Subcommittee on Core Curriculum Minutes 2014-02-05

Call to Order

The meeting was called to order by John Swinton at 12:45 p.m. in Atkinson 202.

Attendance

Voting Members Present: Scott Butler, Roberta Gorham, Mary Magoulick, Cara Meade, Yeprem Mehranian, Amy Sumpter, John Swinton, Shaundra Walker
Non-Voting Member Present: Kay Anderson
Regrets: Chavonda Mills

Discussion Item

Appeals Process. During the last meeting, Scott Butler noted that the College of Health Sciences intended to appeal SoCC’s decision to approve the GC2Y 2000 History of Public Health section. Since no appeals procedures are included in SoCC’s bylaws, John forwarded that information to the Chair of University Senate and to the Provost. Subsequent discussion clarified that there is no existing option to appeal a SoCC decision. The Associate Provost stated that the Provost’s Office would only intervene in a curricular decision if the approval process had not been followed. John suggested that SoCC advocate for an appeals process. During discussion, members discussed that the absence of a chair for GC1Y and GC2Y courses seems to complicate matters when issues pertaining to these courses arise. Discussion points also included the difference between curricular content and personnel matters, as well as faculty ownership and responsibility for the curriculum. The committee discussed who the appropriate appeal body might be. University Senate, not being composed exclusively of faculty, did not seem to be a good fit; CAPC, which is comprised predominately of faculty with some administrative and professional staff representation, seemed like an appropriate temporary solution until something more permanent and/or appropriate could be established. Amy moved that SoCC ask CAPC to adjust its operating procedures and/or bylaws so that they will hear any appeals made to SoCC decisions and pass their decision on to the Provost’s Office. Upon a voice vote, the motion passed without dissent.

Operating Procedures. SoCC did not approve operating procedures at the beginning of the year. Cara distributed the operating procedures that CAPC approved and is currently using. Mary moved to adopt CAPC’s operating procedures as the operating procedures for SoCC. Amy seconded the motion. Upon a voice vote, the motion passed without dissent.

Bylaw Revisions. Cara shared feedback that the Executive Committee of University Senate (ECUS) sent SoCC regarding the proposed changes to the SoCC bylaws that SoCC voted on last semester. ECUS requested some wording changes to make the language consistent with other similar documents and to clarify that the University Assessment Team member was to be chosen by the University Assessment Team. Upon a voice vote, the committee voted to accept these changes without dissent. ECUS also asked for clarification or a modification on the request for separate representatives for Areas A and C but not D. ECUS also asked for the committee to review the change that would allow the chair to be a non-Senator. This discussion will be continued at next week’s meeting.

SoCC Course Site. Amy shared the D2L site she has set up for SoCC and asked members to explore it and provide feedback.

Next Meeting

The committee’s next meeting will be Wednesday, February 12, 2014, at 12:45 p.m. in Atkinson 202.

Adjournment

The committee adjourned at 1:45 p.m.