Liberal Learning Advisory Council Minutes Spring 1998

Minutes Arranged by Date

May 14, 1998

Present: R. Anderson (Secretary, Convener), J. Carney, D. Compte, L. Diskin (Guest), K. Finkral, E. Friedman, R. Kamber (Chair), R. Margraff, R. McCormack, M O’Connell, L. Rice, D. Vandergrift

The minutes of April 15th were approved as submitted.
HONR 212, America in the 20th Century: Class, Gender, and Race was approved for history and gender diversity distribution. There were no conditions or further recommendations. The vote was 9 in favor, 0 opposed, and 0 abstaining.
ECON 210, History of Economic Thought was approved for social science process by a vote of 11 in favor, 0 opposed and 0 abstentions. Approval was with the understanding that a syllabus would be provided clearly indicating the manner in which students will learn how to do what economists do (to an extent reasonable for undergraduate students).
Preliminary approval was given to expand ART 101, Introduction to Art History into two courses, ART 105-106, Introduction to Western Art I-II and to allow either to satisfy the fine or performing arts category. The vote was unanimous at 11 to 0 to 0 with the understanding that full proposals for each course will be submitted by the department as soon as possible.
A brief discussion of the social science content category revealed concern with the number of courses in that category. Members agreed to reexamine the current concept of encouraging departments to submit unlimited numbers of courses for Perspectives on the World. Should we consider a moratorium on particular categories, insisting that departments not add courses without deleting an equal number? We agreed to add the matter as an agenda item for next year.
Bob Anderson reported on the increasing difficulties in attracting faculty members to teach in IDSC 151 and IDSC 252. He pointed out that some colleges with comparable programs have more institutionalized ways of attracting and retaining excellent interdisciplinary faculty members, and that we cannot long continue with the informal method of recruitment now in place. The following resolution was approved by a vote of 12 in favor, 0 opposed, and 0 abstaining:
Bob Anderson and Rick Kamber should explore new arrangements for securing a superior interdisciplinary faculty whose members have appropriate interests and backgrounds for teaching and serving in the Interdisciplinary Core.
By unanimous acclamation members passed a resolution congratulating Marcia O’Connell on her engagement to Andrew Clifford. The resolution was accompanied by a Champagne toast and small tidbits (and then Pinot Noir and more tidbits–and then general confusion).
Adjournment was at 2:00 PM. It was the final meeting of the academic year; no date was set for the next meeting.

Courses Approved

HONR 212 (history, gender)
ECON 210 (soc sci process)
ART 106 (fine or performing arts–preliminarily)

April 15, 1998

Present: R. Anderson (Secretary/Chair pro tem), T. Breslin, J. Carney, D. Compte, K. Finkral, E. Friedman, R. Margraff, R. McCormack, H. Murray, M. O’Connell, L. Rice, D. Vandergraft

The minutes of March 24th were approved as submitted.
HONR 212, America in the 20th Century: Class, Gender, and Race was once again discussed. The central question concerned whether or not a “gender lens” was sufficiently employed in surveying the material of the course. A corollary question emerged concerning the nature of such a lens. Ellen Friedman called attention to the descriptions and definitions of gender studies on pp. 42-43 of A Proposal for a New General Education Program (R. Kamber, June 1, 1992), the framing document for the General Education Program. Additional concerns revolved around the extent to which the course fit its description, and the currency and adequacy of its bibliography. Bob Anderson agreed to get additional clarification from Prof. Dawley, the course’s author, and to bring the course to the committee at the next meeting.
Bob Anderson reported that the SET Formative Review Special Committee has recommended major changes in IDSC 252, Society, Ethics and Technology. Beginning in September 1998 the number of mass lectures will be reduced by approximately half with a corresponding increase in the number of seminar meetings. Additionally the number of major topics covered in the course will be reduced to about six (from the current 12 or so). Faculty members will continue to receive 3 FWH per section. Bob also reported that a second “focus group” meeting was held, and that students interviewed very much supported the proposed changes in SET. Members of GEAC approved the changes by acclamation.
ENGL 237, Literature of American Minorities was approved for literature and Western diversity distribution. It was approved without condition by a vote of 9 in favor, 0 opposed, and 0 abstentions.
Bob Anderson reported on a meeting on General Education at North Carolina State University on April 8th with representatives from Portland State University, Ball State University, Duke University, and NC State. TCNJ, Portland State, Ball State, and Duke were the “consultants” called in to assist NC State in developing a new general education program. One of the outcomes of the meeting, however, was the clear realization that although TCNJ has a well-developed and praiseworthy general education program, the administrative support for it is at a dangerously low level. Portland State, for example, reported that their program (patterned in part after ours) is housed in a special academic unit in general education called “University Studies” in which faculty members have joint appointments with other academic departments. Indeed over 60 faculty at PSU have such appointments; they are evaluated jointly by the general education program and their “home” departments; they have assigned teaching and service responsibilities in general education. Here at TCNJ we have a faculty “director” on three-quarter’s released time and no other faculty specifically assigned to the program. Although there is a half-time Director of Rhetoric, and a member of the Community Development Services staff who serves as Service Learning Director, Bob Anderson reported that the work-load in the office is such that he fears for the health of the program. Members of GEAC agreed to spend some time at the next meeting considering the issue.
Adjournment was at 3:00 sharp. Members expressed their disappointment at the continuing lack of conviviality and questioned the Secretary/Acting Chair about the next meeting. He promised to do his best. [The next meeting has been subsequently set for Thursday, May 14, at noon in Holman 315.]

Courses Approved

ENGL 237 (literature,Western)

Courses Returned

HONR 212

March 24, 1998

Present: R. Anderson (Secretary, Convener), T. Breslin, J. Carney, D. Compte, K. Finkral, E. Frede, R. Kamber (Chair), H. Murray, M. O’Connell, L. Rice, D. Vandergrift

The Minutes for March 4th were approved as submitted.
Bob Anderson distributed a copy of revised wording for the Transfer Policy as it will appear in the Bulletin. Members indicated that it appears to be consistent with GEAC’s policy on general education transfer credit, but that it is somewhat more simply worded. Without vote it was accepted.
Keith Frinkral led a discussion of the most recent consideration of a format change in IDSC 252, Society, Ethics, and Technology as discussed by members of the SET Formative Review Special Committee. Leslie Rice and Bob Anderson reported on a focus group interview in which students expressed a strong desire for a more “interactive” approach. Keith and Bob reported that members of the SET Review Committee had unanimously approved a motion by Mort Winston that the number of lectures in SET, beginning in Fall 1998, be reduced to six, and that there be two seminar meetings per week whenever there was not a scheduled lecture. Furthermore, they reported that the number of major topics would be reduced to six in order to give the course more depth. Bob Anderson distributed a copy of the most recent SET Committee minutes.
GEAC members endorsed the direction and thinking of the SET Formative Review Special Committee. They also strongly indicated an expectation that the SET course would be evaluated in a manner similar to Athens to New York. They were particularly interested in seeing a clear articulation of SET goals and outcomes.
HIST 273, The Old South was unanimously approved for history and Western diversity distribution. The vote was 8 in favor, 0 opposed, and 0 abstentions, and was without condition. Two questions were asked, however, and the secretary was directed to carry them to the History Department: One had to do with the apparent lack of attention to economic aspects of slavery. The other concerned the bibliography. Is there more recent scholarship on the topic?
Adjournment was at precisely 3:30 PM. The next meeting would remain in question until Bob Anderson surveyed the backlog of course proposals [subsequently the April 1st meeting was canceled; the next meeting will be April 15, 12:30 in Holman 311].

Courses Approved

HIST 273 (history, Western)

March 4, 1998

Present: R. Anderson (Secretary, Convener), J. Carney, D. Compte, K. Finkral, E. Frede, R. Margraff, H. Murray, M. O’Connell, L. Rice, D. Vandergrift

With more than usual difficulty Bob Anderson called council members to order at 4:07 PM after several false starts and near misses. That GEAC members have now endured more time than ever without accustomed celebratory activity is evident.
The minutes of February 18th went unchallenged, although no formal motion of approval was heard.
Don Vandergrift reported that the AACSB accreditation team had high praise for TCNJ’s general education program.
Ellen Frede reported that several students had expressed concern that a particular Perspectives on the World course currently offered did not appear to address all the goals and outcomes claimed nor have an out-of-class writing assignment as required. Bob Anderson agreed to speak with the chair of the department offering the course to investigate the matter. He also repeated that departments offering general education courses approved prior to September 1995 have been asked to submit syllabi for such courses taught during this academic year indicating how goals and outcomes claimed are actually met.
HONR 212, America in the 20th Century: Class, Gender, and Race was returned to the Honors Program so that more specific and detailed rationales for the outcomes claimed can be supplied. Questions were also raised concerning the precise title of the course (as it appears in several variations throughout the proposal). Members also requested that Bob Anderson send the course to Ellen Friedman for her opinion on its gender diversity claim.
HONR 320, Mind, Language, and Computers was also returned because no outcomes for goal #1 are claimed (a requirement for all Perspectives on the World courses). Questions were also raised concerning grading requirements seemingly not consistent between the course outline and the teaching syllabus.
Adjournment was at 4:59 PM following a brief discussion of conceptual, natural, and metaphysical necessity. The next meeting was set for March 25th, 2:00 to 3:30 in Holman 315 (note room change).

Courses Returned

HONR 212
HONR 320

February 18, 1998

Present: R. Anderson (Secretary, Convener), D. Compte, E. Frede, R. Margraff, R. McCormack, H. Murray, M. O’Connell,

The minutes of January 28th were approved as submitted.
The minutes of the February 5th meeting of the SET Formative Review Special Committee and the agenda for its February 19th meeting were distributed to GEAC members. Bob Anderson reported on the progress of the committee, indicating that setting up a serious of focus group interviews on the SET and Athens course constitutes the immediate priority of the committee.
Bob Anderson reported on assessment progress, indicated that memos requesting information on GEAC goals and outcomes are being distributed to the various departments offering general education courses.
HIST 211, Ancient and Medieval Christianity was approved for history, Western diversity distribution by a vote of 7 in favor, 0 opposed, and 0 abstaining. Approval was unconditional.
Council members advised Bob Anderson to respond to a memo from Dan Crofts regarding approval of Perspectives on the World history courses in a kindly and understanding manner.
Adjournment was at 1:45. [The next meeting, scheduled for February 25th from 2:00 to 3:30, will not be held.]

Course Approved

HIST 211 (History, Western)

January 28, 1998

Present: R. Anderson (Secretary, Convener), J. Carney, D. Compte, K. Finkral, E. Friedman, R. Kamber, R. Margraff, H. Mayo, R. McCormack, H. Murray, M. O’Connell, L. Rice, D. Vandergrift

The minutes of December 3rd were approved as submitted.
Bob Anderson explained that he was too busy to get the postponed holiday party together as a New Year’s celebration, but that he would try his darndest to put something together sometime.
Bob Anderson reported on the state of IDSC recruitment, assessment efforts, and the impending resolution of the secretarial problem.
Bob Anderson also reported on recommendations by the deans regarding changes in faculty loading for the SET course that would give faculty 1.5 sh per section rather than the 3.0 sh now in force. He pointed out that significant schedule changes in SET for Fall 1998 had to be made in order to maximize delivery system options.
SOCL 336, Cultural and Social Change, previously approved for social science content, was also approved for non-Western diversity distribution. The vote to approve was 10 in favor, 0 opposed, and 0 abstentions.
GOLG 220, Geology II, was approved for natural science as the second course in a GOLG 120-GOLG 220 sequence. In like manner ASTR 220, Astronomy II, was approved for natural science as the second course in an ASTR 161-ASTR 261 sequence. The present sequence of GOLG 120-ASTR 161 continues as an approved natural science sequence. The approval for both courses was by a unanimous 11 votes in favor, 0 opposed, and 0 abstentions. Regarding the ASTR 261 course, there was a question asked concerning the lack of mathematics outcomes claimed for the course, particularly in light of the evident mathematical nature of astronomical science (and apparently of the course itself). Bob Anderson agreed to report those concerns to the Physics Department without making them conditions of acceptance. Rick Kamber raised a question concerning student interest in the two new sequences (or, indeed, in the department’s ability to offer sufficient sections if necessary). He agreed to pursue the matter with the department, also without making approval conditional.
Adjournment was at precisely 3:30. The next meeting was set for Feb. 17th as indicated below.
The following list of meeting times for the rest of the semester was presented:
- Feb 18, 12:30 – 3:00
- Feb 25, 2:00 – 3:30
- Mar 4, 4:00 – 4:50
- Mar 25, 2:00 – 3:30
- Apr 1, 4:00 – 4:50
- Apr 15, 12:30 – 3:00
- Apr 22, 2:00 – 3:30
- May 6, (as needed)

Courses Approved

SOCL 336 (non-Western)
GOLG 220 (nat’l science)
ASTR 261 (nat’l science)