. The committee approved the first proposed revision, i.e.
deleting rule #6.
Many natural science students complete their concentration prerequisites, which also would satisfy the
requirements of related minors. When the proposed changes were last discussed, the Curriculum Committee
asked JoAnn Peraino to provide hard data about existing course overlap between natural science concentrations
and minors. Her findings identify 387 possible combinations that overlap by 4 or more courses between
prerequisites and requirements for minors.

252 have no overlap and 63 have 1 overlap = 315 or 81% of the combinations are possible without this
rule being an issue.

30 combinations (7%) have 2-3 course overlaps which are easily completed under the current policies.

42 combinations (11%) have 4 or more course overlaps which may be difficult for students to complete.
Only 10 (3%) of these 42 combinations include an overlap with a concentration of more than 33
declared students. Except for Math and Physics, very few students have declared these minors.
This data indicates that rule #8 does not affect the majority of concentrations and minors. However, it impacts
many natural science concentrations. After further discussion, the committee approved the removal of
“prerequisites” from rule #8 and the deletion of rule #6. As in the attached revision, rule #8 becomes rule #9. As
a matters arising, Academic Advising requested a clarification of rule #15 to eliminate any possible confusion
students may report. This change was also approved.
37
LSA STUDENT GOVERNMENT
Palavi Abraham, Melissa Burns, and Anna Wittow are on the LSA-SG Student Academic Affairs Subcommittee.
This term they also serve as members of the Curriculum Committee. The attached memo states this
subcommittee’s primary goal: “to influence College policy, while also working towards the betterment of
student life on campus.” For the past couple of years the subcommittee has been working on various projects,
including three resolutions: 1) changing Wolverine Access so that students would receive an email whenever the
Registrar’s Office entered a grade change; 2) not scheduling exams on national election days; and 3) requesting
a change in LSA’s Exam Policies. Completing the first resolution (attached) included a poll of student opinion,
as well as a review of policies used in comparable universities. Burns said their goal was to ask for the
committee’s support in moving forward these resolutions, as detailed in the attached PowerPoint presentation.
The committee approved the first resolution (attached). Discussion of the second and third was tabled due to
time constraints.
The meeting was adjourned at 5 pm.
NEXT MEETINGS:
Subcommittees, February 21, 2012
Course Approvals, March 6, 2012
38
Natural Science Concentration/Minor combinations with 4 or more courses that overlap
between concentration prerequisites and minor prerequisites or requirements
Concentration
(sorted by
concentration)
Minor
# of
concentration
prereqs that
overlap courses
Concentration
(sorted by
minor)
Minor
# of
concentration
prereqs that
overlap
courses
Astro &
Astrophys
Physics
6
Biology
Biochemistry
Physics
4
Chemistry
Biology
Astronomy
4
CMB
Biology
Physics
4
Earth Sys Sci
Biophysics
Biochemistry
6
EEB
Biophysics
Chem Meas
4
Gen Bio
Biophysics
Chemistry
5
Geoscience
Biophysics
Math
4
ID Physics
Biophysics
Physics
4
Math Sci
Biophysics
Poly Chem
5
Physics
Chemistry
Astronomy
5
Plant Bio
Chemistry
Chemistry
Math
Physics
Astro &
Astrophys
Chem Meas
Chem Phys
Poly Chem
4
4
Biophysics
Geoscience
Astro
Astrophys
Astro
Astrophys
Astro
Astrophys
Astro
Astrophys
Astro
Astrophys
Astro
Astrophys
Astro
Astrophys
Astro
Astrophys
Astro
Astrophys
Astro
Astrophys
Biochemistry
Biochemistry
4
EEB
Biophysics
6
4
4
5
Biophysics
CMB
EEB
Chem Meas
Chem Meas
Chem Meas
4
4
5
Astronomy
4
Geoscience
Chem Meas
4
Chemistry
4
CMB
Chem Phys
4
Physics
4
EEB
Chem Phys
4
Astronomy
Biophysics
Chem Meas
Chem Phys
Physics
Poly Chem
Astronomy
Physics
Astronomy
4
6
5
4
4
5
4
4
5
Geoscience
Biophysics
Earth Sys Sci
Geoscience
Biophysics
Chemistry
Geoscience
Astronomy
Biochemistry
Chem Phys
Chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry
Math
Math
Math
Physics
Physics
4
5
4
5
4
4
4
6
4
CMB
CMB
CMB
CMB
Earth Sys
Science
Earth Sys
Science
Earth Sys
Science
EEB
EEB
EEB
EEB
EEB
EEB
Gen Biology
Gen Biology
Geoscience
39
Astro
Astrophys
4
5
4
4
4
4
5
5
4
7
4
6
5
Geoscience
Geoscience
Geoscience
Geoscience
Geoscience
Geoscience
Geoscience
ID Physics
Math Science
Microbiology
Physics
Plant Biology
Plant Bio
Biochemistry
Chem Meas
Chem Phys
Chemistry
Math
Physics
Poly Chem
Astronomy
Astronomy
Physics
Astronomy
Astronomy
Physics
5
4
4
5
4
5
4
5
4
4
7
4
4
Biology
Biophysics
Chemistry
Earth Sys Sci
EEB
Gen Bio
Geoscience
Microbiology
Plant Bio
Biophysics
CMB
EEB
Geoscience
Physics
Physics
Physics
Physics
Physics
Physics
Physics
Physics
Physics
Poly Chem
Poly Chem
Poly Chem
Poly Chem
Current Count of LSA Concentrators in Natural Sciences
Concentration
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Biochemistry
Biology
Biophysics
Chemistry
Cell and Molecular Biology
Earth Systems Science
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
General Biology
Geoscience
Interdisciplinary Physics
Math Science
Microbiology
Physics
Plant Biology
# declared students
22
182
210
33
79
262
2
91
84
67
24
81
124
83
6
Current Count of LSA Minors in Natural Sciences
Minor
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Biochemistry
Biophysics
Chemistry Measurement Science
Chemical Physics
Chemistry
Mathematics
Physics
Polymer Chemistry
40
# declared students
1
16
3
0
0
7
65
24
0
4
4
4
4
4
4
5
4
4
5
5
5
4
MEMORANDUM
To:
Members of the LSA Executive Committee
From: Pam Rinker
Date: March 14, 2012
RE:
Summary of LSA Curriculum Committee Minutes
for March 6, 2012
1. Minutes for 2/14/12 were approved.
2. The committee continued a previous discussion about the Registrar’s
Office proposal to change the names of items that appear at the top
of student transcripts.
3. The committee continued their discussion of LSA Student
Government’s second resolution.
4. Recommendations on the attached R&E Subcommittee Report
were accepted.
5. Modifications to two concentrations were approved effective F12:
a. Linguistics
b. Organizational Studies
6. Modifications to the academic minor in Math were approved
effective F12.
7. Course approval requests were acted upon.
41
LSA CURRICULUM COMMITTEE
Minutes of March 6, 2012
Present: Phil Deloria (Chair); Pallavi Abraham, LSA-SG; Paula Berwanger, Linguistics; Melissa Burns, LSASG; Tim Dodd, Advising; Kalli Federhofer, German; Benjamin Fortson, Classical Studies and Linguistics; Phil
Gorman, Academic Advising; Lori Gould, Dean’s Office; Marjorie Horton, Dean’s Office; Neil Marsh,
Chemistry; John Mitani, Anthropology; Esrold Nurse, Advising; Sally Oey, Astronomy; Damani Partridge,
Anthropology and DAAS; Sushama Pavgi, MCDB; JoAnn Peraino, Dean’s Office; Pam Rinker, Dean’s Office;
Shelly Schreier, Psychology; Susan Tepaske-King, Academic Advising; Donna Wessel Walker, Honors; Anna
Wittow, LSA-SG; and Evans Young, Dean’s Office
The meeting came to order at 3:10 pm.
MINUTES
Minutes for 2/14/12 were approved.
R&E COURSE APPROVALS
The committee accepted the R&E Subcommittee’s recommendation as summarized in the attached report:
Approved (1)
Recert / Blanket
1.
ANTHRCUL 101. Introduction to Anthropology. Andrew Shryock, Holly Peters-Golden. F12.
CONCENTRATIONS
Modifications to two concentrations were approved effective F12 (attached):
1.
2.
Linguistics
Organizational Studies
ACADEMIC MINORS
Modifications to the academic minor in Math were approved effective F12 (attached).
COURSE APPROVAL ACTIONS
1. The committee approved a total of 65 courses (9 new courses, 45 modifications, and 11 deletions) as
summarized in the attached appendix.
2. RCLANG 193 was deferred pending clarification.
3. The following courses were approved for HU distribution or BS Eligibility:
HU: ACABS 260 and SAC 333
BS Eligible: MATH 431 and 486; and MCDB 462 and 471
REGISTRAR’S PROPOSAL
The committee continued a previous discussion about the Registrar’s Office proposal to change the names of items
that appear at the top of student transcripts. One proposal is to substitute the term “Major” in place of the College’s
current usage, “Concentration.” A second is to use the term “Minor” and omit “Academic Minor in” from each
title. Following is an example of a revised transcript degree block:
School/College:
Major:
Minor:
Special Studies:
Degree:
Awarded:
Literature, Science & the Arts
American Culture
Asian Studies
Linguistics
Entrepreneurship
Bachelor of Arts
26-APR-2012
42
At an earlier meeting, the committee agreed that implementing the first two proposals would be helpful. However,
they expressed a wide variety of opinions about the term “Special Studies,” a category that would include
undergraduate certificates and other programs of study requiring fewer courses than a minor. When it was apparent
that no single term was fully satisfactory, Chair Phil Deloria assembled a list of alternatives suggested by the
members and concluded the discussion. He planned to present the committee’s suggestions to Kortney Briske in
the Registrar’s Office, with the hope of reaching a compromise.
LSA STUDENT GOVERNMENT
The committee also continued their discussion of LSA Student Government’s second resolution encouraging
professors to refrain from holding exams on national election days. The committee thought it was important to
encourage first- and second-year students to vote by allowing them time to travel home if needed. They
approved moving forward with this resolution. Esrold Nurse, Associate Dean for Student Academic Affairs, said
he would send a letter early in the term encouraging faculty to forego scheduling exams on national election
days.
The meeting was adjourned at 4:55 pm.
NEXT MEETING:
Discussion, March 13, 2012
43
MEMORANDUM
To:
Members of the LSA Executive Committee
From: Pam Rinker
Date: March 28, 2012
RE:
Summary of LSA Curriculum Committee Minutes
for March 13, 2012
1. Minutes for 3/6/12 were approved.
2. Lowering the GPA for the Honors Concentration in Organizational Studies
was approved.
3. The committee discussed LSA Student Government’s third resolution.
4. Course approval requests were acted upon.
44
LSA CURRICULUM COMMITTEE
Minutes of March 13, 2012
Present: Phil Deloria (Chair); Pallavi Abraham, LSA-SG; Paula Berwanger, Linguistics; Melissa Burns, LSA-SG;
Caroline Canning, LSA-SG; Tim Dodd, Advising; Kalli Federhoffer, German; Benjamin Fortson, Classical Studies
and Linguistics; Phil Gorman, Advising; Lori Gould, Dean’s Office; Neil Marsh, Chemistry; Tim McKay, Honors;
John Mitani, Anthropology; Jennifer Myers, Residential College; Esrold Nurse, Advising; Sally Oey, Astronomy;
Damani Partridge, Anthropology and DAAS; Sushama Pavgi, MCDB; JoAnn Peraino, Dean’s Office; Pam Rinker,
Dean’s Office; Shelly Schreier, Psychology; Susan TePaske-King, Advising; Donna Wessel Walker, Honors; Anna
Wittow, LSA-SG; and Evans Young, Dean’s Office
The meeting came to order at 3:10 pm.
MINUTES
Minutes for 3/6/12 were approved.
COURSE APPROVAL ACTIONS (see Appendix I)
The committee approved two new course approval requests:
1. AAPTIS 363/RELIGION 363 (HU)
2. RCLANG 193
CONCENTRATION MODIFICATION
The committee approved lowering the GPA for the Honors Concentration in Organizational Studies from 3.5 to
3.4.
LSA STUDENT GOVERNMENT
The committee discussed LSA Student Government’s third resolution encouraging the registrar to lower the
maximum number of exams in one day from four to three. Most students with multiple exams have relied on the
good will of instructors who are willing to reschedule. Esrold Nurse, Associate Dean for Student Academic
Affairs, said he would send a letter early in the term encouraging faculty to reschedule finals at the request of
students who have three or more examinations on one day.
Phil Gorman, Director of Advising Technology, said that students report overlapping exams primarily during the
last two days of classes. Many instructors schedule exams on the last day of classes and others do not schedule
them during the very short official exam period. This makes it difficult to ascertain how many students are
affected. The committee tabled this discussion and asked the representatives of LSA-SG to research the practices
of comparable universities.
The meeting was adjourned at 4:20 pm.
Next Meetings:
Subcommittees March 20, 2012
Course Approvals March 27, 2012
45
MEMORANDUM
To: Members of the LSA Executive Committee
From: Pam Rinker
Date: April 4, 2012
RE:
Summary of LSA Curriculum Committee Minutes
for March 27, 2012
1. Minutes for 3/13/12 were approved.
2. Recommendations on the attached R&E Subcommittee Report were accepted.
3. Modifications in three concentrations were approved effective F12:
a. International Studies
b. Organizational Studies
c. Judaic Studies
4. Course approval requests were acted upon.
5. Non-LSA proposals were considered.
a. EECS 101 was approved for LSA credit and MSA distribution
effective F12.
b. Sports Management (SM) 203 was approved for non-LSA credit
toward degree effective F11.
c. Changes in the LSA Bulletin in Engineering’s Program in
Entrepreneurship were deferred pending changes specific to LSA
students.
6. Dean Deloria asked the committee to consider three new practicum proposals
in the University Courses Division.
46
LSA CURRICULUM COMMITTEE
Minutes of March 27, 2012
Present: Phil Deloria (Chair); Pallavi Abraham, LSA-SG; Paula Berwanger, Linguistics; Melissa Burns, LSASG; Caroline Canning, LSA-SG; Kalli Federhofer, German; Benjamin Fortson, Classical Studies and
Linguistics; Phil Gorman, Academic Advising; Lori Gould, Dean’s Office; Marjorie Horton, Dean’s Office; Neil
Marsh, Chemistry; Jennifer Myers, RC; Sally Oey, Astronomy; Damani Partridge, Anthropology and DAAS;
JoAnn Peraino, Dean’s Office; Pam Rinker, Dean’s Office; Shelly Schreier, Psychology; Susan Tepaske-King,
Academic Advising; Donna Wessel Walker, Honors; Anna Wittow, LSA-SG; and Evans Young, Dean’s Office
The meeting came to order at 3:10 pm.
MINUTES
Minutes for 3/13/12 were approved as amended.
R&E COURSE APPROVALS
The committee accepted the R&E Subcommittee’s recommendations as summarized in the attached report:
Approved (4)
New / Blanket
1. AAS 271 / ENGLISH 274. Introduction to African American Literature. Xiomara Santamarina.
F12.
2. AAS 346 / HISTORY 362 / ENGLISH 389. Literature in African History. Derek Peterson. F12.
3. HISTORY 219 / ASIAN 210. The Philippines: Culture and History. Deirdre de la Cruz. F12.
4. WOMENSTD 250. Race, Gender and Nation. Leela Fernandes. W13.
Approved (2)
New / Blanket
5. AAS 358. Black World Studies: The Cultures of Portuguese Speaking Africa. Fernando Arenas.
F12.
6. ENGLISH 140. First Year Seminar: Our Heroes: What’s the Story? Alisse Portnoy. W13.
CONCENTRATIONS
Modifications to three concentrations were approved effective F12 (attached):
1. International Studies
2. Earth and Environmental Sciences
3. Judaic Studies
COURSE APPROVAL ACTIONS
1. The committee approved a total of 102 courses as summarized in the attached report: 10 new; 77
modifications; and 15 deletions. Of the new courses:
a. BIOLOGY 144 was approved with a request for a stronger NS supporting statement.
b. STATS 299 was approved contingent on allowing only majors (and perhaps minors) to enroll.
2. Five courses were deferred pending clarification: MCDB 433; and STDABRD 307, 348, 349, and
450.
3. The following courses were approved for distribution and/or BS Eligibility:
a. NS/BS Eligibility: BIOLOGY 144 and 174
b. SS: ANTHRCUL 250 and WOMENSTD 250
c. BS Eligibility: EEB 391 and 494
47
NON-LSA CURRICULUM PROPOSALS
1. EECS 101, a new course in Computer Science, was approved for LSA Credit and MSA distribution
effective F12.
2. Sports Management (SM) 203 was approved for non-LSA credit toward degree effective F11.
3. Engineering’s Program in Entrepreneurship submitted changes in the LSA Bulletin effective F12. The
proposal was deferred pending changes specific to LSA students.
MATTERS ARISING
Dean Deloria asked the committee to consider three new proposals in the University Courses Division, a small
department administered by the Dean’s office. UC is intended to house experimental courses and/or those that
do not fit within a single department. They also are available to departments that lack an existing course number
for a C/NC practicum. The proposals would create three topics courses to house practicum offerings at the 200,
300 and 400-level effective F12. Each would focus on active learning associated with a student’s course of
study, applications of previously studied principles and methods, and require faculty oversight to assess the
completion of requirements. The committee deferred the proposals pending clarification of a few issues.
The meeting was adjourned at 5:05 pm.
NEXT MEETINGS:
Joint meeting with Engineering Curriculum Committee, April 3, 2012
Discussion and course approval requests, April 10, 2012
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MEMORANDUM
To: Members of the LSA Executive Committee
From: Pam Rinker
Date: April 11, 2012
RE:
Summary of Joint Meeting of the LSA and Engineering Curriculum
Committees Minutes for April 3, 2012
1.
Minutes for 3/27/12 were approved.
2.
Both committees wanted a better (and shared) sense of how the Program in
Informatics is working, particularly from an LSA and Engineering perspective.
3.
Engineering has reformulated their policy for granting language credits.
4.
Engineering requested information about the curriculum in Math and Physics.
5.
Engineering asked how interested LSA students might be in an introductory
engineering course.
6.
The committee approved changes the Registrar’s transcript degree block that
appears at the head of each official transcript.
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JOINT MEETING OF THE LSA AND ENGINEERING CURRICULUM COMMITTEES
Minutes of April 3, 2012
LSA: Phil Deloria (Chair); Pallavi Abraham, LSA-SG; Paula Berwanger, Linguistics; Melissa Burns, LSA-SG;
Caroline Canning, LSA-SG; Tim Dodd, Advising; Kalli Federhoffer, German; Benjamin Fortson, Classical
Studies and Linguistics; Phil Gorman, Advising; Lori Gould, Dean’s Office; Marjorie Horton, Dean’s Office;
Neil Marsh, Chemistry; Tim McKay, Honors; Jennifer Myers, Residential College; Sushama Pavgi, MCDB;
Sally Oey, Astronomy; Damani Partridge, Anthropology and DAAS; JoAnn Peraino, Dean’s Office; Pam
Rinker, Dean’s Office; Shelly Schreier, Psychology; Susan TePaske-King, Advising; Anna Wittow, LSA-SG;
and Evans Young, Dean’s Office
Engineering: James Holloway (Chair); Luis Bernal, Aerospace; Yavuz Bozer, Industrial Operations; Ed Durfee,
Electrical Engineering; Ed Larsen, Nuclear Engineering & Radiology; Lorelle Meadows, Interdisciplinary
Academic Programs; Susan Montgomery, Chemical Engineering; and Fred Ward, Technical Communication
Guests: Stephen DeBacker; Ben Hansen; and Atul Prakash
The meeting came to order at 3:15 pm.
MINUTES
Minutes for 3/27/12 were approved.
PROGRAM IN INFORMATICS
Both committees wanted a better (and shared) sense of how the Program in Informatics is working, particularly
from an LSA and Engineering perspective. Ben Hansen, Chair of Statistics, and Atul Prakash, Chair of
Engineering’s Informatics Steering Committee, were invited to give a brief overview. Statistics first offered the
program about 4 ½ years ago as an interdisciplinary concentration in statistics, computer science, math, and data
information. It has grown very quickly and now has around 175 concentrators. Informatics provides solid
grounding in computer programming, mathematics, and statistics, combined with the study of ethical and social
science aspects of complex information systems. Students learn how to critically analyze information processing
tools and also develop skills in design, implementation, and evaluation of the next generation of information
technology.
The School of Information recently notified both colleges that in a few years, if the provost agrees, it will
withdraw from the shared Informatics program and offer an SI concentration. LSA and Engineering are
evaluating the impact this could have on the existing program and how they could improve course offerings.
Atul Prakash, Prof. of Computer Science, said the department recently increased its flexibility by allowing
students to shift between tracks, which may help offset a decline in enrollment. Ultimately, students will
determine the future of the joint program. Assuming all three programs will co-exist, it will be important to
define what distinguishes each from the others: SI’s new concentration; Computer Science; and Informatics.
Both colleges agreed that the LSA program offers a broader approach to the field and considered possible ways
to moving forward. One idea would be creating a common front end of interdisciplinary courses that would
prepare students for various concentrations, such as statistics, math, computer science, information technology,
and the life sciences track. Another vision would be developing a balanced umbrella program that combines
several different aspects of technology. It would incorporate LSA’s three primary disciplines: natural sciences
that focus on data analysis; social sciences that examine technology’s impact on society; and humanities that
explore how technology affects the human condition.
OTHER CURRICULUM ISSUES
As an update from last year’s joint meeting, Dean Holloway reported that Engineering has reformulated their
policy for granting language credits. Students are granted credit for languages learned in an academic setting.
Credit will no longer be granted to heritage speakers and those who learned a language in other settings.
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Engineering asked how MATH 214 differs from MATH 216 with regard to linear algebra and differential
equations. Stephen Debacker, Chair of Mathematics, said that MATH 214, Linear Algebra and Differential
Equations, primarily focuses on linear algebra. Last term two sections completed the entire textbook, and one
section completed all but the final chapter. The more challenging MATH 216, Introduction to Differential
Equations, is intended for students in engineering and sciences who need to apply the techniques in their work.
Topics include: some material on complex numbers and matrix algebra; first- and second-order linear and nonlinear systems with applications; introductory numerical methods; and elementary Laplace transform techniques.
Dean Holloway will follow-up with DeBacker about the textbooks used in 214 and 216. He also thanked Math
for accommodating Engineering students who needed to take MATH 214.
Engineering asked for an update of the PHYSICS curriculum. How is the basic Physics sequence evolving, both
pedagogically and structurally, and what is the current trajectory of the Honors sequence? Tim McKay, Prof. in
Physics and Director of Honors, said that Physics has completed the basic shift in the life science sequence,
PHYSICS 135/235. Little has changed in the content of PHYSICS 140/240, but there has been a big shift in how
the classes are taught. Students now attend two lectures each week plus two hours working on individual
projects. Physics also is trying to offer PHYSICS 120 each term for students not well prepared for PHYSICS
135/235.
The department has initiated optional computer-tailored feedback in larger introductory courses that matches a
data portrait of each student with their class performance. Coding individual students is based on their answers
to thirty questions about their preparation, enrollment history, intended undergraduate concentrations, and
graduate degrees. The feedback is delivered to students via a personal website with graphics for which Physics
can count the number of clicks. Of the 950 students in these courses, only 53% opted in. Students were engaged
at different levels: some read all the information, many just dropped in from time to time.
Engineering also asked why so many students in LSA and Engineering choose to take PHYSICS 240 elsewhere,
In fact, it is the credit most transferred in to both colleges. PHYSICS 240 is a continuation of PHYSICS 140 and
requires concurrent enrollment in a lab. It covers a wide array of topics in electricity and magnetism including:
charge; Coulomb's law; electric fields; Gauss' law; electric potential; capacitors and dielectrics; current and
resistance; EMF and circuits; magnetic fields; Biot-Savart law; Amperes law; Faraday's Law of Induction; and
simple AC circuits. PHYSICS 240 is a prerequisite for many natural science majors, so students take it
elsewhere to earn highest grade possible. Both curriculum committees agreed this should be looked at.
Physics has completed its shift for the Honors sequence, PHYSICS 160/161 and 260/261, to a computational
format. The revamped approach focuses on applications of the scientific principles through individual projects.
This is a fresh presentation of material even for students who completed a comparable course in high school.
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OTHER TOPICS
Engineering wanted to know how interested LSA students might be in an introductory engineering course. The
four representatives of LSA Student Government thought students would be very interested in a little taste of
engineering. As an example, the Program in Entrepreneurship has been very popular. Many students also enjoy
academic courses that focus on action-based, hands-on learning. The students on the committee said that using
focus groups would yield the best response.
Engineering has observed that many students report conflicts between engineering courses and evening exams
and labs in LSA. Natural science faculty in LSA said their practices are contrary to this claim. Chemistry does
not have any evening labs. Students in Physics may choose between earlier and later exam times and make up
labs in a help room that is always open. With this knowledge, engineering instructors and student services staff
will respond differently in the future.
MATTERS ARISING
The committee approved changes in the Registrar’s transcript degree block that appears at the head of each
official transcript. As recorded in the minutes of 2/7/12, they thought it was vital to provide a clearer hierarchy
of the student’s major, minor, and lesser, specialized study programs. Approved changes include a new category
named Supplemental Studies. They also include updating the following phrases: 1) Major would replace Field(s)
of Specialization Major in the transcript block, as well as the term Concentration across the college; and 2)
Minor would be added as a category, making it unnecessary to begin each name with “Academic Minor in.” The
following examples show the current and revised transcript degree blocks.
Current
School/College:
Literature, Science & the Arts
Field(s) of Specialization:
American Culture
Asian Studies
Entrepreneurship
Academic Minor in Linguistics
Degree:
Bachelor of Arts
Awarded:
26-APR-12
School/College:
Literature, Science & the Arts
Major:
American Culture
Revised
Asian Studies
Minor:
Linguistics
Supplemental Studies:
Entrepreneurship
Degree:
Bachelor of Arts
Awarded:
26-APR-12
The meeting was adjourned at 4:30 pm.
Final meeting for this academic year:
Course Approvals and Discussion, 4/10/12
52
MEMORANDUM
To:
Members of the LSA Executive Committee
From: Pam Rinker
Date: April 20, 2012
RE:
Summary of LSA Curriculum Committee Minutes
for April 10, 2012
1.
Minutes for 4/3/12 were approved.
2.
The committee thanked members who are completing their term of service and
reviewed a summary of this year’s activities.
3.
The committee approved modifications to the History concentration and
acknowledged RC’s decision to allow students to earn a BGS degree.
4.
The committee approved the recipient of next year’s Matthews Undergraduate
Teaching Award.
5.
Effective F12, the Dean’s Office will add complementary departmental course
numbers as alternatives to UC 280 when students enroll in the UROP program.
6.
Course approval requests were acted upon.
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LSA CURRICULUM COMMITTEE
Minutes of April 10, 2012
Present: Evans Young (Acting Chair); Pallavi Abraham, LSA-SG; Paula Berwanger, Linguistics; Melissa Burns, LSA-SG;
Caroline Canning, LSA-SG; Tim Dodd, Advising; Kalli Federhoffer, German; Benjamin Fortson, Classical Studies and
Linguistics; Phil Gorman, Advising; Lori Gould, Dean’s Office; Marjorie Horton, Dean’s Office; Neil Marsh, Chemistry;
John Mitani, Anthropology; Jennifer Myers, Residential College; Esrold Nurse, Advising; Sally Oey, Astronomy; Damani
Partridge, Anthropology and DAAS; Sushama Pavgi, MCDB; JoAnn Peraino, Dean’s Office; Pam Rinker, Dean’s Office;
Shelly Schreier, Psychology; Susan TePaske-King, Advising; and Anna Wittow, LSA-SG
The meeting came to order at 3:10 pm.
MINUTES
Minutes for 4/3/12 were approved as amended.
COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Assistant Dean Evans Young expressed appreciation for members who are leaving this year: Neil Marsh, John
Mitani, and Sally Oey, who have completed their three-year terms; and Melissa Burns and Caroline Canning,
who have been elected as president and vice-president of LSA-SG. The committee also reviewed a summary of
their activities and a list of concentrations and minors as of April 2012.
CONCENTRATIONS
1. Modifications to the History concentration were approved effective F12 (attached).
2. The committee acknowledged the attached memo stating that the Residential College will allow RC
students to earn a BGS degree.
COURSE APPROVAL ACTIONS
1. The committee approved a total of 13 courses as summarized in the attached report: 4 new
proposals; 8 modifications; and 1 deletion.
2. PHYSICS 201: Modification request was deferred pending a new course proposal.
3. MCDB 433 was approved for BS Eligibility.
2012 MATTHEWS UNDERGRADUATE TEACHING AWARD
The committee approved the Matthews Subcommittee’s recommendation for the 2012 Matthews Undergraduate
Teaching Award, which recognizes significant contributions to teaching first- and second-year students in Math,
History, and Modern Languages. The recommendation needs to be approved by the Executive Committee.
UROP
Most first- and second-year students who participate in UROP have enrolled in UC 280. Over the summer, the
Deans Office will implement a change by adding course numbers in LSA departments that participate in UROP.
Starting in F12, students will be able to enroll in departmental courses for their UROP experience. When
students have completed the preliminary administrative steps in UROP, a system-generated email will request
that the department issue permissions. Since the enrollment will be listed under the faculty member’s section
number, instructors will be attentive to the need to post grades within 72 hours after classes end. UROP will
continue to approve all final grades after confirming that students have satisfied UROP participation
requirements.
The meeting was adjourned at 4:30 pm.
NEXT MEETINGS:
Subcommittees, September 4, 2012
Course approvals, September 11, 2012
54