Faculty Senate

ASCRCWriting Subcommittee Minutes 2/9/09 

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Members Present: N. Hinman, K. Kuipers, M. Medvetz, M. Semanoff, S. Smillie,

Members Excused/Absent: J. Carter, H. Bruce, K. Zoellner

Ex-Officio Present:  K. Peterson, K. Ryan

Chair Hinman called the meeting to order at 2:15 p.m. 

 

The minutes from 12/1/08 were approved.

 

Communications:

• The Upper-Division Writing Workshop held over winter break was attended by approximately 28 faculty and had very positive responses.  The faculty were engaged and wanted to make their writing courses more effective.  Another workshop should be offered.
• Chair Hinman has received a lot of questions regarding the guidelines.  The committee may want to consider including additional FAQs after the review is complete.
• A few issues regarding the transferability initiative were discussed.  The Technical Writing Course in Forestry (FOR 220) was moved to Composition to accommodate common course numbering.    It was questioned whether UNC 270 should be housed in an academic department rather than the Undergraduate Advising Center.  These issues may need to be revisited.

• Thirty-two writing course forms and 59 upper-division Writing Requirement forms were submitted for review.  The Committee should try to have the review completed in time for the start of pre-registration April 13^th.   The printed catalog will not be available until next all.  The online and CD versions will be completed according to the normal schedule.
• Members were assigned to review groups and provided with a list of approximately 30 courses to review (appended below).  The review groups should elect a chair and distribute review assignments. Each form should be reviewed by at least two members.
• The following departments requested deadline extensions:
  • DBS - shortly after 2/16
  • English - 2/15 (Sunday)
  • College of Forestry & Conservation - shortly after 2/17
  • Wildlife Biology - 2/20/09
  • Art - 2/20/09

Business Items:

• ASCRC would like to have a list of approved courses by March 3^rd so the consent agenda can be presented to the Faculty Senate March 12^th.  This list will be the first batch of courses that clearly meet the guidelines.   The courses that need follow-up will likely take longer.
• Additional meetings were added to the spring schedule to accommodate the timeline.  There will be a norming session on Wednesday, 2/18/09 in GBB 202.  Each group should come prepared with two sample forms to be discussed.  This will assure that the members are applying the criteria consistently.   Members should have reviewed at least 2/3 of the forms and have them categorized into three groups (approved, needs work, or follow-up pending) for the 2/23/09 meeting.  The subcommittee chair will communicate with instructors regarding necessary clarifications and/or minor revisions.   For the most part the review should be completed by the 3/2/09 meeting.
• The Committee agreed to propose permanent status for the committee.  It reviewed the draft bylaw amendment and made several revisions (below).  The draft will need to be approved by ASCRC, ECOS and then voted on by the Faculty Senate.
• Discussion of the evaluation of the UDWPA was postponed.  This discussion will likely take place after the review has been completed.  Another topic for discussion includes defining proficiency levels for writing.   

The meeting was adjourned at 3:00 pm.

Group 1 - Upper Division Writing Courses (30)

Anthropology	ANTH 314	Principles of Forensic Anthropology
Anthropology	ANTH 314	Principles of Forensic Anthropology
Anthropology	ANTH 402	Advanced Anthropological Statistics
Anthropology	ANTH 431	Ethnographic Field Methods
Anthropology	ANTH 450	Archaeological Theory
Anthropology	ANTH 451	Cultural Resource Management
Anthropology	ANTH 455	Artifact Analysis
Chemistry	CHEM 334	Chemical Literature and Scientific Writing
Communication Studies	COMM 377	Rhetoric, Nature, Environmentalism
Communication Studies	COMM 455	Rhetorical Criticism and Theory
Communication Studies	COMM 480	The Rhetorical Construction of "Woman"
Communication Studies	COMM 481	The Rhetoric of U.S. Women's Activism, 1960 - present
Computer Science	CS 415	Computer Ethics and Society
Computer Science	SC 499	Senior Thesis/Project
CSD	CSD 430 & CSD 440	Senior Capstone I and II
Dance	DAN 494	Junior/Senior Dance Seminar
Drama	DRAM 321	Theatre History II
Economics	ECON 488-489	research Method & Thesis Design / Senior Thesis capstone
Environmental Studies	EVST 302	Introduction to Environmental Regulation
Environmental Studies	EVST 305L	The Environmental Vision
Environmental Studies	EVST 367	Environmental Politics and Policy
Environmental Studies	EVST 487	Globalization, Justice and the Environment
Forestry	RECM 451	Tourism and Sustainability
Forestry	RECM 482	Wilderness and Protected Area Management
Geosciences	GEOS 320	Global Water Cycle
Geosciences	GEOS 499	Senior Thesis
Geosciences	GEOS other
Health & Human Performance	HHP 372	Rehab of Athletic Injuries
History	HIST 437	The Dynamics of Diplomacy
Information Systems	IS 448	Management Game

Group 2- Upper Division Writing Courses (29)

Journalism	JOUR 331	Public Affairs Reporting
Journalism	JOUR 333	Magazine Freelance Writing
Journalism	JOUR 415	Feature Writing
Linguistics	LING 473	Language and Culture
Linguistics	LING 484	North American Indigenous Languages and Linguistics
Management	MGMT 444	Management Communications
Management	MGMT 445	Small Business Management and Strategic Planning
Management	MGMT 446	Strategic management
Math		Math 406, approved upper division writing course or MATH 499
MCLL	JPNS 311	Classical Japanese Literature in English Translation
MCLL	JPNS 312	Japanese Literature from Medieval to Modern Times
MCLL	JPNS 431	Postwar Japanese Literature
MCLL	MCLG 494	Seminar in Russian Studies
Music	MUS 424	Music of the 20th Century to the Present
Music	MUS 436	Topics in Music History
Music	MUS 437	Cultural Studies in Music
NAS	NAS 494	Capstone Reading Course
Pharmacy Practice	PHAR 550	Drug Literature Evaluation
Philosophy	PHIL 480	Senior Seminar
Political Science	PSC 400	Advanced Writing in Political Sciences
Psychology	PSYC 320	Advanced Psychological Research Methods
Psychology	PSYC 400	History and Systems of Psychology
Radio TV	RTV 360	Advanced Broadcast Reporting
Radio TV	RTV 361	Newscast Reporting and Producing
Radio TV	RTV 494	Senior Seminar
Sociology	SOC 438	Seminar in Crime and Deviance
Sociology	SOC 441	Capstone: Inequality and Social Justice
Sociology	SOC 460	Capstone in Rural & Environmental Change
Sociology	SOC 488	Religion and Political Movements

Group 3 - Writing Courses (32)

AAS	AAS 372	African American Identity
African American Studies	AAS 450	Prayer and Civil Rights
Applied Arts & Science	AASC 195 (CLS 167)	Nature and Society
Applied Computing and Electronics	CRT 122E	Ethics and Information Technology
Communication	COMM 410	Communication in Personal relationships
Curriculum & Instruction	C &I 318	Teaching Language Arts
Curriculum & Instruction	C&I 287	Business Communication
Economics	ECON 350  (ECNS 317)	Economic Development
Economics	ECON 440 (ECNS 433)	Economics of the Environment (cross-list w/ EVST 440)
Forestry	FOR 220	Technical Writing
Geography	GEOG 335	Water Policy
Health & Human Performance	HHP 450	Analytical and Communication Techniques
HHP	HHP 301	Instructional Strategies in Secondary Physical Education
Honors College	HC 121	Ways of Knowing
Journalism	JOUR 270	Reporting
Liberal Studies	LS 151/152	Introduction to the Humanities
Math	MATH 406	History of Mathematics
MCLL	MCLG/ENG/LS 338	Survey of French Cinema
Music	MUS 325	History of Music II
Native American Studies	NAS 200	Native American Studies Research and Writing Methods
Native American Studies	NAS 202	Oral & Written Traditions in Native America (Received late)
Philosophy	PHIL 300	Moral Philosophy
Physics	PHYS 330	Methods of Communicating Physics
Radio TV	RTV 280	Reporting for Broadcast
Undergraduate Advising Center	UNC 270	Critical Writing II
Wild Life Biology	WBIO 245	Science Writing
Writing Studies	WTS 115	Technical Writing
Writing Studies	WTS 120L	Introduction to Critical Interpretation
Writing Studies	WTS 121L	Introduction to Poetry
Writing Studies	WTS 184A	Beginning Creative Writing: Multiple Genre
Writing Studies	WTS 185A	Beginning Creative Writing: Fiction
Writing Studies	WTS 186A	Beginning Creative Writing: Poetry
Writing Studies	WTS 240	Ethics and Rhetoric: Writing Arguments on Contemporary Issues

Writing Committee Bylaw Amendment (DRAFT)

B. Academic Standards and Curriculum Review Committee

Membership:
(1) This committee shall consist of 12 faculty members nominated by ECOS and appointed by the President for staggered three-year terms, five students appointed by ASUM for one-year terms, the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs (ex-officio and nonvoting), and the Registrar (ex-officio and nonvoting) who shall serve as recorder. The Chair will be elected by the members of the committee.

(2) The committee shall create a standing subcommittee, the Graduation Appeals Committee, which has power to grant exceptions to the faculty rules for graduation, admission, retention, and readmission. The subcommittee shall consist of three faculty members and one student. The current chair and vice chair of the ASCRC and one student will serve as voting members. The immediate past chair of the ASCRC will serve as a non-voting member. The Registrar, or a deputy appointed by him or her with the concurrence of the subcommittee, shall serve as non-voting Recorder. (amended 11/10/05)

(3) The committee shall create a standing subcommittee, the General Education Committee. It will provide ongoing evaluation of the general education requirements and evaluate proposed changes to those requirements. The subcommittee shall consist of 12 voting members, including ten faculty members and two students. The faculty shall reflect the diversity of academic experiences at the University of Montana, with five faculty members from the College of Arts and Sciences, with at least one member each in the Humanities, Natural and Physical Sciences, and Social and Behavioral Sciences. Five faculty members will be from the professional schools with one faculty member from the School of Fine Arts, and one faculty member from the College of Technology. The remaining three faculty members shall consist of faculty chosen from the Colleges of Forestry and Conservation, and Health Professions and Biomedical Sciences, the schools of Business Administration, Education, and Journalism, and the Library. At least one faculty member must also be a member of ASCRC to serve as liaison between the committees. Preference shall be given to at least one faculty member who is knowledgeable about Indian Education for All. The committee may also have ex officio, nonvoting members representing the Registrar's and Provost's offices. Faculty members will be nominated by ECOS and appointed by the President for staggered three-year terms. Student members will be appointed by ASUM for one-year terms. The Chair shall be selected by the committee. The committee will meet as often as needed, but at least once a month.

Chair (selected by the committee) Faculty (10 - three year terms) Faculty ASCRC member (at least 1)
College of Arts and Science (total of 5*)	Professional Schools (total of 5)
Humanities (at least 1)   Natural & Physical Science (at least 1)   Social & Behavioral Sciences (at least 1) *Preference shall be given to a faculty  member knowledgeable about Indian Education for All.	School of Fine Arts (1)   College of Technology (1)   (3 chosen from remaining schools)      College of Forestry & Conservation      College of Health Professions & Biomedical Sci      School of Business      School of Education      School of Journalism      Mansfield Library
Students (2) Appointed by ASUM for one year   Ex Officio, non voting members   Associate Registrar   Associate Provost (amended 11/10/05)

(4) The committee shall create a standing subcommittee, the Writing Committee, charged with ongoing evaluation of the writing program. The subcommittee shall consist of seven faculty members and two students. One faculty member must also be on ASCRC to serve as a liaison; one member must be from the English Department, one from the College of Technology; one from the Mansfield Library and one each from Social Sciences, Sciences, and Professional Schools The committee may also have ex officio, nonvoting members representing the Writing Center, the Composition Program, and the Registrar's and Provost's offices.  The committee may create other standing subcommittees.

Functions:
(1) ASCRC shall make a continuing study of the academic standards and curriculum of the University, review and recommend action to the Senate for all proposed alterations of the academic program, and make recommendations to the Senate regarding academic standards. ASCRC shall be responsible for the content of those portions of the University's catalog consistent with its duties.

(2) Petitions for exceptions to the rules governing admission, graduation, retention, and readmission shall be reviewed and acted upon by the Graduation Appeals Committee. The subcommittee shall develop general policies for such review and action and publicize those policies for the faculty and staff from time to time.

(3) The primary responsibility of the General Education Committee will be ongoing evaluation and assessment of the appropriateness and effectiveness of the general education requirements and criteria. The subcommittee shall act as an advocate for general education, propose revisions to the requirements and criteria, review proposals, and ensure that all general education requirements are feasible within campus constraints, Board of Regents policies and legislative actions. The subcommittee shall report directly to ASCRC.

(4) The primary responsibility of the Writing Committee is to assure the effectiveness of the writing program.  It shall review all writing course proposals and evaluate writing courses and writing course criteria.  The committee monitors the Writing Proficiency Assessment procedures, results, and appeals; acts in an advisory capacity to the Writing Center; and advocates for the writing program.