AUC 2014/15:07
ALL-UNIVERSITY COMMITTEE
Salem State University
MINUTES - 14/15:09
February 27, 2015
Convened: Time: 3:00 p.m.
Meier Hall room 100C
Attending: James Fallon, Ryan Fisher, Clarke Fowler, Karen House, Kanishkan
Sathasivam, Nancy Schultz, Anne Sullivan, Stephen Young, Chair
Please note: AUC = All University Committee, UCC = University
Curriculum Committee, APC= Academic Policies Committee, SAC = Student
Affairs Committee
I. Chair’s Report
A. Rotating Recorders & Meeting Schedule
February 27, 2015 - Anne Sullivan
March 27, 2015 - Ryan Fisher
April 17, 2015 - Nancy Schultz
May 8, 2015 - James Fallon
May 22, 2015 – Karen House
B. Review
Chair Young welcomed everyone to the meeting. He noted that this is
meeting #9 as meeting #8 was our recent on-line emergency meeting. We
have received a late set of minutes from the UCC (meeting 14/15:14). It is
important for us to review these minutes so that the registrar is not held up.
Faculty forum – the governance process – how is it going? There was
discussion about holding a faculty forum. It was recommended that a possible
topic be the implementation of the new core, specifically the process of
implementation.
It was noted that the New Provost is scheduled to meet with the General
Education Committee. It will be communicated that the new core has
widespread faculty support. It has resulted in an increase in double majors.
The problems/challenges that are occurring on campus pertain to its
implementation.
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There is an Assessment Forum focusing on the new core being held in May.
Steve will find out more about this forum before proceeding with an
additional faculty forum.
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II. Approval of Minutes
A. University Curriculum Committee
1. Curriculum Committee 14/15:12
Motion
To accept the minutes of the Curriculum Committee (14/15:12)
Made by: Kani Sathasivam
Seconded by: Karen House
Vote
Motion: Passed unanimously
Discussion The Chair of AUC gave a review of the minutes:
This meeting started off with Special Business concerning issues with the
General Education Committee (GEC). The co-chairs of GEC expressed
concerns about how the University Curriculum Committee (UCC) is handling
the review of Gen Ed Proposals. The minutes discuss the concerns of GEC as
well as the response of the UCC chair. The initial resolution of the conflict is
that the co-chairs of GEC and the chair and vice-chair of UCC will meet with
Assistant Provost Everitt.
Under Old Business, a previously tabled course from SMS was unanimously
approved. Next four items from the Computer Science department were
approved with one abstention. Next a large package from the Sociology
department was passed unanimously. The Sociology package had a global
change for all of the sociology courses in order to re-level course numbers.
There is a uniform set of changes to all sociology flow sheets to reflect the
course renumbering of pre-reqs and to prevent students from taking the same
course under two different numbers. There was discussion about the global
changes as well as some of the individual courses in the package. The
Registrar said that it will be difficult to make all of the changes for fall 2015,
but they will try to implement it before advising/registration.
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The Management Department had a minor change in a flow sheet which was
unanimously approved. Next, Geography’s 5 flow sheets had a couple of
global changes and one course was applying for W-II designation. The
package was approved unanimously. The Music Department had three items –
two passed unanimously and one was tabled. MUS511N is a seminar and is
requesting a W-III designation. But because MUS511N is only 2-credits, it
was suggested to resubmit it as 3-credits because a W-III should be 3 credits.
Next the Psychology Department presented 4 items. One of the courses
(PSY601H) was tabled. The issue is that the request is to make the course a
W-III, but it is a Directed Study, and independent studies cannot be part of the
Gen Ed. There was discussion about honors independent studies that can be
done in conjunction with seminars. A name change was suggested. This item
was tabled and the rest of the package passed unanimously. There was not
enough time for any other items and so the meeting was adjourned.
That was the essence of the meeting.
Chair Young asked if there was any discussion.
It was observed that the Sociology Life Course Studies flow sheet (15173)
includes several Education courses (320 and 410) which are extinct, for
example EDU 401 last met in Spring 1994. These courses are not in the
University’s catalog. Chair Young indicated he would contact the Chairs of
Sociology and Education so that they can identify other Education courses
that can serve as support courses for the Life Course Studies Concentration.
Additionally, there is an error in the Curriculum Committee minutes
(14/15:12) referring to the above referenced item (15173) as 15172.
Motion
To end discussion of the minutes.
Made by: Jim Fallon Seconded by: Clarke Fowler
Vote
Motion: Passed Unanimously
Motion
To approve the minutes of the Curriculum Committee (14/15:12)
(excluding item 15173 (flowsheet)
Made by: Ryan Fisher
Seconded by: Nancy Schultz
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AUC 2014/15:07
Vote
Motion: Passed unanimously excluding item 15173
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2. Curriculum Committee 14/15:13
Motion
To accept the minutes of the Curriculum Committee (14/15:13).
Made by: Anne Sullivan
Seconded by: Jim Fallon
Vote
Motion: Passed Unanimously
Discussion The Chair of AUC gave a review of the minutes:
“In their meeting the Curriculum Committee started off with an update about
the meeting between the co-chairs of the GEC and the chair and vice-chair of
UCC with Assistant Provost Everitt and Associate Provost DeChillo. The
minutes clearly explain the meeting as well as explaining how the GEC and
UCC will work together. One of the outstanding issues is the lack of
volunteers to assist the GEC. This led to the next update which was about the
staffing of the UCC which currently does not have enough members. No one
has self-nominated themselves to join the committee. The president of the
MSCA may have to appoint people to join.
Under Old Business the School of Nursing submitted three items. One of the
items is a senior research Honors Program and it has the same issues that the
Psychology Senior Directed Study previously had. Academic Policies is
working on a Policy change which will let Honors Senior directed Studies be
included in the Gen Ed. NUR602H was tabled and the rest of the package was
approved unanimously. Packages for the English Department and Chemistry
department were ready, but representatives from these departments couldn’t
make the meeting.
There was no additional business and so the meeting ended. That was the
extent of meeting. ”
Chair Young asked for any discussion:
Motion
To end discussion of the minutes.
Made by: Kani Sathasivam Seconded by: Ryan Fisher
Vote
Motion: Passed Unanimously
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AUC 2014/15:07
Motion
To approve the minutes of the Curriculum Committee (14/15:13)
Made by: Jim Fallon
Seconded by: Karen House
Vote
Motion: Passed Unanimously
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3. Curriculum Committee 14/15:14
Motion
To accept the minutes of the Curriculum Committee (14/15:14).
Made by: Ryan Fisher
Seconded by: Anne Sullivan
Vote
Motion: Passed Unanimously
Discussion The Chair of AUC gave a review of the minutes:
“In meeting 14/15:14 the Curriculum Committee started off with Special
Business where there was a motion to extend the Transitional Model for General
Education for AY 2015-2016. The reason for this request is that we have
insufficient courses in some of the general education categories, such as QR, SR
and W-II; The additional year will allow faculty time to develop the needed
courses and move them through university governance. Megan Miller explained
that the transitional model always had two years for transfer students. This
proposal means that we will transition the transfer students and the non-transfer
students to the new requirements at the same time. The vote to approve was
unanimous.
Next there was discussion about the procedures for vetting Gen Ed courses with
the General Education Committee. There was an agreed upon working
relationship which will now be followed. The minutes explain their relationship
clearly.
Under Old Business Chemistry submitted two items which were passed with one
abstention. There was some discussion about Chemistry coming up with more
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SR courses. The English Department submitted two items which were
unanimously approved.
This was essentially the meeting.
Chair Young asked for any discussion.
Motion
To end discussion of the minutes.
Made by: Jim Fallon
Seconded by: Karen House
Vote
Motion: Passed Unanimously
Motion
To approve the minutes of the Curriculum Committee (14/15:14)
Made by: Clarke Fowler Seconded by: Nancy Schultz
Vote
Motion: Passed Unanimously
____________________________
III. Old Business
Chair Young will ask for clarification of 4 to 1 programs as it refers to B.S. to
M.S. programs as well as at least one certificate program in Communications.
It seems the term 4 to 1 as used in other institutions is limited to B.S. to M.S.
programs.
____________________________
IV. New Business
The Committee members engaged in a lively discussion about the
implementation of the new Gen. Ed. Curriculum. It was agreed that the
consensus across campus is that implementation of the new core curriculum
lacks sufficient administrative oversight and leadership. Those involved in the
development of the new core analyzed best practices at other institutions that
had recently revised Gen. Education requirements. Those institutions that
implemented core curriculum changes seamlessly had two things in common:
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1. Strong Administrative Leadership and Support
2. Changes that were slowly phased in
At SSU, the new core curriculum has been hastily set into motion without
sufficient resources, incentives, coordination, or training in all areas. There
needs to be someone on campus who is designated as the individual who will
oversee the implementation of the new Gen. Ed. AUC Committee members
suggested that a Faculty Fellow position could be created and that individual
would assume the role of overseer with course release time. Or an
administrator could assume this responsibility.
The reason the transitional model is being extended (as was originally
recommended by the Gen. Ed. Committee) is the insufficient number of QR,
SR and WII courses. Members of the committee attribute this to the fact that
there were not enough supports in place to help faculty develop Gen. Ed
courses, with the exception of the Professional Development Initiative run by
Professors Alex Peary for the WI courses, and Tanya Rodrigue to help faculty
develop WII and WIII courses.
A question was raised asking if there have been any effort on campus to
gauge how many faculty are interested in developing General Education
courses in these underserved areas (SR, QR and WII)? There should be
workshops and incentives to encourage and reward faculty for developing
courses in these areas.
An additional question was posed about whether the new core saves the
University money (fewer adjuncts) and, if so, why hasn’t that money been
used to the fund the implementation of the Gen. Ed. Curriculum?
Motion
The All University Committee considers the implementation of the new core
curriculum to be one of the most pressing and urgent academic issue on
campus. It necessitates strong leadership and resources to insure the
successful implementation of the new General Education curriculum. It is
imperative that the concerns of the All University Committee be shared with
the new Provost.
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Made by: Nancy Schultz Seconded by: Anne Sullivan
Vote:
Motion: Passed Unanimously
____________________________
Motion
Vote
To adjourn.
Made by: Clarke Fowler
Seconded by: Ryan Fisher
Motion: Passed Unanimously
Meeting adjourned at: 4:25
Minutes respectfully submitted by: Anne Sullivan
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