General Education Committee Minutes 2/13/06

Members Present: S. Gaskill L. Hayes, K. Hill, S. Kalm, D. Pletscher, M. McClintock, G. Smith

Members Excused/ Absent: J. Eglin, T. Manuel, K. Shanley, A. Walker-Andrews

Ex-Officio Present:  L. Carlyon

The minutes from 11/28/05 and 1/30/06 were approved

Communication:

§ Professor Hill reported on the first Board of Regents’ General Education Council meeting. It is considering some changes to the MUS core. There was some discussion regarding the intent of the committee. The UM student on the Council is willing to serve on the committee. Karen will forward his name to Camie.

Current MUS Core		Proposed MUS Core
English Comp	3	Communication (oral & written	6
Mathematics	3	Mathematics	3
Fine Arts	3	Fine Arts & Humanities	6
Humanities	3
History	3	History & Social Sciences	6
Social Sciences	6
Natural Sciences	6	Natural Science	6
Cultural Diversity	3	American Indian Education for all
Total	30	Total	30

Business Items: Workgroup reports

§ Chair Gaskill explained the revisions made to the Montana Cultural Model.

Montana Cultural Model
Writing	6
Mathematics	3
Perspectives
Expressive Arts	3
Humanities, literature and Fine Arts	3
History	3
Social and Health Sciences	6
Natural Science: One Social, Health or Natural Science course must have a lab.	6
Indian Education for All (IEA)  Including the 8 essential understandings	3
TOTAL	33
NOTES
In addition to the two writing courses, students must take another course, either within gen-ed or other courses that is an intermediate writing course.
Connections between courses possible
Department specified:
Information/Technology Literacy
Upper Division Writing
Symbolic Systems / Foreign Language
Global Perspective
Engaging, Participative and Interactive Teaching and Learning

§ Professor Pletscher explained the changes made to the modified model.

Modified Model
Competencies
English Writing Skills	6
Math Literacy	3
Perspectives
1. Expressive Arts ^1.	3
2. Literature & Humanities ^1.	3
3. Historical & Cultural Studies ^1.2.	3
4. Social Sciences ^1. 2.	3
5. Human Values (Ethics, Beliefs & Religion) ^1.2.	3
6. Natural Science 7. Ecology	3 3
^1.Students must take a course meeting the cultural diversity criteria within a perspective.(3) ^2.Students must take a course in US history or institutions within perspectives 3, 4 or 5. (3)
Total credits	30
Department specified:
Information/Technology Literacy
Foreign Language or Symbolic Systems

§ Professor M. McClintock explained the changes discussed to the citizenship model and shared a few draft criteria. He proposes that the American Indian Education for All requirement be separated from general education. The nature of the writing program should be decided in conjunction with the writing committee and the new director of composition. His group also suggests that a more permanent body consisting of designated general education faculty be established to monitor and define general education. It was suggested that a group/committee be formed for each perspective.

Citizenship Model
Competencies
Writing	6
Mathematics	3
Perspectives
Creative & Performing Arts	3
Literary & Philosophical Studies	3
Historical Studies	3
Social Sciences	3
Citizenship	3
Physical & Biological Sciences	6
Diversity (western/non-western)	3
	33
Department Specified
Technology Literacy Foreign Language

Chair Gaskill suggests that the workgroups meet prior to the next committee meeting on 2/27 to finalize criteria and a philosophical statement to be forwarded to ASCRC with the models and flowchart.

The meeting was adjourned at 11:00.