Core Curriculum Task Force Meeting
MINUTES
DATE AND Wednesday, October 25, 2006
TIME: 1:00 p.m.
LOCATION: SU 80, Room 223
Member(s) Present:
Marina Banchetti; Susannah Brown; Fred Fejes; Jeff Galin; Paul Hart; Lee Klingler; Tim Lenz; Anthony Lombardo-chair; Cliff McCue; Debbie Raines; Don Torok
Member(s) Absent:
Oliver Buckton; Mark Jackson; Robin Jordan; Maria Petrie; Allen Smith
1. Approval of Minutes
Tony asked if anyone had changes to the minutes of October 6. There were none. The minutes were approved as distributed.
2. Web Conference Invitation
An invitation was extended by Jennifer Bebergal and Larry Faerman to a web conference entitled Approaches to Improving the First Year Student Experience.
Tony invited the task force and asked them to invite anyone who is interested in undergraduate education. He also asked them to let him know no later than November 6 if they are attending so Larry can reserve an appropriate size room.
3. Charge from the Council for Excellence in Undergraduate Education (CEUE) to the Core Curriculum Task Force (CCTF)
A copy of the charge was distributed authorizing the official work of the task force. Tony will report to the council at their next meeting on Friday, Oct. 27 that the task force received it. The members who were absent at today's meeting will receive a copy of the charge via interoffice mail.
4. Items for University Undergraduate Programs Committee (UUPC) Review and Approval
a. Core Paragraph
Tony attended the UUPC meeting on Oct. 6 and explained the purpose of the core paragraph and syllabi guidelines. Tony used the paragraphs submitted by the task force to compile a final draft and sent it to the chair of the UUPC Jerry Haky. Tony will present the final paragraph to the UUPC at the next meeting on November 3. If there are substantial changes it will need to come back to the task force for revision.
b. Core Course Syllabi Guidelines
Tony distributed Fred Fejes' guidelines for courses receiving honors credit at FAU and described it as an example we can use for the core. Tony will attend the UUPC meeting on Nov. 3 to ask approval of a requirement that the syllabus of each course in the core curriculum include a concise explanation of how the course contributes to fulfilling the purpose of the core as given in the purpose paragraphs. The manner in which this is said is up to the faculty member – the task force is only asking that a statement to this effect be required for core courses. Tony will write a sample of a general sentence in a syllabus that explains how it relates to the core and will send it to Jerry Haky before the next UUPC meeting.
c. Name of Core
Tony distributed a list of names for the core. All were in favor of the title Intellectual Foundations Program. Tony will present the new name at the UUPC meeting for their approval. Fred proposed the name should be considered a working title in case future developments warrant a change. All agreed.
5. Approach to Revising the Core
a. Separate Curriculum
Fred met with Tony to discuss his ideas about the core's revision. Fred proposes that the core be setup as a separate academic program with its own identity. Courses in the core should not be introductory to the disciplines but more "terminal" though some courses can be both. He would also like to see a brochure made for students that explains the core curriculum. Tony proposed development of core curriculum handbooks for both students and faculty.
b. Establishment of Core Course Criteria
It was proposed there should be a council that makes recommendations to the UUPC for the CCTF. The council could be separate from the task force and a director might be appointed. It was suggested that a mock core program be created for presentation to departments. Debbie Raines, Cliff McCue, Fred Fejes and Tim Lenz volunteered to be a subcommittee who would work on the structure and criteria of the core. They will come up with a model to present to the UUPC and then to the departments. Tony will send Fred paperwork from the early days of the task force to work with and a copy of core curriculum handbook from Virginia Tech.
Next meeting of the Core Curriculum Task Force is set for Monday, November 20 at 2:30pm. Location will be in conference room 132 of the Student Support Services building (SU 80).
Meeting adjourned at 2:10 p.m.
