Liberal Learning Advisory Council Minutes Fall 1999

Minutes Arranged by Date

• December 15, 1999
• November 17, 1999
• October 27, 1999
• October 20, 1999
• September 29, 1999

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December 15, 1999

Present:  R. Anderson (Chair-Secretary), T. Breslin, D. Compte, K. Finkral, L. McCauley, S. McCook, K. Drennan, A. Pfenninger, L. Rice

1. The minutes of November 17th were approved as submitted.
2. SOCL 372, Introduction to Comparative Public Health was approved for social science process, non-Western.  The vote was unanimous and unconditional.
3. Action on MTRL 171, Introduction to Meteorology was tabled pending further information on the nature of the laboratory assignments.  Bob Anderson agreed to get copies of the lab manual for members of the council.
4. Adjournment was at the uncommonly early time of 2:35, this being the shortest GEAC meeting on record.  Guinness’s will be notified.
5. The next meeting was scheduled for January 26, 2000 in Holman 311 at 2:00.

Courses Approved

• SOCL 372 (social science process, non-Western)

Courses Returned

• MTRL 171

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November 17, 1999

Present:  R. Anderson (Chair-Secretary), W. Behre, J. Bossart, K. Finkral, H. Mayo, L. McCauley, S. McCook, K. Drennan, A. Pfenninger, L. Rice

1. The minutes of October 27th were approved as submitted.
2. HONR 332, Nation and Culture in Modern Latin America was approved for history or literature (not both), and non-Western diversity distribution under Perspectives on the World.  The vote was 8 in favor, 0 opposed, and 1 abstention.  Approval was unconditional.
3. Action on SOCL 372, Introduction to Comparative Public Healthwas tabled pending clarification on the following points:
   • The nature of the service learning experience needs clarification.
   • A clearer explanation on why the course is a “process” course is needed.
   • More detail on weeks 2 through 4 would be helpful.
   • Are the analytic techniques assumed?  Or, are they taught as part of the course?
4. Adjournment was at 2:55 as several members were rushing to the academic leaders meeting (not wanting to miss anything).  The next meeting was set for December 1st (but was subsequently cancelled due to an over hectic schedule).

Courses Approved

• HONR 332 (history or  literature, non-Western)

Courses Returned

• SOCL 372

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October 27, 1999

Present: R. Anderson (Chair-Secretary), W. Behre, J. Bossart, T. Breslin, R. Cobb, D. Compte, L. McCauley, S. McCook, K. Drennan

1. The minutes of October 20, 1999 were accepted as submitted.
2. A wide ranging discussion of change in general education was begun.  Several tasks lay ahead of us.  The first, and most simple, is to re-examine the 1992 Framing Document in terms of updating it to include changes since then.  Beyond that we need to consider how much of what we established then is still valid, how much might be changed in subtle ways, and what, if anything, might need more significant overhaul.  Then we considered possible impacts on the general education program that would result if the college changed its basic credit structure from a three s.h. base to a four s.h. base (or, even if only some schools did that).  The task is clearly beyond what can be accomplished in one brief meeting.  Members agreed to continue the discussions throughout the year.
3. No motions or resolutions were considered.
4. Adjournment was at 3:15.  The next meeting was set for November 17th from 2:00 to 3:00 in Holman 311 (if available).

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October 20, 1999

Present:  R. Anderson (Chair-Secretary), W. Behre, J. Bossart, T. Breslin, R. Cobb, D. Compte, H. Mayo, L. McCauley, S. McCook, A. Pfenninger, L. Rice

1. The minutes of September 27, 1999 were approved as submitted.
2. The new meeting scheduled (corresponding to the revised Wednesday afternoon meeting schedule) was reconfirmed.
3. A brief discussion of the problem of having “topics” courses considered for general education credit centered on the possibility of creating a shortened approval process for such courses.  No consensus was reached, though there were opinions expressed on both sides of the issue.  Bob Anderson suggested that we fold any such discussion into the broader task of re-examining the program’s 1992 framing document.
4. After a brief discussion of implications inherent in a possible change in course credit (from a three semester hour standard to a four semester hour standard) the need for an overall re-examination of the program became even clearer.
5. Bob Anderson distributed copies of A Proposal for a New General Education Program dated June 1, 1992.  Council members agreed to look it over and to begin discussions of it at the next meeting.
6. Adjournment was at 3:00.  The next meeting was set for October 27th at 2:00, hopefully in HH 311. Members agreed not to meet on November 3rd because of the Multi-Cultural lecture.

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September 29, 1999

Present:  R. Anderson (Chair-Secretary), V. Barrett-Kobes, J. Bossart, R. Cobb, D. Compte, K. Finkral, L. McCauley, S. McCook, A. Pfenninger

1. New Members Bob Cobb, Larry McCauley, Stuart McCook, and Ariane Pfenninger were introduced and welcomed.
2. Bob Anderson was once again elected secretary by acclamation.
3. The minutes of May 5, 1999 were approved with the addition of Violet Barrett-Kobes’ name.
4. WGST 230, Women in America was approved for history and both Western and gender diversity distribution.  The vote was 8 in favor, 0 opposed, and 0 abstentions.  No conditions were attached to the approval.
5. WGST 330, Global Feminisms was approved for social science content and both non-Western and gender diversity distribution.  The vote was 8 in favor, 0 opposed, and 0 abstentions with the understanding that a teaching syllabus would be submitted as soon as possible.
6. AFAM 300, The Writings of WEB DuBois was approved for history or literature (at the student’s option).  The request for non-Western diversity distribution approval was not approved.  The rationale does not refer to non-Western circumstances, nor does the subject matter as described in the proposal appear to focus substantially on non-Western themes.  The vote was 8 in favor, 0 opposed, and 0 abstentions on the condition that a detailed set of rationales for the various goals and outcomes claimed be provided.
7. The following meeting schedule for Fall 1999 was (belatedly) adopted:
   • Oct 20: 2:00 to 3:00
   • Oct 27: 2:00 to 3:30
   • Nov 3: 2:30 to 3:20
   • Nov 17: 2:00 to 3:00
   • Nov 24: 2:00 to 3:30
   • Dec 1: 2:00 to 3:20
   • Dec 15: 2:00 to 3:00
8. Adjournment was at 4:24 pm.  Members stayed on briefly until they discovered there really were no refreshments.

Courses Approved

• WGST 230 (history, Western gender)
• WGST 230 (social science content, non-Western, gender)
• AFAM 300 (history or literature)