Undergraduate Curriculum Committee
Meeting Notes
October 8, 2014
Members present: Joanna Anderson, Mark Baumgartner, Rhonda Brodrick, Shirley
Cherry, T. Jason Davis, Julie Fox-Horton, J. Keith Green, Marsh Grube, Bill Hemphill, Jill
LeRoy-Frazier, Shawna Lichtenwalner, Jessica Miller, Effiong Otukonyong, , Kim Sell,
Suzanne Smith
Guests present: Leslie Adebonojo, Kathy Campbell, Jerry Taylor
The meeting was called to order at 2:05 pm by Chair Jill LeRoy-Frazier.
Old Business
Mark Baumgartner moved to approve the September 24, 2014 minutes and was
seconded by Kim Sell. The motion passed unanimously.
Actions taken by UCC chair on behalf of the committee: Jill LeRoy-Frazier returned
SPCH 2700 and MUSC 3561, 4260, 4530, 4531, and the MUSC TBR proposal to establish
a Jazz concentration to the originators for recommended revisions; approved the THEA
non-substantive curriculum change; approved the ARTA TBR proposal to establish a BA
in graphic design (UCC acted on it in Spring 2014)
MUSC 2011, 2021 2561 3510, 3520, 3560, 3561, 4260, 4530, 4531, and TBR Proposal to
Establish a New Concentration in Jazz Studies were subsequently approved and are on
the agenda for the October Academic Council meeting.
New Business
— New Course Proposal: SPCH 2700 Professional Communication and
Technology
http://etsuis.etsu.edu/CPS/forms.aspx?DispType=OutputForms&NodeID=5_2a&FormI
D=6&Instance=6649
Andrew Hermann completed the edits requested at the September 24, 2014 UCC
meeting and resubmitted a revised course proposal. In the 9/24/14 meeting, the
course was determined by committee members to meet the following criteria:
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It is valid for instruction.
It has appropriate credit designation.
It does not duplicate courses in other colleges or departments.
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The purpose, goals, and learning outcomes are appropriately aligned with one
another and with the proposal’s rationale.
The learning outcomes are appropriate for the level of the course.
The major assignments support the learning outcomes.
Recommendation: In the catalog description, change “ensure career success” to
facilitate or promote career success.
Suzanne Smith moved to accept the proposal with the above edit to the catalog
description. Shirley Cherry seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
— Non-Substantive Curriculum Change: SUVM major
http://etsuis.etsu.edu/CPS/forms.aspx?DispType=OutputForms&NodeID=5_2a&FormI
D=17&Instance=7583
Jerry Taylor presented the rationale for adding MATH 1530 (Probability and Statistics –
Noncalculus) as an alternate to MATH 2050 (Foundations for Probability and Statistics
– Calculus Based) in meeting the program requirements for a statistics course in the
Surveying program.
Suzanne Smith moved to accept the proposal as written. T. Jason Davis seconded. The
motion passed unanimously.
The following courses from BGSD were reviewed (BGSD 1800 – Library Research Skills;
BGSD 4110 – Research Invention; BGSD 4210 – Professional Field Experience; BGSD
2200 – Multimedia Presentation; BGSD 2300 – Building E-Portfolios; BGSD 4950 –
Special Topics in Continuing Adult Education).
These courses were determined by committee members to meet the following criteria:
 They are valid for instruction.
 They have appropriate credit designation.
 They do not duplicate courses in other colleges or departments.
 The purpose, goals, and learning outcomes are appropriately aligned with one
another and with the proposal’s rationale.
 The learning outcomes are appropriate for the level of the course.
 The major assignments support the learning outcomes.
— New Course Proposal: BGSD 1800 Library Research Skills
http://etsuis.etsu.edu/CPS/forms.aspx?DispType=OutputForms&NodeID=5_2a&FormI
D=6&Instance=7757
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Leslie Adebonojo and Kathy Campbell presented an overview of the course which was
developed to assist transfer and returning to college students to develop basic research
skills.
Suzanne Smith moved to accept the proposal as written. Mark Baumgartner seconded.
The motion passed unanimously.
— New Course Proposal: BGSD 4110 Research Invention
http://etsuis.etsu.edu/CPS/forms.aspx?DispType=OutputForms&NodeID=5_2a&FormI
D=6&Instance=7830
Julie Fox-Horton presented an overview of this course which was developed to lead into
BGSD 4210. In BGSD 4110, students lay the framework for their capstone/thesis
project by choosing a topic, compiling supporting research, and developing a research
plan. Completing this work allows students to focus on the actual writing of the thesis
in BGSD 4210.
Recommendation: In the Catalog Description, consider editing out “doing exploratory
research” to leave “Course activities include practicing interdisciplinary research skills
and producing a topic proposal, a preliminary bibliography, and a research plan.”
Shirley Cherry moved to accept the proposal with a possible edit to the catalog
description. Mark Baumgartner seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
— Substantial course modification: BGSD 4210 Professional Field Experience
http://etsuis.etsu.edu/CPS/forms.aspx?DispType=OutputForms&NodeID=5_2a&FormI
D=10&Instance=7885
Jill Leroy-Frazier presented the rationale for course modification. The actions proposed
would update the course description and title to more accurately reflect current content
and course activities.
Recommendation: In the Proposed Catalog Description, remove “Prequisite:
BGSD/BSIS/BSPS 4110
Suzanne Smith moved to accept the proposal with the minor edit to course description.
Mark Baumgartner seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
— Substantial course modification: BGSD 2200 Multimedia Presentations
http://etsuis.etsu.edu/CPS/forms.aspx?DispType=OutputForms&NodeID=5_2a&FormI
D=10&Instance=7881
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Jill Leroy-Frazier stated the rationale for course modification was to reflect
advancements in multimedia presentations and emphasize the link between
presentation skills and interdisciplinary learning.
Recommendation: CSCI 1100 is listed as a prerequisite in the Current Catalog
Description. It does not need to be listed under Proposed Prerequisites and
“Prerequisite Change?” should be edited from true to false.
J. Keith Green moved to accept the proposal with the minor edit to prerequisites. Kim
Sell seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
— Substantial course modification: BGSD 2300 Building E-Portfolios
http://etsuis.etsu.edu/CPS/forms.aspx?DispType=OutputForms&NodeID=5_2a&FormI
D=10&Instance=7883
Jill Leroy-Frazier stated the rationale for course modification was to reinforce
interdisciplinary studies and assist students to create E-portfolios reflective of their
individual educational plans.
Recommendation: Remove “Prerequisite: CSCI 1100” from the Proposed Catalog
Description
Kim Sell moved to accept the proposal with the minor edit to Proposed Catalog
Description. Shawna Lichtenwalner seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
— Substantial course modification: BGSD 4950 Special Topics in Continuing
Adult Education
http://etsuis.etsu.edu/CPS/forms.aspx?DispType=OutputForms&NodeID=5_2a&FormI
D=10&Instance=7887
Jill Leroy-Frazier stated the rationale for course modification was to clarify the title and
course description to better reflect the current content of the course. This course will
be open as an elective for all ETSU students and is repeatable for credit (up to 6 hours
total). There will be 1 credit hour and 3 credit hour options.
Recommendation:
 Catalog description should reflect the course is repeatable for credit.
 Proposed Credit Hours (Maximum) should be changed from 6 to 3.
J. Keith Green moved to accept the proposal with the edits noted above. Shirley Cherry
seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
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— Substantive Curriculum Change: Establish a Core Curriculum for the BGS
and BAS degree programs
Jill Leroy-Frazier stated the rationale establishing a core curriculum for the BGS and
BAS degree programs is to facilitate a more cohesive program and to assist students to
more effectively present their skills/abilities to prospective employers.
Recommendations:
 Need (pg. 2) – Consider breaking this one long sentence into shorter sentences
to facilitate easier reading.
 Proposal needs to identify where the 10 hours designated for core credit
originated. They came from open electives but nothing in proposal explains this.
Dr. Grube will work with Jill Leroy-Frazier to correctly present the curriculum/core
credit hours.
T. Jason Davis moved to accept the proposal with changes to designate where core
credit hours originated approved by the UCC chair. Mark Baumgartner seconded. The
motion passed unanimously.
Other Discussion:
Jill Leroy-Frazier updated UCC members on pending major revisions in History, Digital
Media, Social Work, and Geosciences. In order to get these proposals to Nashville by
November 15, they must be through ETSU Academic Council at the October 23 or
November 13 meetings. It is not feasible for the UCC to complete the volume of work in
its scheduled meetings (October 8 and 22) and using current review process.
Dr. Grube proposed suggestions to streamline the review process (see attachment).
Because of the volume, similar courses within each discipline will be combined into
blocks for review and voting. All course proposals would be vetted by two committee
members prior to the meeting. TBR proposals would be vetted by all committee
members prior to the meeting. All non-substantive edits should be given to the
originator in writing. They will not be discussed at the meeting. Jill Leroy-Frazier
should be notified of all substantive issues. Only substantive issues will be discussed
at the meeting.
The UCC will meet on October 15 (Social Work courses), October 22 (History courses),
October 29, and November 5. Meeting time for the October 15th meeting will be
extended to 4:20 pm to allow the UCC to complete the Social Work proposals. Joanna
Anderson will try to reserve meeting space in the library. Jill Leroy-Frazier will update
members on location(s) for the additional meetings.
Suzanne Smith moved to give the UCC Chair the ability to group courses into similar
categories to facilitate reviewing them in blocks with all non-substantive edits given to
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the originator in writing and all substantive edits coming to the table for discussion.
Seconded by Shawna Lichtenwalner. The motion passed unanimously.
Dr. Grube requested 2 members review the pending TBR proposals from each discipline
and provide recommendations prior to placing them on the UCC agenda.
Suzanne Smith moved two UCC members review each pending TBR proposal and
provide recommendations prior to them coming to the UCC meeting for discussion.
Kim Sell seconded. The motion passes unanimously.
J. Keith Green and Julie Fox-Horton agreed to review the History TBR proposal.
Suzanne Smith and Shirley Cherry agreed to review the Digital Media TBR proposal. T.
Jason Davis and Shawna Lichtenwalner agreed to review the Geosciences TBR proposal.
Feedback from UCC members should be sent to Dr. Grube by Friday, October 17.
A motion to adjourn was made at 3:20 p.m. by Shawna Lichtenwalner and seconded by
Shirley Cherry. The committee unanimously approved the motion.
Respectfully submitted,
Rhonda Brodrick
UCC Secretary
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Attachment – UCC Meeting 10/8/14
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