Core Curriculum Task Force Meeting
MINUTES
DATE AND Friday, April 21, 2006
TIME 10:00 a.m.
LOCATION SU 80, Room 132
Member(s) Present:
Marina Banchetti; Susannah Brown; Jeff Galin; Mary Ann Gosser-Esquilin; Paul Hart; Mark Jackson; Lee Klingler; Tim Lenz; Anthony Lombardo-chair; Cliff McCue; Debbie Raines; Allen Smith
Member(s) Absent:
Oliver Buckton; Fred Fejes; Robin Jordan; Maria Petrie; Don Ploger; Don Torok
Guest(s): Tom Pusateri
Agenda Items:
1.
Approval of Minutes of March 17, 2006
There was no dissent. Minutes approved as distributed.
2. Reschedule Joint Meeting of the Core Curriculum Task Force and the Council for Excellence in Undergraduate Education (CEUE)
Because the CEUE was not previously notified about today’s joint meeting it was rescheduled for May 1 from noon-2pm. Chair Tony Lombardo stated that if the change caused any scheduling problems, some representation of the CCTF would be sufficient. Tony said Bill Covino needs to come up with an agenda and he will ask him to provide lunch.
Please note: This meeting has been changed to May 4, 1:30-3:00pm in SU 132.
3. Freshman Convocation
Tony stated the PvAC supports his idea of the Freshman Convocation and the President thought it was a great idea too.
Tony formed an ad hoc committee to discuss what the Freshman Convocation might entail. Many ideas emanated from the meeting which Tony forwarded to the president with a suggestion that a formal planning committee be appointed. He recently heard back from Jennifer O’Flannery with the President’s ok to form the committee.
4. Freshman Reading
The volunteers who were asked to find a book for freshman reading narrowed it down to three; “Tuesdays with Morrie”, “Longitude”, and “The Orchid Thief.” After giving their review of the books, discussion then ensued on issues that need to be worked out. Tony stated he will prepare a list of what needs to be done before proceeding with the program; i.e., what is the price of the book and is it included in the orientation fee; who pays for the book; who fronts the money to the bookstore; what course will an assignment on the book be given in. Someone asked what ever happened to looking for a FAU author. Tom Pusateri suggests the CCTF take their time to work out the issues and agreed it may not be instituted this year. Cliff McCue suggested choosing the book now and there was no objection from the group. “The Orchid Thief” was unanimously chosen.
Note added by Tony: the ideal course for the freshman reading assignment would be a core course or freshman seminar that all FTICs take. Possibility of implementing such a course awaits core revision, however. This relates to item 7 below.
5. Draft purpose paragraph from Cliff McCue and drafts of transition paragraphs
Tony liked Cliff’s draft paragraph on the purpose of the core. He stated it covers everything and utilizes all the other statements. The majority agreed. It was suggested to add the word humanistic in the first paragraph where it reads “…and represents the breadth of artistic, humanistic, scientific, historical and social fields of study…” Tony asked the group to send any other changes to Cliff and he also reminded them to write up a transition paragraph. Tony wants every course in the core curriculum to have a syllabus that explains how it pertains to the purpose of the core. This will be presented to the UUPC for their consideration.
6. Naming the Core Curriculum
Bill Covino, Chair of the Council for Excellence in Undergraduate Education, assembled various focus groups that he and Tony met with. Tony asked one group of advisors how they felt about the core curriculum and they said we need to do something different from the community colleges. Tony reiterated John Gardner statement that our core is “unremarkable.” One idea that the task force still favors is naming the core. Suggestions will be discussed at the next meeting.
7. What are we really prepared to do?
Tony stated we really need to make a decision as to what should be done. He will make a list of 3-4 approaches and would like to form subcommittees to find out what other departments think of the core. Tim Lenz would like to have copies of all core syllabi and Tony said he will work with the Provost’s office to get them.
Next meeting: Joint meeting of the CEUE and CCTF, May 4, 1:30-3:00pm, SU 132
Meeting adjourned at 11:58 a.m.
