Minutes of the Curriculum Committee, St. Olaf College September 14, 2011, 3:30 p.m., Buntrock 142

Present: Gwen Barnes-Karol, Jo Beld, Laurel Carrington, Mary Cisar, Jeane DeLaney, Irve Dell, Bob Entenmann, Phyllis Larson, Eric Lund, Eric McDonald, Paul Roback, Matt Rohn, Kathy Tegtmeyer Pak, Mary Trull, Mary Walczak, Jeanne Willcoxon Student Representatives: Sara Wilkerson and Jessica Henderson 1. The meeting was called to order by Chair Laurel Carrington at 3:35 p.m. 2. Recording secretary: Gwen Barnes-Karol 3. The minutes of the May 4, 2011 meeting of the Curriculum Committee were approved. 4. Continuing Programs Subcommittee (Chair, Katherine Tegtmeyer Pak) — The following changes to existing courses were announced, to go into effect Thursday, September 15, 2011: a) Dance 213, Articulate Body: approval of .25 version of Dance 212 Articulate Body (.50 credit) to bring course in line with other movement-intensive courses with .25 and .50 versions. b) English 212, Literature of the Eastern Caribbean: approval of addition of MCG. c) Changes in credit allocation for four music courses, as below: • MU 111 Aural Skills I (.25) + MU 113 Theory I (.75) MU 112 Theory and Aural Skills I (1.0) • MU 112 Aural Skills II (.25) + MU 113 Theory II (.75) MU 114 Theory and Aural Skills II (1.0) • MU 211 Aural Skills III (.25) + MU 213 Theory III (.75) MU 212 Theory and Aural Skills III (1.0) • MU 212 Improv and Aural Skills III (.25) + MU 214 Theory II (.75) MU 214 Theory and Aural Skills IV(1.0) 5. Other Business / Announcements (Urgent): a) Some Curriculum Committee members (especially from Assessment, Continuing Programs, and Policy and Planning) may be tapped for working groups as consideration of the Strategic Plan moves ahead. The time frame for the proposed work is through the end of the semester or January. b) The English Department has submitted a large number of new course proposals. Only those planned for Interim and Spring Semester 2011-12 will be reviewed to be green-sheeted for the October faculty meeting.

c) Term in Asia: The status of the Term in Asia vis-à-vis possible curricular revisions and recruitment of a field supervisor for 2014 was brought up. Any new task force convened by IOS to study the program should confer with Continuing Programs. Persons with concerns should contact Eric Lund. d) Student representatives for 2011-12 were introduced: Sara Wilkerson (elected SGA representation) and Jessica Henderson. (Third student is pending.) 6. The meeting was adjourned at 4:05 p.m. so that subcommittees could meet. Respectfully submitted, Gwen Barnes-Karol

Minutes Curriculum Committee, October 5, 2011, 3:30 p.m., Buntrock 142

Present: Laurel Carrington (Chair), Gwen Barnes-Karol, Mary Cisar, Jeane DeLaney, Ire Dell, Kathy Tegtmeyer Pak, Matt Rohn, Mary Trull, Mary Walczak, Eric Lund, Bob Entenmann, Jeanne Willcoxon, Phyllis Larsen Student Representatives: Sara Wilkerson Jessica Henderson The meeting was called to order. Committee Actions New Proposal Subcommitee: Gwen Barnes reported. NPS proposed several new courses. All were unanimously approved after a few wording changes. One course also elicited discussion about whether new proposers should be required to consider potential conflicts with topics courses. Consensus was that this was indeed the policy in the case of regular courses that had undergone CC approval and thus were in the college catalog. Topics courses, however, present a different case because they are not part of the permanent curriculum, are taught irregularly, and are often ephemeral. For these reasons, most of the CC members believe that requiring proposers to work around topics courses is unrealistic. Concerns were also raised about the problem of classifying courses that are increasingly interdisciplinary in focus. Consensus reached that departments should have the power to decide if they wish to commit FTE to interdisciplinary courses, and to give them a “home” in the department. Approved courses were: • Biology 128 Water: Precious, Precarious, and Problematic • Dance 124 World Dance Traditions • Dance 130/131 Advanced Beginning Ballet • Economics 114 Development of American Business • English 207 Women of the African Diaspora • English 208 Black and Asian British Literatures • English 225 Neoclassical and Romantic Literatures • English 261 The Beat Generation • English 282 Chekhov's Legacy: A Study of the Short Story • English 287 Professional and Business Writing • Film Studies 215 American Film Realism • History 117 Elizabeth England

• Media Studies 220 Cybercultures: From the Personal to the Political • Music 163 Liberating Performers: Beyond the Alexander Technique • Political Science 211 Media and Politics • Religion 210 Theology of Food • Religion 273 Hebrew Prophets in History and Christian Tradition • Sociology/Anthropology 119 Crime, Law, and Society • Sociology/Anthropology 268 Class, Status, and Power Continuing Programs Subcommittee KTP reported: CPS requested, and was granted, approval of the following changes: Art 269, African Art History--Add WRI History 188, Perils of Prosperity—Add WRI and HWC Film 210, Filmmakers/Film Theorists—Change to Level III Change in provider for Term in Asia Course on Environment in China from ECNU I Shanghai to CET in Beijing Music 112, 114, 212, 214 change to Theory and Aural Skills, I, II, III, IV (catalog language change only) Dance 241 Improvisation: Practice and Performance, add SPM In addition, CPS asked committee for advice on whether or not Level III should carry GE credit. (Course in question is Film 210 which becomes 310). Consensus that in absence of policy, Film 310 should be allowed to carry GE (ALS-A) Assessment Mary Walczak reported: David Carter (Music) and Mark Pernecky (Econ) will be joining Assessment Subcommittee. ASC had held 2 help sessions for faculty on conducting GE assessment; is developing student questionnaires to ascertain student learning, especially in regards to connections between different GE requirements; is looking at ways to organize assessment data in ways that will be helpful to faculty; is seeking student representative.

Policy and Planning Matt Rohn reported: PPSC considered two student petitions (approved one and denied other); received request from Music Dept to have students’ participation in ensembles noted on official transcript (PPSC will consider at future date); continues its discussion of exam policy. Foreign Language Subcomittee Mary Cisar reported: FLSC considered 3 students petitions (approved 2, denied 1); continues discussion about whether ASL should fulfill FOL requirement. Because of change in date of November faculty meeting, CC meeting will be postponed to November 2 Meeting was adjourned. Respectfully submitted, Jeane DeLaney

Minutes Curriculum Committee, November 2, 2011, 3:30 p.m., Buntrock 142

Present: Gwen Barnes-Karol, Laurel Carrington (chair), Jeane DeLaney, Bob Entenmann, Kathy Granquist, Jessica Henderson, Phyllis Larson, Eric Lund, Paul Roback, Matt Rohn, Katherine Tegtmeyer-Pak, Mary Trull, Mary Walczak, Sara Wilkerson, Jeanne Willcoxon, Maddie Young, Kathryn Ziegler-Graham (guest). 1. The meeting was called to order at 3:35 pm 2. Sara introduced new student member Maddie Young. 3. Approval of the minutes of the October 5, 2011 Curriculum Committee after a few corrections were made. 4. New Course Proposals (Gwen Barnes-Karol). Present green sheet for November faculty meeting with several new English courses:

• English 201 Transatlantic Anglophone Literature • English 203 Asian American Literature • English 227 English Renaissance Literature • English 228 Romantic/Victorian/Modern British Literature • English 229 Twentieth-Century British and Irish Literature • English 267 Monsters: Myths and Movies from the 19th to 21st Centuries

Green sheet unanimously approved. Additional issues:

• Importance of proposers providing rationale that will go out to full faculty. • NPS working to make proposal forms more understandable.

5. Continuing Programs (Katherine Tegtmeyer-Pak).

• Drop ALS-A from all 200 level Music performance classes • Retroactive HBS and MCD for PS299, Race and American Politics, 2010-11 (can

only go back one year) Recommendations approved. Additional issues

• Questions were raised about potential inequities in the ways departments contribute to the Gen Ed curriculum. In general, should the Curriculum Committee oversee an evaluation of the distribution of GEs among departments? Kathy G, Mary C, and Laurel will get together to do preliminary data gathering – about seats, courses, opportunities for students, etc.

• Should an issue like the one above fall under the purview of the Curriculum Committee? Several argued yes, the CC oversees the college curriculum.

6. Policy and Planning (Matt Rohn). Review of draft policy on Final Examinations.

Goals include:

• Consolidate existing guidelines • Make new guidelines concise and reasonable • Recognize current practices and balance with good pedagogical practice • Maintain fairness for students and faculty • Recognize that we’re attracting students from farther away

Points discussed:

• Possible committee structure of instructors and chairs for decision; maybe a student committee as a clearinghouse/gatekeeper for requests

• Collect data on types of finals being offered, and if finals would change if policy changed.

• Course would end at end of exam period; supposed to be incomplete if need extension.

• Want to avoid violations under the table. • In-class exam in a course with multiple sections – how to address. Not addressed

in current draft. • Self-scheduled exams as an option was examined but rejected. • Would allow computer generated and submitted exams. • What would be impact on cheating and honor code? • When to list final exam date and format – right now on syllabus

Next steps: revisions, form creator feedback from faculty (not another faculty forum), come back to CC around Feb, vote at faculty meeting before April 7. Assessment subcommittee (Mary Walczak). Report:

• 40 faculty attended 4 GE help sessions • Discussed how best to share results from NSSE and other instruments with faculty

(with help from IR&E) • Short summary of recent results in key areas: diversity (efforts not showing up in

changes in NSSE over time), use of technology (increases in using electronic media), active and collaborative learning (no clear conclusions), student-faculty interaction (comparison to peers not great). Also first years vs. seniors: found less memorization, more applications to practical problems, etc. for seniors. All analyses looked at comparator schools.

• Fold information in with academic benchmarks for strategic plan. 8. Next meeting of full committee: Wed Nov 16. 9. Meeting was adjourned at 5:00 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Paul Roback

Minutes Curriculum Committee, December 7, 2011, 3:30 p.m., Buntrock 142

Present: Gwen Barnes-Karol, Laurel Carrington (chair), Jeane DeLaney, Irve Dell, Bob Entenmann, Kathy Granquist, Jessica Henderson, Phyllis Larson, Eric Lund, Eric McDonald, Paul Roback, Matt Rohn, Katherine Tegtmeyer-Pak, Mary Trull, Mary Walczak, Sara Wilkerson, Jeanne Willcoxon, Maddie Young, Kathryn Ziegler-Graham (guest). 1. The meeting was called to order at approximately 3:30 pm 2. Approval of the minutes of the November 16, 2011 Curriculum Committee after a one correction: delete 2nd sentence under GE. 3. Continuing Programs (Katherine Tegtmeyer-Pak).

• Most business handled through lively virtual meetings. • See last page for list of actions and interim course approvals

4. Presentation by Diane LeBlanc, Director of WRI:

• An incredibly lively and thoughtful discussion took place about the current state of WRI courses- their numbers, distribution and mode(s) of determination or approval. Many more good questions were raised than were answered. The curriculum committee has much to ponder and study in the near future. What follows is an attempt to summarize the secretary’s copious notes.

• In the past, the approval of WRI for a course was the product of a conversation between chairs, faculty and the writing coordinator.

• Currently this process is under revision to more clearly codify – new procedures are being developed/discussed.

• There is a concern that perhaps we are losing control of “intention” behind WRI courses.

• There has been an increase of 300 level WRI’s and a slight decrease in 200 level WRI’s.

• Is it a problem that 300 level courses often carry prerequisites? • How are new enrollment targets especially lower ones affecting student access to

WRI courses? • Are transfer students particularly affected? Is it harder for them to find and take

the required WRI’s to graduate? • What exactly is the current process for attaching a WRI to a course?

- Currently the registrar’s office forwards the course proposal to Diane for initial approval or feedback. Diane might return the proposal to the faculty person for revision or she will forward it onto the appropriate CC sub-committee. Ultimate approval is typically a “rubber stamp” by the full CC of the sub-committee’s recommendation.

- Sometimes there will be direct conversation between the faculty member and Diane before the proposal goes to the registrar’s office.

• Does the WRI go with the course or with the faculty member? This is a big source of confusion and needs the CC’s attention to resolve.

• Related question: What happens if department depends heavily on a GE being taught and the faculty teaching the GE changes?

• The dean’s council is currently discussing under 19 enrollments and the distribution and number of WRI/EIN courses. Should we be involved in this discussion?

• Do too many under 19 courses for 1st years make for too many “intense” courses for 1st years?

• Are too many WRI’s major dependent? Originally WRI’s were supposed to be non-major specific.

• Can WRI’s be effectively taught in courses with enrollments greater than 25? • Do EIN and ORC have similar concerns? • What are the attributes or WRI that are not enrollment dependent? • How should class time be devoted to WRI issues vs. the course content matters? • Should we re-institute annual WRI workshops for faculty? • Students have voiced some concern that the rigor implied in a WRI tagged course

is sometimes not met. • Students are sometimes unclear as to what exactly the WRI is. • Do the expectations of the WRI component of the class increase with the course

level? • Should we (the CC) be sending a message to faculty and/or dean’s council

encouraging more 100 level WRI’s? • 75-80 percent of students surveyed report that WRI instruction is “hitting home”

and translating into their other classes. • Writing-in-the Major needs a fresh look.

5. Policy and Planning (Matt Rohn). Review of draft policy on Final Examinations.

• Reported on two petitions. - one involved changing a letter grade to S/U -- this was denied - the second involved approving an independent study in a travel warning

country – this was approved. • Final exam policy moving out to a form creator survey Friday.

6. New Course Proposals (Gwen Barnes-Karol).

• Ongoing work in progress 7. Assessment subcommittee (Mary Walczak).

• No new business to report. 7. New Business .

• Study at Curtin University, Australia was approved for both semesters. • Another lively discussion developed around issues of CC structure and

governance. - Do we need to look at the term and term limits for the chair?

- Do we need 3-year terms for CC members or for some at least? - Do we need more and better-written documentation for CC procedures and

processes? - This would give greater transparency to the CC and its sub-committees

relative to the faculty at large. People would be clear on who exactly is making what decisions.

- How do we define and limit “guests” of the CC or its sib-committees? - Four students instead of three? - All of the above needs to be studied and recommendations made to the

Faculty Governance Committee so that changes may then be incorporated into the Faculty Manual.

- 8. Next meeting of full committee: Wed Feb. 8. 9. Meeting was adjourned at 5:00 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Irve Dell

CC/CPS Approvals from Dec. 7. 2011 Meeting

1. ORC for Dance 100 approved by CPS (Irve, Bob, Katherine, Kathy) and Jeanne Wilcoxen 2. Retroactive SPM for Dance 241 approved (Irve, Bob, Katherine, Kathy)

The following 24 Courses from IOS for interim 2013.

1. French 235 Foreign Language and Moroccan Culture (Wendy Allen) 2. Mathematics 218 Geometry and Decorative Arts of Morocco (Rich Allen) 3. Art/Asian Studies 262: Sacred Sites of South Asia (Karil Kucera) 4. Asian Studies 215: Encountering Asia (Tegtmeyer-Pak) 5. Interdisciplinary: Development & Community in Bangladesh (HECUA) 6. Sociology/Anthropology 232: Thailand: Culture, Institutions and Interactions (Sheppard) 7. Art 255: Italian Art in Context (Nancy Thompson) 8. The Music and Culture of Norway (no instructor – U Tromsø) 9. Political Science 240: Changing Political Identities Central Europe (Paddy Dale) 10. Religion 259: Religion, the Visual Arts and Culture in Rome (Elizabeth Galbraith) 11. Spanish 270: Spain’s Cultural and Linguistic Legacy (Gwen Barnes-Karol) 12. Education 378: Multicultural Education Hawaii (Elizabeth Leer) 13. Biology 281: Winter Ecology (Charles Umbanhowar Jr) 14. Education 170: Urban Schools and Communities (Eric McDonald) - 15. EE280: Intro to Electrical Circuits (Washington U St. Louis) 16. Interdisciplinary 255: The Physician in Clinical & Hospital Health Care (Wes Pearson) 17. Religion 243: Living Faith: Theology and Practice at Holden Village (DeAne Lagerquist) 18. Biology 284: Peruvian Medical Experience (Dave Van Wylen) 19. Biology 288: Equatorial Biology Ecuador (Kim Kandl) 20. Interdisciplinary: Social and Political Transformation in Ecuador (HECUA) 21. Spanish 233: Intermediate Spanish II in Ecuador (Sylvia Carullo 22. Spanish 234: Intermediate Spanish II in Costa Rica (Leon Narvaez) 23. Classics 251: classical Studies in Greece (Reece) 24. French 275: Interdisciplinary Fr. St. in Paris (Barjeseth)

Minutes

Curriculum Committee

February 8, 2012

Present:

Gwen Barnes-Karol, Jo Beld, Laurel Carrington (chair), Mary Cisar, Jeane DeLaney, Irve

Dell, Bob Entenmann, Jessica Henderson, Phyllis Larson, Eric Lund, Paul Roback, Matt

Rohn, Katherine Tegtmeyer Pak, Mary Trull, Mary Walczak, Sara Wilkerson, Jeanne

Willcoxon, Maddie Young

1. The meeting was called to order at approximately 3:30 pm

2. Approval of the minutes of the December 7, 2011 Curriculum Committee meeting,

with Carter University corrected to read Curtin University.

3. Continuing Programs Subcommittee report (Kathy Tegtmeyer Pak)

The CPS reported on action on proposals from the Dance Department and

International and Off-Campus Studies.

The Curriculum Committee discussed request that Math 396 offer varying credit

(0.5 or 1.0 credit). Should there be a new course proposal? Will this provide a precedent

for IS and IR? Put in Class and Lab pending approval? A consensus was reached that

the Math Department should draft language that can be adapted for green sheet. .

4. Policy and Planning Subcommittee report (Matt Rohn)

PPS reported on action it had taken on petitions.

The subcommittee also presented the latest draft of the proposed final

examination policy, and will get feedback at February faculty meeting. It is anticipated

that it will go up for vote in March faculty meeting.

5. Assessment Subcommittee report (Mary Walczak)

Mary reported that the St Olaf assessment program has been widely noted. It was

featured in the AAC&U publication Assessing College Student Learning: Evaluating

Alternative Models Using Multiple Methods (the St. Olaf case study is entitled “St. Olaf

College: The Transformative Effect of Faculty-Driven Assessment). St. Olaf was also

featured on a panel at the AAC&U annual meeting, where it was noted as a “best

practices” institution for its transparency in assessment work and findings. David

Anderson’s February 3 “Lunchtime Live” conversation also featured assessment work.

6. New Courses Subcommittee report

Gwen Karol-Barnes will have green sheets for March faculty meeting

7. The Foreign Language subcommittee acted on four petitions, denying two and

approving two. It completed a draft proposal for acceptance of ASL completed at other

institution.

8. New Business:

a. The Curriculum Committee discussed Student Life Committee ideas about

putting course syllabi or course profiles on SIS.

b. The Curriculum Committee briefly discussed its current description in the

Faculty Manual. Questions raised included terms and term limits for chairs and

committee members. How much trouble would variable terms be? How do we

give incentives for longer terms? Desirability for better documentation of

procedures. Combination of two- and three-year terms?

c. The chair reminded the committee that each subcommittee chair should do report

at end of year to document procedures.

The meeting adjourned at approximately 5:00.

Respectfully submitted,

Robert Entenmann,

Secretary Pro Tem

Minutes Curriculum Committee

February 22, 2012

Present: Gwen Barnes-Karol, Laurel Carrington (chair), Mary Cisar, Jeane DeLaney, Irve Dell, Bob Entenmann, Jessica Henderson, Eric Lund, Eric McDonald, Paul Roback, Matt Rohn, Katherine Tegtmeyer Pak, Mary Trull, Mary Walczak, Sara Wilkerson, Jeanne Willcoxon, Maddie Young 1. The meeting was called to order at approximately 3:35 pm 2. Minutes approved, with minor corrections, for the 8 February 2012 Curriculum Committee meeting. 3. Continuing Programs Subcommittee (CPS) report (Kathy Tegtmeyer Pak) The CPS approved changes to five courses:

1. Off campus courses for Interim 2012, per recommendations from IOS Director Eric Lund: a. Art 106, Drawing from Nature in the Bahamas, Sauer. b. Bio 287, Island Biology, Porterfield. c. ID 249, Mare Balticum, Soderlind and Ripley (note that course is

reverting from German 249 to ID 249). d. Rel 217, Historical Geography and the Bible in the Holy Land,

Hanson. Approval subject to re-evaluation of changing safety conditions.

2. Chemistry 385, Biochemistry II, WRI approved CPS notes that Writing Program Director Diane LeBlanc continues to have reservations about how many courses offer the WRI in a way that “serves a specific group with specific prerequisites.” She wishes to continue her conversation with the entire Committee this spring about this issue.

CPS also submitted for approval a draft green sheet for the 0.5 credit version of 396: Directed Undergraduate Research.

After discussion, several revisions in language were made to clarify questions on faculty FTE for partial credit courses. Green Sheet unanimously approved with above revisions.

4. Policy and Planning Subcommittee (PPS) report (Matt Rohn)

Eight petitions were received by PPS. Four were declined, two approved and two are pending.

The subcommittee presented the latest draft of the proposed Final Examination Policy to bring before the Faculty on 1 March 2012 meeting.

Brief discussion on the statement with several minor amendments made to the policy statement (for example: the replacement of “faculty member” with “department or program chair”). The Curriculum Committee unanimously endorsed the Revised Policy for Final Examinations.

A professor raised a concern with the PPS on an IS/IR being taken for S/U grading. Should faculty members know the student choice on grading when conducting an IS/IR course? Should instructors know the student grading choice in any course at St. Olaf? Should IS/IR courses NOT have the S/U option? After discussion, the CC charged the PPS to investigate S/U grading in IS/IR courses and make recommendations to the CC on the grading policy for IS/IR courses.

5. New Proposals Subcommittee (NPS) report (Gwen Karol-Barnes) NPS chair Karol-Barnes announced that NPS will have green sheets for the April faculty meeting, as well as the upcoming March meeting. NPS reviewed several off-campus programs that are now on hold (HECUA New Zealand Program and ACM Urban Education: Student Teaching in Chicago). IOS Director Eric Lund briefly explained the reasons for this hold. The expectation is that the ACM Urban Education program will be reviewed in the next academic year. Four courses have been approved by NPS: three off-campus programs and one on-campus course:

English 223 – Old and Middle English Literature: The Weird and the Wonderful. English 2XX – Hemingway in East Africa Social Work 2XX – Social Realities in South Africa ACM January Term in India – Pune Perspectives: Indian Culture and Society in Context.

Concern was expressed over ACM interim study abroad courses potentially depopulating St. Olaf study abroad courses. St. Olaf currently offers two interim study abroad courses in India: “Psychology 228: Exploring India: Human Development in a Cross-Cultural Context” (Dana Gross) and “Art/Asian Studies 262: Sacred Sites of South Asia” (Karil Kucera). Will the ACM course compete,

in particular, with Art/Asian Studies 262?

NPS members considered this issue. IOS Director Eric Lund had reported to the NPS members a lack of overlap amongst these courses (each appeals to a different student population), and NPS members found the content and conduct of the courses to be different, thereby preventing any depopulation of an existing St. Olaf course:

The ACM course offers a student home-stay, takes place in one location, has multiple instructors, and its subject matter relates to contemporary Indian social, political and artistic practices.

Art/Asian Studies 262 does not offer a home stay, travels to a variety of sacred sites in India, has one instructor and investigates the “development of traditional forms of architecture and imagery in Hindu, Buddhist and Jain sites” (St. Olaf Catalog).

IOS Director Eric Lund gave further information to the CC members on the “ACM January Term in Pune.” After discussion it was agreed that the courses (the two St. Olaf interim courses in India and the ACM course) did serve different student interests and populations but that in the yearly review of off-campus programs, attention should be paid to any enrollment changes in the St. Olaf programs due to the addition of the ACM course. It remains a question if the ACM interim courses might depopulate St. Olaf courses.

A title change was made to the ACM course. It now reads: “Indian Culture and Society in Context: Pune Perspectives”

Green sheets unanimously approved.

8. Upcoming Business for the CC: Carrington put forward the following items for the CC to consider in its upcoming meeting (29 Feb. 2012):

The Student Senate would like the CC to discuss syllabus submissions to the SIS system as a way for students to get more information on courses when registering.

Associate Dean Phyllis Larson has asked for the CC to consider the importance of class size limits for all St. Olaf courses.

Does the CC have a recommendation on term limits for CC members?

What practices can we put in place for more transparency in the work of the CC?

Mary Cisar added to this agenda a discussion on the ASL draft proposal by the Foreign Language Subcommittee.

The meeting adjourned at approximately 5:00. Respectfully submitted, Jeanne Willcoxon, Secretary Pro Tem

Curriculum Committee Feb. 29, 2012

Present: Laurel Carrington (chair), Jeane DeLaney, Irve Dell, Bob Entenmann, Jessica Henderson, Eric Lund, Paul Roback, Katherine Tegtmeyer Pak, Mary Trull, Mary Walzack, Sara Wilkerson, Jeanne Willcoxen, Maddie Young. Gwen Barnes-Karol and Mary Cisar joined meeting at about 4:00. Also attending was Kyle Obermann, representing the SGA’s Student Life Committee.

Meeting was called to order at 3:30.

Minutes of the Feb. 22 minutes approved.

1. First order of business was presentation by Kyle Obermann of SGA Student Life Committee. SLC concerned about student workloads, and the difficulty students encounter trying to ascertain in advance the level and type of work required by different courses. SLC proposes that faculty upload their syllabi on SIS, with disclaimers that a syllabus of a past version of a particular course does not constitute a contract for how the course would be taught in the future. • CC members asked about the course profiles gathered last year as part of the CATE project,

which included information on course assignments and grading percentages. Kyle was unaware of CATE, but student Sara Wilkerson reported that only about 100 course profiles had been uploaded, and that poor formatting made it difficult to use. In short, Cate has failed to catch on with students and with many faculty members.

• Discussion ensued about whether CATE system, which features course profiles rather than syllabi, could be improved, or if students felt they needed a complete syllabus. Some faculty members worried that those courses with bare-bones syllabi would be overlooked by students. Others noted that asking for syllabi rather than a profile would encourage more faculty responses, since the former would require less effort. Other members thought a system that accepted both formats, and allowed faculty to upload either a profile or syllabus, would be ideal.

• Another key issue was the question of technology, and especially whether SIS could support the proposed system. Mary Cisar, who had joined the meeting by this time, reported that while attaching the syllabi to SIS was possible, at present the registrar’s programmer was engaged with several other projects related to SIS. Unless a new programmers is hired, it is unlikely that anything more could be done before the end of next summer. CC members wondered if another platform, such as Google Sites, might be used instead, either as a short- or long-term alternative.

• Actions: CC expressed support for a system by which faculty could either upload existing syllabi or use the CATE profile-template. Members encouraged Kyle and the SLC to explore the technological issues, and to return with a plan the CC could present to the faculty. Plan should include concrete language making clear that uploaded syllabi are meant to be used as guides, not as contracts, for how future courses will be taught.

2. Second order of business: Dean’s Council’s request for feedback on whether or not departmental guidelines for class sizes should be revised. Current policy seeks to increase the number of courses with <20 students. Given fixed FTE’s, this has meant a corresponding increase in classes with >30. Dean’s Council would like enrollment patterns to reflect pedagogical aims, rather than be driven by external ranking pressures. There is also concern about the distribution of small class-enrollments, with first- and fourth-year students having more access to smaller classes. Question arose as to whether first-year students had enough opportunities to take large, lecture-style courses. Here the thinking was that having too many seminar-type classes puts excessive pressure on first-year students. A final consideration is that the majority of our classroom spaces are geared toward class of >20. • Action: CC members offered support for revised guidelines that would give departments

more flexibility to set class sizes.

New (unplanned) Business: In course of class-size discussion, CC members raised question of how revised guidelines might affect distribution of WRI courses. As a result of previous discussion of Feb. 22, members are aware that WRI Director Diane LeBlanc is concerned that WRI’s are too often attached to courses aimed at majors, and thus are closed to students lacking certain discipline-specific prerequisites. Discussion ensued about whether this trend is related to fact that there are no official enrollment caps on WRI course. Faculty, CC members noted, are generally reluctant to attach WRI to courses with >20 students. Members asked: Should there be an enrollment cap on WRI courses, and if so, what should it be?

• Action: Committee will schedule a session this spring with Diane to discuss these matters.

Respectfully Submitted,

Jeane DeLaney

Curriculum Committee March 28, 2012

Present: Gwen Barnes-Karol, Jo Beld, Laurel Carrington (chair), Mary Cisar, Jeane DeLaney, Irve Dell, Robert Entenmann, Jessica Henderson, Phyllis Larson, Eric Lund, Eric McDonald, Matt Rohn, Mary Trull, Mary Walczak, Sara Wilkerson, Jeanne Willcoxon, Maddie Young Laurel Carrington called the meeting to order at approximately 3:30. The minutes of the February 22 meeting were approved. Mary Walczak presented the report of the Assessment Subcommittee. Next year an assessment of majors will be conducted; the subcommittee brought a recommendation to the Curriculum Committee, which, if approved by the committee, will be recommended to the dean. Jo Beld suggested adding a phrase indicating that the dean’s memo to departments indicating that this task is being undertaken at the recommendation of the Curriculum Committee. She also pointed out that the assessment of the major will be coordinated with departmental annual reports and department reviews. The Curriculum Committee approved the recommendation and it will be sent to the Dean. Laurel Carrington reported on the plan for the faculty meeting. The Assessment Subcommittee had requested time on the agenda to begin discussion about developing institutional-level intended learning outcomes to refine and focus the college's assessment work. The committee discussed the purpose and nature of such ILOs and their relationship to the mission statement and strategic plan. The issue of institutional ILOs was referred back to the Assessment Subcommittee. Mary Walczak will address the faculty about the reasons for pursuing this project. Gwen Barnes-Karol presented the report of the New Course Proposal Subcommittee. The committee approved five courses: Art 280, English 204, English 263, English 266, and Political Science 115. The committee also suggested that the Department of English propose English 204 for MCG general education credit. A lively discussion ensued regarding the proposed German Studies Concentration, which was referred back to the subcommittee. Bob Entenmann and Irve Dell reported on the Continuing Programs Subcommittee. Because Kathy Tegtmeyer Pak, chair of the subcommittee, has gone on medical leave, Bob and Irv will share responsibilities for chairing the subcommittee. Devyani Chandran will fill the vacancy on the subcommittee. The committee discussed proposed changes in the German major, which was referred back to the German Department. Matt Rohn presented the report of the Policy and Planning Subcommittee. The committee approved the green sheet amending the Faculty Handbook to reflect changes in final examination policy. The subcommittee reported the need for clarification of policy regarding study in travel warning countries. Phyllis Larson will put together a working group to report to the committee.

Mary Cisar presented the proposal of the Foreign Languages Subcommittee to accept American Sign Language from transfer students for FOL general education credit. The committee approved the recommendation. The meeting adjourned at a time not noted by the secretary. Respectfully submitted, Robert Entenmann Secretary pro tem

Curriculum Committee April 11, 2012

Present: Gwen Barnes-Karol, Jo Beld, Laurel Carrington (chair), Devyani Chandran, Mary Cisar, Jeane DeLaney, Irve Dell, Robert Entenmann, Jessica Henderson, Phyllis Larson, Eric Lund, Paul Roback, Matt Rohn, Mary Trull, Mary Walczak, Sara Wilkerson, Jeanne Willcoxon, Maddie Young Laurel Carrington called the meeting to order at approximately 3:30. The minutes of the March 28 meeting were approved. New Course Proposals Subcommittee The new proposed concentration in German Studies was revised following our last meeting to ensure that the experience is interdisciplinary. The wording reflects a change that at least two courses are taken outside the German department. The new concentration was approved by the committee and will be presented to the faculty at the May meeting. Some concerns were raised about the lack of guidelines for concentrations at St. Olaf in general. This may be an agenda item for the committee in 2012-13. Continuing Programs Studies Subcommittee The review of three continuing off-campus programs was completed: the Oregon Extension, the CIEE Semester in St. Petersburg, and the St. Olaf Semester in Siberia (Irkutsk) programs. A revision to the German major was proposed. The new major reduces the number of required Level III courses from two to one and allows up to three courses from abroad experiences to count toward the major. The revised major was approved by the committee and will be presented to the faculty at the May meeting. The name of the Women’s Study major is changing to Women’s and Gender Studies. The requirements for the major shift away from distribution requirements (natural sciences, arts and literature, social science) to interdisciplinary areas of knowledge and perspective (critical thinking and reasoning, historical studies, global and multicultural perspectives). Students are required to take one course that focuses on women’s lived experiences. The committee suggested that the list of courses for the catalog description be annotated to indicate which courses include a women’s lived experience focus. The committee approved the proposal and it will be presented to the faculty at the May meeting. The course credits for SW 380 (Field Practicum) was increased from 2.5 to 3.0 credits. The MCD general education attribute is being removed from Women’s (and Gender) Studies 121 effective Spring 2013. Assessment Subcommittee The Assessment Subcommittee presented a draft revision to a 2004 CEPC document “Principles for Appraising the Contributions of Departments and Programs to the St. Olaf Curriculum as a Whole.” Questions were raised about the relationship of this document to the guidelines for program review. Discussion ensued regarding whether such a document would be presented to the faculty for a vote. The committee referred the matter back to the Assessment and Continuing Programs Subcommittees for further deliberation. The two subcommittees will work together to make a recommendation regarding the need for and place for a revision of the 2004 document. Institutional-level ILOs were revisited. Several points regarding the possible uses of these ILOs were cited, including enriching public communications about the college, enhancing advising, providing a focus for the work of IR&E, and compliance with the new Higher Learning Commission accreditation criteria. Questions were raised about the workload associated with and ownership/responsibility of

institutional ILOs. It was generally expressed that development of institutional ILOs that pertain to academic development is the purview of the faculty and the curriculum committee. Other stakeholders (e.g., Dean of Students, Residence Life, etc.) must be engaged to develop institutional ILOs pertaining to student development. Announcement: The matter of class size limits will be taken up at the start of the next full committee meeting, scheduled for April 25. Respectfully Submitted, Mary Walczak

Meeting of the Curriculum Committee, April 25, 2012 Present: Gwen Barnes-Karol, Jo Beld, Laurel Carrington, Devyani Chandran, Mary Cisar, Irve Dell, Bob Entenman, Jessica Henderson, Phyllis Larson, Diane LeBlanc, Eric Lund, Paul Roback, Matt Rohn, Mary Trull, Mary Walczak, Jeanne Wilcoxon, Sara Wilkerson

1. Minutes from the previous meeting were approved. 2. Diane LeBlanc led a discussion on WRI and its distribution at various levels. The

trend has been to offer more at the 300 level due to the current maximum of 19. Diane circulated a sampling of class sizes of writing-intensive and first-year writing courses at liberal arts colleges and described the Conference on College Composition and Communication (CCCC)’s current recommendation that writing-intensive classes should be capped at 20 or under. The committee voted to approve a recommendation to the administration that 100- and 200-level courses with WRI be capped at 22, in order to relieve enrollment pressures and allow more 100- and 200-level WRI courses.

3. Gwen Barnes-Karol, chair of the New Programs Subcommittee, presented its report on new field supervisors’ courses for the Global Semester and Term in the Middle East (ID 259 and Political Science 250). The committee voted to approve these courses.

4. Irve Dell, chair pro tem of the Continuing Programs Subcommittee reported on changes to the following courses:

• History 188B: Topic: Hitler and the Third Reich, HWC approval • History 289C: Topic: European Imperialism and its Legacies, HWC approval,

change to Level I approved • History 299B: Topic: The History of the Holocaust, HWC approval • History 299C: Topic: The Cold War at Home and Abroad, HWC approval • Religion 260: American Religion, recertification, HWC and MCD approval • Chinese 251 and 252 and Japanese 251 and 252, change to 300 level

5. Mary Walczak, chair of the Assessment Subcommittee, reported on the creation of academic benchmarks. The subcommittee discussed under whose purview various benchmarks fall and what should be done if benchmarks are not met. The Curriculum Committee discussed the measure of faculty interaction in the NSSE survey, which remains lower than our benchmark.

6. The Committee considered whether the Assessment subcommittee chair should initiate a discussion of institutional ILOs at the final faculty meeting, and decided by informal consent to request that she do so.

7. Matt Rohn reported for the Policy and Planning subcommittee on the calendar for 2015-2016. Matt proposed that the administration consider starting classes before Labor Day. The Committee briefly discussed the disparity between the total class time involved in 38 Monday/Wednesday/Friday classes and 27 Tuesday/Thursday classes. The guidelines for the calendar have not been revised since 1994.

8. Laurel Carrington, Committee Chair, announced that in the next meetings we will discuss how to create a more reliable institutional memory for this committee.