Academic Affairs and Curriculum Committee
Meeting Minutes  October 23, 2002

Members Present: Barbara Boseker, Pauline Christensen, Deb Cumberland, Dan Kauffman, James Kobolt, Fred Lee, Win Lewis, Dan Lintin, Maggie McDermott, Charla Miertschin, Celeste Miller, Randy Miller, Deanne Mohr, Robert Newberry, Pat Paulson, James Reidy, Greg Schmidt, Linda Seppanen, Richard Shields, Ed Slowik, Cathy Summa, Ed Thompson, Kerry Williams

I.     Meeting was called to order at 3:38 pm by Chair Charla Miertschin

II.           Adoption of agenda.  Added item XI. A. David Bratt MnSCU update.  Agenda adopted by consensus.

III.        Approval of minutes of October 9, 2002.(available at http://www.winona.edu/ifo/a2c2minutes/) Miller/Thompson, M/S, to approve.  Motion passed.

IV.      Chair’s report - no report

V.        Committee Assignments

    A.                 Course and Program Proposal Subcommittee (CPPS) - spots remaining to be filled

1.                  Business                          _______________________ 
2.                  Nursing & Health Science            Shellie Nelson

 Miller/Thompson, M/S, to approve new CPPS member.  Motion passed.

VI.           General Education Course Substitution Requests

  1.  Randall Andre - HIST 123 East Asian Civilization (3 SH) from WSU for Different Culture (in effect waiving the two-department rule). Miller/Lewis, M/S, to approve request.  Motion passed.

  2. LeAnn Fischer - POLS 120 Introduction to American Politics (3 SH) from WSU for Social Sciences (in effect waiving the two-department rule).  Kaufmann/Lewis, M/S, to approve request.  Motion passed.

Shields/Boseker, M/S, to abolish the General Education two-department rule.  Miller/Seppanen, M/S, to table.  Motion passed.

  1. Abby Johnson - PSY 231 Statistics (3 SH) from WSU for Basic Skills Math requirement. Summa/Shields, M/S, to approve request.  Motion passed.

  2. Abigail Peters - ENG 242 Intro to Creative Writing (3 SH) from MN State Univ.-Mankato for Basic Skills English requirement.  Cumberland/Lintin, M/S, to disapprove request.  Motion failed.  Miller/Lewis, M/S, to approve request.  Motion passed.

Chair asks for input for formulating policy on voting in front of students.

VII.        Course and Program Proposal Subcommittee (CPPS) report-no report

VIII.      University Studies Subcommittee report by Kerry Williams- The subcommittee recommends the following courses for approval.

    A.    Course Requirements
            1.    Unity and Diversity - Contemporary Citizenship
                    AIS 360 Interpersonal Business Relations (3 SH)
    B.    Flag Courses
            1.    Writing
                    ENG 414 Shakespeare:  Comedies and Histories (3 SH)
                    ENG 417 Shakespeare:  Tragedies (3 SH)
                    ENG 447 Modern Literary Criticism (3 SH)
                    THAD 331 Performance III (3 SH)
            2.    Oral
                    POLS 421 The First Amendment (3 SH)
                    SOCW 340 Introduction to Social Work and Social Welfare (3 SH)
    A2C2 approved University Studies courses.

IX.   Notifications

    A.    Theatre & Dance – USP notification
            1.    THAD 205 Make-up For the Performer (1 SH)

X.        Old Business-none

XI.        New Business
    A.    David Bratt MnSCU update:

David Bratt-discuss state level issues on curriculum. Distributed notes.

Background- community colleges/tech colleges teaching transfer courses, budget issues, pressure on 4 years as enrollment drops. Chancellor's office is slow to change, but there are many staff worried about job security.

Developments- inconsistent GenEd requirements; expanding MnTC categories expanding; MnTC supposed to be used as a whole, not in parts, but this is changing. Confusion as to which CC/TC courses count for which MnTC, appears to be a problem arising from CC/TC administrators. MnSCU central is trying to get going by having discipline meetings, about 7 held so far. WSU faculty are strongly advised to attend these meetings and make sure they understand what is required for your courses, otherwise MnSCU bureaucrats will be formulating policy for your curriculum. Discussion starting that is centering on reviewing whether TC/CC specific courses will be included in MnTC.

Recent Developments-should not MnTC be reviewed, because it is 10 years old. TCs are increasing course credit hours, does this need to be reviewed? AA degrees with emphasis in xxxxx leading to CC students being confused as to how courses will apply to 4-year major. Will under qualified students be taking classes and affecting the major requirements. Fond du Lac College is looking into 4 year college status, may negatively impact Bemidji state, but appears Native American students appear to do better at a tribal school.

Discussion was held on several of these points-how Federal funding is allocated, the need for WSU representation at these meetings and conferences. There is a need to provide data relating to student transfer data and drop out rates. Should there be a central repository for collecting data regarding transfer problems? Is there a chance that the state Legislature may edict the process?

XII.      Adjournment-meeting was adjourned by Chair Charla Miertschin at 4:53pm.