General Education Committee
Meeting Minutes for February 9, 2005
269 EML; Noon – 1:00 p.m.

Present: Robert Harrold, Kate Haugen, RaNelle Ingalls, Larry Peterson, Doug Rymph, Josh Swanson, Orven Swenson, Robyne Williams, Kristi Wold-McCormick.

Larry Peterson called the meeting to order at 12:05 p.m.

A motion (Swanson/Williams) was made to approve the minutes as distributed, from the January 26, 2005 meeting. The motion passed.

Peterson announced that Kimberly Vess Halbur, our new Pharmacy representative, was unable to attend today's meeting.

Swenson suggested the Gen Ed committee should follow the example of the UAC, and send out reminder letters to the college deans, and department heads/directors – when they are late submitting their reports.

There were no student petitions.

Mehta distributed a draft of a Motion to Enhance Writing Skills of our Students. Craig Kilber approved of the draft. Peterson asked if there were any additions or corrections to the draft. He suggested that committee members approach Sudhir Mehta if there were any corrections or changes. The University Senate will be voting on the motion at the February 14, 2005 meeting.

Subcommittee Reports

•  Humanities and Fine Arts and Communication

After discussion, a motion (Peterson/Haugen) was made to approve the 5 year renewal of the following courses: English 110, English 111, English 120, and English 121.

However, the COMM 110, course SPEECH 110 (Online): Public Speaking Fundamentals, from Deanna Sellnow was not approved. Peterson will be requesting more information from Deanna Sellnow.

Discussion on Category 10: Communication Activities in Upper Division Major Courses.

The current totals are: 43 complete reports, 3 reports not received, 1 unclear report, 1 report had responded but not answered the question (Criminal Justice).

•  Science and Technology

No report.

•  Social and Behavioral Sciences, Wellness, and Quantitative Reasoning

Courses Recommended for 5 Year Renewal

Math Courses

MATH 104, MATH 146, MATH 165

Courses Not Recommended for 5 Year Renewal

POLS 115 and POLS 220 – the committee suggested updating the syllabus and using the appropriate outcome rubrics to identify the methods and evidence used to determine if students are meeting the intended course outcomes for POLS 115, and POLS 220. POLS 110 should do the same, but also delete Outcome 1.

A motion (Williams/Harrold) was made to approve the math courses.

•  UNIV 189

The subcommittee is seeking more feedback from students through either the Group Decision Center on classroom surveys.

Larry Peterson will be contacting committee members as to the date of our next General Education meeting.

Recorder: Karen Bjellum