General Education Committee Minutes 9/12/05

 

Members Present: J. Eglin, S. Kalm, S. Gaskill, T. Manuel, R. Welsh, C. Winkler


Members Absent/Excused: K. Hill, D. Pletscher, K. Shanley, G. Smith

 

Ex-Officio Present:  L. Carlyon, A. Walker-Andrews

Chair Eglin called the meeting to order at 1:30 PM.

 

Approval of the 5/2/05 minutes was postponed.

 

Communication:

 

§    Members were provided with copies of the notes from the retreat.

New Business:

§    Celia Winkler was nominated and appointed as chair. 

§    Stephen Gaskill was nominated and appointed as chair-elect.

§    The meeting time dilemma was discussed.  Professor Kalm was able to move his class. Therefore meetings will be weekly at 1:00 PM.

§    The language on the committee membership bylaw amendment was revised for clarity.

(3) The committee shall create a standing subcommittee, the General Education Committee, which will provide ongoing evaluation of the general education requirements and evaluate proposed changes to those requirements. The subcommittee shall consist of 10 12 voting members, including eight  ten faculty members and two students. The faculty shall reflect the diversity of academic experiences at the University of Montana, with three  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 will consist offer the perspectives of faculty in 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 will be given to at least one faculty member who is knowledgeable about Indian Education for All acquainted with Native American education. and at least one faculty member who is also a member of ASCRC. 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 will be selected by the committee. ASCRC. 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*)
                        Humanities (at least 1)
                        Natural & Physical Science (at least 1)
                        Social & Behavioral Sciences (at least 1)

                        *Preference will be given to a faculty member                                                knowledgeable about Indian Education for All.

            Professional Schools (total of 5)
                        School of Fine Arts (1)
                        College of Technology (1)
                        (3 chosen from remaining schools)
                                    College of Forestry and 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

 

§    John Eglin volunteered to be nominated for service on the Regent’s General Education Council.  Karen Hill indicated an interest as well after the Faculty Senate meeting.

§    There was discussion regarding the various models.  There is still confusion regarding the MUS core and how problematic it would be to have a requirement that is not included in the core.  Would this create a situation where students would not choose Missoula because of the additional requirements?  Departments have more flexibility with requirements such as foreign languages and symbolic systems.  Associate Registrar Carlyon will report on department’s requirements for foreign language, symbolic systems or not specified.  

It was suggested that the committee should make a recommendation to adopt one of the models not just present various models.  The committee can start by listing advantages and disadvantages of the various models and possibly rank them.  Although the Task Force’s model is not workable there could by a way to extract valuable components.  One positive of the model is the foundational nature of the courses. 

There is not yet consensus on the models to go forward.  Another possibility is to propose two cores- one for CAS and one for the Schools.  This would be problematic for transfer students or students who change majors and doesn’t adhere to the idea of a unique UM experience.

Committee members were asked to think about the advantages and disadvantages of the models for discussion at the next meeting.

 

The meeting was adjourned at 2:50 PM.