Received by Undergraduate Coordinating Council—December 13, 2007
COMMITTEE ON THE UNDERGRADUATE CURRICULUM (CUC)
Third Meeting/2007-08 Academic Year
November 8, 2007
Approved
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PRESENT:
G. Aase (BUS/OMIS), M. Chowdhury (EET/Student Rep), M. Goehring (HHS/AHCD), K.
Millis (LAS/PSYC), R. Newsom (VPA/TH-D), E. Seaver (Vice Provost, ex officio), V.
Talsma (EDUC/TLRN, chair), R. Tatara (EET/TECH), J. Thunder (LAS/MATH)
ABSENT:
R. Beatty (UCC/BUS/OMIS), S. Ortiz (EDUC/Student Rep), F. Solares-Larrave (LAS/FL--)
CONSULTANT: D. Smith (Catalog Editor/Curriculum Coordinator)
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Aase moved, seconded by Newsom, to APPROVE THE AGENDA. Motion passed unanimously.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
1. Minutes from the October 11, 2007, meeting approved electronically.
2. Other catalog changes due to the College of Health and Human Sciences realignment and a GEC
approval.
3. Catalog mock-ups for the College of Health and Human Sciences. Talsma asked committee
members to keep these for future reference.
4. Talsma reminded committee members that in February she will be asking for a few volunteers to
serve on the Subcommittee for Contract Majors and KNPE 100 letter-suffixed courses. The idea
behind reviewing these items is to be sure that there aren’t any contract majors or KNPE 100
letter-suffixed courses that would need to go through as new proposals.
CONSENT AGENDA
Goehring moved, seconded by Newsom, to RECEIVE THE COLLEGE MINUTES WITH NO
UNDERGRADUATE CURRICULAR ITEMS. The motion passed unanimously. The following
college minutes with no undergraduate-level curricular items were so received.
College of Education #1
College of Education #3
College of Engineering and Engineering Technology #1
College of Engineering and Engineering Technology #2
Talsma asked that College of Business #2 be removed from the consent agenda. Aase moved,
seconded by Newsom, to RECEIVE THE COLLEGE MINUTES REMAINING ON THE
CONSENT AGENDA WITH UNDERGRADUATE CURRICULAR ITEMS, PENDING APASC
AND CITC APPROVAL. The motion passed unanimously. The following college minutes with
undergraduate-level curricular items were so received.
College of Business #3 (pending APASC approval)
College of Engineering and Engineering Technology #3
College of Health & Human Sciences #4
College of Health & Human Sciences #7 (pending CITC approval)
College of Visual & Performing Arts #1 (pending APASC approval)
Received by Undergraduate Coordinating Council—December 13, 2007
COMMITTEE ON THE UNDERGRADUATE CURRICULUM (CUC)
Third Meeting/2007-08 Academic Year
November 8, 2007
Approved
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COLLEGE MINUTES AND OTHER CURRICULAR ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION
College of Business #2
Talsma noted that the revision on page 1 was revised by the college and submitted to
APASC for its approval. The CUC was provided with a copy of the revision. Aase
noted that all the departments in the college have added similar language and so the
college is doing the same for this program. Goehring moved, seconded by Newsom,
to RECEIVE THE UNDERGRADUATE CURRICULAR ITEMS IN BUSINESS
#2 (9/25/07). Motion passed unanimously.
College of Business #4
Aase moved, seconded by Chowdhury, to RECEIVE THE UNDERGRADUATE
CURRICULAR ITEMS IN BUSINESS #4 (10/23/07). Talsma pointed out new
course UBUS 395 and that in a previous set of minutes, the “S/U” was removed
from a career planning course, but for UBUS 395, it is included. Aase explained
that as new courses are refined, the “S/U” is removed, but it has been the practice of
the college to add it temporarily for new courses. He also noted that this was a topic
of discussion at the college level. Motion passed unanimously.
College of Education
#2
Tatara moved, seconded by Goehring, to RECEIVE THE UNDERGRADUATE
CURRICULAR ITEMS IN EDUCATION #2 (9/18/07) PENDING CITC AND
APASC APPROVAL. Talsma asked if the other catalog at the top of page 2 needed
a parallel proposal to come through for the limited admissions section. Seaver stated
that was not necessary, that what is in the limited admission section is identical to
what is listed in the department. Smith can make the changes in both places.
Newsom referred to page 1 and asked if departments should be listing undergraduate
courses as prerequisites for graduate courses. Seaver stated that it’s not a good
practice and it’s hard to enforce for graduate students who did not get their
bachelor’s degrees at NIU. The new student information system will prevent
students without those prerequisites from enrolling in those courses. Smith noted
that this item will be reviewed by the Graduate Council Curriculum Committee.
Motion passed unanimously.
College of
Engineering &
Engineering
Technology #4
Talsma pointed out the new emphases and minor and that those will need Board of
Trustees approval. Chowdhury moved, seconded by Millis, to RECEIVE THE
UNDERGRADUATE CURRICULAR ITEMS IN ENGINEERING AND
ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY #4 (10/11/07) PENDING BOT APPROVAL OF
NEW EMPHASES AND MINOR. Aase pointed out that in the new emphasis in
Advanced Computing and Simulation, the department has listed a course, MEE 454,
to be proposed and he suggested that they remove that course from the listing until it
has been put through the curricular process. Seaver brought up the issue of impact
on other departments and getting the CUC more familiar with the APPM in which
there’s a statement requiring colleges to contact other colleges if they will be
requiring courses from other colleges. He specifically noted the potential impact on
Chemistry and Math due to these new emphases. Aase responded that if the
students are already in the major, the impact is only on the upper level MEE courses.
Newsom asked why the letters for 482 are C and M and not A and B. Chowdhury
thought that the letters were selected to correspond with the topics. There was
additional discussion as to whether or not the new emphasis in Advanced
Received by Undergraduate Coordinating Council—December 13, 2007
COMMITTEE ON THE UNDERGRADUATE CURRICULUM (CUC)
Third Meeting/2007-08 Academic Year
November 8, 2007
Approved
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Computing and Simulation should be tabled or approved with a note to the
department that they delete MEE 454. A friendly amendment to the motion was
requested to RECEIVE THE UNDERGRADUATE CURRICULAR ITEMS IN
ENGINEERING AND ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY #4 (10/11/07) PENDING
BOT APPROVAL WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE NEW EMPHASIS IN
ADVANCED COMPUTING AND SIMULATION. Chowdhury and Millis
approved the amendment. Motion passed unanimously. Thunder moved,
seconded by Goehring, TO TABLE THE NEW EMPHASIS IN ADVANCED
COMPUTING AND SIMULATION. Motion passed unanimously.
College of
Engineering &
Engineering
Technology #5
Talsma pointed out that the Department of Technology is adding a MATH 155
prerequisite to eight of their courses. Thunder stated that he would assume that a
student taking these TECH courses would have to take MATH 155. Tatara stated
that many students are waiting to take this course and end up also taking upper-level
TECH courses without the math background. Adding it to the prerequisites ensures
the students have taken the course first. Millis asked if there would be additional
impact on the Department of Mathematics and Thunder stated that he didn’t think
that there would be. The issue of students who take MATH 229 was discussed and
would these students be kept from enrolling in these TECH courses. Seaver stated
that he would have the NIUConnect staff work with the department to be sure the
prerequisite is handled efficiently for the affected students. Aase moved, seconded
by Newsom, to RECEIVE THE UNDERGRADUATE CURRICULAR ITEMS IN
ENGINEERING AND ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY #5 (10/18/07) PENDING
APASC APPROVAL WITH A SPECIAL NOTE OF THE MATH ISSUE. Motion
passed unanimously.
College of Health &
Human Sciences #5
Talsma noted that the first item should have been listed as a new course, not a new
catalog change. She also pointed out new course FCNS 417 and thought that it
might make an interesting course for other areas. Aase moved, seconded by
Goehring, to RECEIVE THE UNDERGRADUATE CURRICULAR ITEMS IN
HEALTH AND HUMAN SCIENCES #5 (10/5/07). Motion passed unanimously.
College of Health &
Human Sciences #6
Talsma pointed out that new course AHRS 433 should be a continuation of AHRS
432, not COMD 432 with the new college realignment. Smith noted that with the
approval of that course, the school would have enough courses to potentially offer
ASL as a foreign language and that the department of Foreign Languages and
Literatures is in favor of that notion. She also reported that the GEC has endorsed
the idea. Aase moved, seconded by Chowdhury, to RECEIVE THE
UNDERGRADUATE CURRICULAR ITEMS IN HEALTH AND HUMAN
SCIENCES #6 (10/12/07) PENDING APASC APPROVAL. Motion passed
unanimously.
College of Liberal
Arts & Sciences #1
Talsma pointed out the items on pages 3 and 4 that are listed as “Date Effective.”
Seaver noted that this language is not necessary for a new course since a new course
may be offered in the term following final approval. Changes to prerequisites
cannot be “date effective” because potentially students could be ineligible for a class
they are currently enrolled in if prerequisites are added “date effective.” In the case
Received by Undergraduate Coordinating Council—December 13, 2007
COMMITTEE ON THE UNDERGRADUATE CURRICULUM (CUC)
Third Meeting/2007-08 Academic Year
November 8, 2007
Approved
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of the revision to GEOG 463, the department is deleting the prerequisite to provide
more students with the opportunity to enroll in the course, but the change still has to
be “catalog effective” (fall 2008). Aase noted that for this particular prerequisite
change, the department can take care of that with overrides. Millis moved, seconded
by Newsom to RECEIVE THE UNDERGRADUATE CURRICULAR ITEMS IN
LIBERAL ARTS AND SCIENCES #1 (9/19/07 AND 9/26/07). Motion passed
unanimously.
College of Liberal
Arts & Sciences #2
Talsma pointed out several new courses to draw attention to them in case there are
other areas that may be interested, e.g., ANTH 449 Sex and Gender in Primates and
ANTH 461, Methods in Archaeology. She noted that there are several new biology
courses that may be appropriate for the Certificate of Undergraduate Study in
Homeland Security. Seaver pointed out the addition of FCNS 384 to the Minor in
Southeast Asian Studies and potential impact on another college. Smith noted that
CUC members were provided with a copy of an e-mail that addresses FCNS’s
approval of the addition. Regarding BIOS 488, Talsma asked if other departments
should have been consulted for verification of nonduplication in addition to
Geology. Other committee members thought that only contacting Geology was
acceptable. Aase moved, seconded by Goehring, to RECEIVE THE
UNDERGRADUATE CURRICULAR ITEMS IN LIBERAL ARTS AND
SCIENCES #2 (10/3/07) PENDING APASC AND GEC APPROVAL. Motion
passed unanimously.
College of Liberal
Arts & Sciences #3
Talsma pointed out that there are several new courses. She also noted the revision to
POLS 324 and asked committee members if they thought it should be considered a
new course. She stated that when the entire title and description are struck out with
a new title and description added, it seems as if it’s a new course. Millis thought
that the concepts are similar enough between the old description and the new one
and that it could pass as a revision. Goehring asked what are the pros and cons of
deleting the old course and putting through a new course. Talsma responded that a
new course would have to have verification of nonduplication. Tatara noted that it
seemed as if they had taken all of the energy content out of the course and that it
seems like a new course. It was mostly about energy before and now seems to be
dealing mostly with legal issues. Aase noted that he has been running against a
similar issue in the College of Business and it would be helpful if there was a written
definition of what could be accepted as a revision and what should be proposed as a
new course. Thunder noted that there are certain disciplines that have courses that
morph in time and political science is one of those areas. He thought that it seemed
as if the department was just bringing this course up-to-date. Tatara asked about the
prerequisite of sophomore standing and is that still in use. Seaver stated that it is,
the system checks to see if a student has at least 30 credit hours. Aase asked if there
was potential duplication and stated that he saw the CUC had three options, table the
revision, accept it with clarification, or accept it and alert the department that they
may have to defend the change further in the approval process. Aase moved,
seconded by Goehring, to RECEIVE THE UNDERGRADUATE CURRICULAR
ITEMS IN LIBERAL ARTS AND SCIENCES #3 (10/10/07) PENDING GEC
APPROVAL WITH A NOTE THAT POLITICAL SCIENCE BE PREPARED TO
Received by Undergraduate Coordinating Council—December 13, 2007
COMMITTEE ON THE UNDERGRADUATE CURRICULUM (CUC)
Third Meeting/2007-08 Academic Year
November 8, 2007
Approved
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JUSTIFY WHY POLS 324 WAS NOT PUT THROUGH AS A NEW COURSE
WITH VERIFICATION OF NONDUPLICATION. Motion passed unanimously.
Aase asked that the issue of what constitutes a new course versus a revision be
placed on the CUC agenda for the spring. Talsma noted that there may be some
college curriculum committees with such a policy that the CUC could tap into.
Seaver stated that the new SIS (Student Information System) will facilitate reusing
course numbers with separate course designators that run in the background.
College of Liberal
Arts & Sciences #4
Seaver pointed out the revision on page 1 under the heading, “College Requirement
Concerning the Pass/Fail Option.” He stated that APASC approved of the deletion
of the pass/fail option last spring, so this entire section will be deleted effective fall
2008. He also clarified the difference between pass/fail and S/U, where pass/fail is
an option a student can select, and S/U is an option the department places on a
course for the entire class. Also, if a course is S/U grading, that must be stated in
the course description. Talsma pointed out new courses on page 7. Newsom asked
about the revisions to several emphases in communication studies and why are they
stating how many hours a student needs. Smith stated that this may be related to
how course requirements with variable hours are listed in the online catalog. Other
committees members were concerned that it wasn’t clear whether the department
wanted variable hours for COMS 495A or if the course should be a one-hour credit
course that can be repeated. Aase moved, seconded by Newsom, to TABLE NEW
COURSE COMS 495A FOR CLARIFICATION OF HOURS AND THE OTHER
CATALOG CHANGES TO THE EMPHASES ON PAGES 10-12 FOR
CLARIFICATION OF HOW MANY HOURS A STUDENT NEEDS TO TAKE IN
COMS 407, COMS 495A, AND COMS 495B. Motion passed unanimously.
Talsma noted that some of the new history courses might be appropriate for Black
Studies and the new sociology courses might be appropriate for the Certificate of
Undergraduate Study in Homeland Security. Newsom noted the revision to HIST
492 and recalled that the CUC discussed departments using “Introduction” in upperlevel courses. Chowdhury asked about the deletion of “consent of department” and
it was explained that the department was attempting to make the course available to
a broader audience. Aase moved, seconded by Goehring, to RECEIVE THE
REMAINING UNDERGRADUATE CURRICULAR ITEMS IN LIBERAL ARTS
AND SCIENCES #4 (10/17/07) PENDING PRES. PETERS AND GEC
APPROVAL. Motion passed unanimously.
College of Liberal
Arts & Sciences #5
Talsma noted that there are a number of new course proposals in these minutes. She
also pointed out that the first other catalog change listed on page two for the
undergraduate catalog is really for the graduate catalog. Talsma asked if new course
CSCI 465 should be submitted as a new course not a revision. Aase noted that the
course is similar to a course offered in OMIS, but the content is different enough
that he would accept the revisions. He also noted that it looked like the Department
of Computer Science was trying to bring these courses up-to-date. Newsom asked
about the math courses at the bottom of page 11 and shouldn’t they be starred as
being eligible for general education credit. Smith stated that that is not done
automatically. Some departments do not want students receiving general education
credit for some of their requirements. Newsom expressed concern then that it might
Received by Undergraduate Coordinating Council—December 13, 2007
COMMITTEE ON THE UNDERGRADUATE CURRICULUM (CUC)
Third Meeting/2007-08 Academic Year
November 8, 2007
Approved
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be difficult for these students to earn their math credit in the core competencies.
Aase noted that new course CSCI 180 seemed almost identical to OMIS 351, but
acknowledged that the two departments have different audiences. However, he
thought that the Department of Computer Science should have contacted OMIS for
verification of nonduplication. There was a similar issue with CSCI 290.
Chowdhury moved, seconded by Aase, to TABLE NEW COURSES CSCI 180
AND CSCI 290 FOR STRONGER RATIONALE REGARDING RESOURCES,
DEMAND, AND AUDIENCE, AS WELL AS VERIFICATION OF
NONDUPLICATION FROM OMIS. Motion passed unanimously. The revision
to CSCI 465 was discussed further and it was noted that it looked like the
department was just updating the language. Aase explained that when Operations
Management and Information Systems was established, Computer Science was not
doing applications. Now they are moving in that direction and it seems as if these
two departments are converging with regards to course offerings. He added that
there should be some distinguishing characteristics between the two departments.
Tatara suggested that Computer Science could be more specific with course titles
and observed that departments don’t communicate enough with each other regarding
course titles. The change in the name of three emphases in computer science was
noted and Smith stated she will check to see if this will need approval of President
Peters (NOTE: it does). Goehring moved, seconded by Millis to RECEIVE THE
REMAINING UNDERGRADUATE CURRICULAR ITEMS IN LIBERAL ARTS
AND SCIENCES #5 (10/24/07) PENDING OTHER APPROVALS AS NEED BE.
Motion passed unanimously.
College of Visual &
Performing Arts, #2
Talsma pointed out revisions to ARTD 273 and ARTD 375 and asked if these
should be considered new courses. Seaver noted that this is another case of a
discipline that is evolutionary, the school is simply bring the description and content
up-to-date. It was asked what items needed APASC approval and Smith stated that
it was the revisions to ARTD 367, ARTD 370, ARTD 371, and ARTD 375 where
“Successful completion of the time arts sophomore portfolio review” was added.
This could be considered as limited admissions so they should go to APASC for
their consideration. Aase moved, seconded by Newsom to RECEIVE THE
UNDERGRADUATE CURRICULAR ITEMS IN VISUAL AND PERFORMING
ARTS #2 (10/12/07) PENDING APASC AND CITC APPROVAL. Motion passed
unanimously.
College of Visual &
Performing Arts, #3
Talsma pointed out new course ARTE 343 and the need for verification of
nonduplication. Smith noted the e-mail from Associate Dean Holly that states the
college feels that there is no duplication with other departments. Talsma stated that
the purpose of obtaining verification of nonduplication is also to alert other
departments to courses they might want to use in their own programs. Newsom
defended the course stating that art has its own education program and the
technology is different from what is taught in other departments. Talsma asked that
it be tabled for verification of nonduplication from ETRA. Newsom asked if ETRA
thought it duplicated one or more of their courses, would Art have to send their
students to ETRA. Talsma stated that the request is mostly a courtesy to other areas.
[Note: APPM Section III. Item 3. D. “Non-Duplication and Impact on Other Units”
Received by Undergraduate Coordinating Council—December 13, 2007
COMMITTEE ON THE UNDERGRADUATE CURRICULUM (CUC)
Third Meeting/2007-08 Academic Year
November 8, 2007
Approved
vii of vii
provides procedures.] Chowdhury moved, seconded by Goehring, to TABLE THE
UNDERGRADUATE CURRICULAR ITEMS IN VISUAL AND PERFORMING
ARTS #3 (10/19/07)FOR VERIFICATION OF NONDUPLICATION FROM
ETRA. Motion passed unanimously.
OLD BUSINESS
Catalog Effective Dates—APPM. Seaver reported that this was discussed further at the last
Curricular Deans meeting. Only LA&S has responded with additional feedback. Smith noted that it
didn’t appear that the curriculum committees of the other colleges have met since the Curricular
Deans meeting.
NEW BUSINESS
Revisions to the Interdisciplinary Certificate of Undergraduate Study in Homeland Security. Talsma
stated that the CUC is the curriculum committee for interdisciplinary programs like this, so
committee members can provide more detailed feedback. Semester hours (3) were added for CSCI
350, STAT 350, and UHHS 460. It was clarified that new course CSCI 350 was approved by the
CUC at its 3/8/07 meeting. Millis moved, seconded by Chowdhury, to APPROVE THE CHANGES
TO THE INTERDISCIPLINARY CERTIFICATE OF UNDERGRADUATE STUDY IN
HOMELAND SECURITY WITH EDITS. Motion passed unanimously.
OTHER BUSINESS
Committee members discussed the items tabled at this meeting and decided to hold the next CUC
meeting electronically.
The meeting was adjourned at 2:35 p.m.
The next meeting will be November 15, 2007, to be held via e-mail.
Respectfully submitted,
Donna M. Smith