Faculty Senate

ASCRC Annual Report 2006-2007

Agenda Items and Actions

•1.      Annual Curriculum Review
The ASCRC acted on a total of 335 curriculum proposals, including 6 Level 1 changes and 8 Level II changes.  The proposals appear on the Faculty Senate's consent agenda, beginning 11/9/06.

Level I
Delete Computerized Accounting Systems Option
Change Applied Analysis Option to Applied Mathematics Option
Delete Nature and Democracy Minor
Retitle Women's studies to Women's and Gender Studies
Merge Ecology, Botany, and Zoology options into Ecology and Organismal Biology
Experimental two-year Energy Technician AA degree

Level II
Computer System Technician One-year certificate program
New Minor in Gerontology
New Option in Criminology and Social Justice
New Option in Film Studies
New Option in Field Ecology
Change Athletic Training Option to a major
New program in Communicative Disorders
Degree Title Changes in School of Fine Arts:

Appeal:
AASC 105(T) Deciding Majors and Careers was approved with a T on the consent agenda, although the intent of the form was to remove the T.  The subcommittee reconsidered the intent of the form.  It supported the change because several other career courses exist and are beneficial to students.  ASCRC, however, was not in favor of accepting the course based on the existence of similar courses in academic departments.  A motion to approve the course as listed on the consent agenda (AASC 105T) was approved.  A larger issue is that catalog language does not allow Career Skills courses to count toward a bachelor degree. This is an issue that requires further discussion as a retention consultant that visited UM recommended developing additional career courses. 

PSC300, a one-credit ad on writing course was granted an extension until revised writing criteria are implemented.  After the review of writing courses last year, the Writing Committee felt that the course did not meet the intension of a writing course but granted the department one-year reprieve from loosing the writing status of the course.  

•2.      One-time only general education policy
Language will be added to the general education form to clarify the policy.  [One-time-only general education designation may be requested for experimental courses (X95), granted only for the semester taught.   A NEW request must be submitted for the course to receive subsequent general education status.] 
The instructor should make clear to the students in the class that the Gen Ed designation is for that specific offering only.

•3.      General Education Model

The ASCRC reviewed the three General Education Models developed by the General Education subcommittee (as was their charge). The models were submitted to ASCRC without bias - no ranking of the models accompanied the report. ASCRC developed a "modified" ASCRC model which was presented to ECOS at the end of fall semester 2006.

Given the difficult nature of developing a single General Education model for the entire campus, ASCRC sought input from various campus entities regarding the viability of the draft model. ASCRC, in consultation with ECOS, invited representatives of various campus entities (the schools, sciences, & foreign languages) to speak to ASCRC regarding potential difficulties with the draft model for their schools/programs.

The following model (approved by ASCRC 4/12/2007) is the result of these deliberations.

ASCRC Proposed General Education model, 4/12/07                                                                       Credits                                                                                               

1. English Writing Skills                                                                                                                     6 -9
     - ENEX 101 or equivalent

     - One approved lower-division writing course    

     - Successfully pass the WPA

     - Upper-division writing expectation

2. Math Literacy                                                                                                                     3

3. Foreign Language (8 credits) or Symbolic Systems (6 credits)                                          6 or 8
    -    Foreign Language is the default/preferred option.  However, students may 

substitute an existing approved symbolic system sequence when it is required by their major

4. Expressive Arts                                                                                                                   3

5. Literary & Artistic Studies                                                                                                 3

6. Historical & Cultural Studies                                                                                              3                                                                                                           

7. Social Sciences                                                                                                                    3                                                                                                           

8. Natural Science (Include one lab)                                                                                       6

                                                                                                            Total                           33 or 35

One approved course from each of the following categories

- Diversity & Intercultural Awareness (DIA)

      - includes all foreign language courses and other DIA approved courses

- Ethics and Human Values (EHV) expectation 

     -   Departments determine how students meet the requirement, whether it is an approved EHV course or series of courses in the major or an approved EHV course offered outside their major

Courses may meet more than one requirement

All courses must be¹

• - foundational, as reflected in the current course title/description
• - at least 3 credits (exceptions may be granted with justification)

¹ Excluding the upper-division writing and Ethics and Human Values expectation

•4.      Efforts of the Writing Committee
This year the Writing Committee reviewed all proposed writing courses.   It also drafted new guidelines for writing courses- see appended document, ‘Recommended Writing Course Guidelines.'  This document was sent to departments with ASCRC's general education model for consideration.