Academic Program and Policy Committee

Meeting of April 18, 2008

 

Present: Professors Gagnon, Goddard, Olson (chair), Siamundele, Wahl; Dean Miller-Bernal, Associate Dean Speaker, Librarian Godbout, Registrar Leybold-Taylor; Student Representatives Bates (WILL), Laury (‘09).

 

The meeting commenced at 8:34 a.m.

 

Announcements: Professor Goddard reminded us that Aquila Theater is at Wells today.  Events open to the community include: workshop at 1:30, panel at 6:30, and performance at 7:30.

 

Minutes of March 4 were approved with the following revisions:

1.      Old Business: EDU 260 was approved, not changes to the FLLC major

2.      New Business, Seminars: Change ‘aspect’ to ‘area’

 

New Business

 

  1. Course Proposals.  The committee needs to vote on two course proposals, one for history and one for a biology course for non-majors.  The Registrar will circulate these electronically when they are available and the committee will vote via e-mail.

 

  1. Class size/Waitlisting/Scheduling Issues.   The issue of first year students not getting into courses is expected to be a continuing problem.  New students are being asked to register by May 23, so we will get an idea of high demand courses earlier than usual and can thus react more effectively.  A CHEM adjunct to replace Professor Bailey (sabbatical) is still being sought.  The committee discussed what to do about increasing class sizes, e.g., PSY 101.  One solution is to offer two sections instead of just one.  Others noted that the solution will depend on what the course objectives are.  If it’s writing, presentation, etc., then two sections may be called for; TA assistance isn’t really the solution; the issue is more one of time for presentations, etc.   If the objectives are not for individualize presentations, etc., then a larger class size may be acceptable.  Math, for instance, accommodates large class sizes by making good use of the Math Center.  Larger enrollments are also creating a problem in terms of space (room size limits) and scheduling (greater demand for the few rooms that can accommodate larger classes). 

 

  1. Feedback on New OCS Program.  The ad hoc committee will be reviewing transcripts of applicants (15-17) this afternoon.  It sounds like the program is on track.  In the future, it was advised that APPC should vote on a proposal and approve it before the program is announced to students.  The impression by students this time around was that the announcement was not ‘preliminary’, but a sure thing.  Lesson learned; this suggestion should be shared with OCS.  APPC did a lot of good work with OCS this year; something we should feel good about.  Professor Wahl described the creation of a new committee to work with John Wells on OCS programming. 

 

  1. New Committee Structure.  A new committee structure would split APPC into a curriculum committee made up of division chairs (expanded Dean’s Council responsibility) and Educational Policy Committee which would do long term planning.

 

  1. Course Registration.  Registrar Leybold-Taylor has received positive feedback on course registration using the new system.  Course registration can be done on-line from off campus.  On-line final grade submission should be available for next fall.

 

The meeting ended at 9:17 a.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Deborah A. Gagnon

secretary pro tem