Minutes

Liberal Arts and Sciences Senate Subcommittee C Meeting

Tuesday, March 25, 3:30pm

Members present: Tove Finnestad (Philosophy), Glenn Geher (Psychology, chair), Linda Benbow (Sociology), Yoni Schwartz (Political Science), Sharon Holmberg (Nursing)

(1) Proposal for course number 80272 from the Psychology Department:

This course, titled General Psychology, was proposed for the Social Science content category and both the Systematic Inquiry and Ethical Reflection critical thinking competency categories of the GEIII. Generally, this proposal was strong and the course matched the criteria of the appropriate GE categories.

During the discussion of this course, confusion regarding the wording of item #7 of the Existing Course Proposal Form was manifest. This item pertains to whether changes in a course that was given, prior, GEIIA status, would lead to a change in the GEIIA category. We proceeded under the assumption that this item was not applicable as this course is not being changed substantially and, as such, did not require this item to be completed in its entirety.

The subcommittee approved this proposal unanimously.

(2) Proposal for course number 80275 from the Psychology Department:

This course, titled Psychological Statistics, was proposed for the Mathematics content category and the Systematic Inquiry critical thinking competency category of the GEIII. The proposal was generally appropriate. The narrative was written in sufficient detail and it covered the points that are required of the process.

However, we had two specific suggestions regarding this proposal. First, we suggest that the wording for the course objectives (in Part II of the narrative) be made internally consistent and, further, use exclusively action verbs. More specifically, we suggest that the verb in item D (which states ‘students should be able to apply their data …’) be changed such that the word ‘should’ is replaced by the action verb ‘will.’ This change is consistent with guidelines recommended by the curriculum committee.

The second specific suggestion also is derived form a curriculum committee suggestion. Specifically, we felt that the course objectives, as outlined in the syllabus, did not sufficiently speak to the GE content and critical thinking criteria explicitly enough. At the most recent LAS senate meeting, David Hobby, the Curriculum Committee chair, came to address this issue with our body. He made it clear that his committee strongly suggests that GE III proposals include sample syllabi that (a) clearly delineate (e.g., in numbered format) course objectives and (b) that these objectives speak explicitly to the criteria of both the GE content category (in this case ‘mathematics’) and the critical thinking competency category (in this case ‘systematic inquiry’).

The subcommittee approved this proposal – however, we suggest that the syllabus and narrative be modified as per our two suggestions (above) and that 15 new copies of the revised version of this proposal be created for distribution at the next full senate meeting (4/1/2003).

(3) Proposal for course number 71120 from the Philosophy Department:

This course, titled Introduction to Philosophy: Classics, was effectively proposed to meet the Western Civilization content category and the Systematic Inquiry, Effective Expression (Written), and Ethical Reflection critical thinking competency categories of the GEIII. This course included a minor course revision – this class and a newly developed class (see #4, below) will now comprise two alternative General Philosophy classes – each representing different approaches to the teaching of this class. These courses are titled so as to make this point (regarding the two options for Introduction to Philosophy) clear.

We approved this proposal unanimously.

(4) Proposal for course number 71130 from the Philosophy Department:

This course, titled Introduction to Philosophy: Problems, was effectively proposed to meet the Humanities category and the Systematic Inquiry, Effective Expression (Written), and Ethical Reflection critical thinking competency categories of the GEIII. This course and the newly revised “Introduction to Philosophy: Classics” will comprise two alternative courses that students can choose to complete the Introductory Philosophy requirement of the Philosophy major; all students may take both classes toward GE requirements.

We approved this proposal unanimously.

Respectfully submitted, 3/25/03

Glenn Geher

Subcommittee Chair / Secretary pro tempore