COUNCIL FOR TEACHING AND LEARNING

Discussion Minutes

(Approved by Council for Teaching & Learning at October 23, 2002 meeting).

 

Date:            October 9, 2002

Time:    11:00 am.

Place:   Faculty Senate Conference Room #128, Red Hill Building

Present: Adkison (presiding), Smith, McKnight, Nitse, Reis, and Squires

Absent:  Devaud, Bundy, Kunicki, Packer, Wabrek and Jones

           

It was established that a quorum was not present, therefore the minutes of April 26, 2002 could not be addressed.

 

  1. The members of the Council introduced themselves.
  2. Status report and discussion of assessment template and goal assessments (1, 6 and 7) -

 

Discussion:  Adkison stated that it should be the job of the council to work with departments and their existing plans when considering this template.  The Departments have the expertise and the Council can coordinate with them. The Deans’ Council and the Faculty Senate were sent a copy of the template as well.  The Council will try to work on two goal assessments a year.  This year will be 1, 6 and 7, and will work in a 5-6 year cycle.  Adkison and Kunicki are working on Goals 1 and 7, and Sato is working on Goal 6 at this time.  He stated that in the spring semester task groups will be formed to work on the goals and an advisory group will be made to work with Ed Nuhfer and the Center for Teaching & Learning.  Once the templates are set in place, the assessments will run themselves from year to year.  So far, the Goal 1 template does have the English Department’s support. 

Smith asked about the concern with the Faculty Senate and that if students can be forced to take English 90 in their first semester.  There is a problem with juniors and seniors waiting to take these courses and the goal’s intent is not being met.  Adkison stated that the English Department is aware of the problem and it is a big concern.

            Adkison stated that Jones would get the enrollment data from last fall from the departments.

            Concerns or additions to the draft:  Reis asked what the feedback mechanism will be after the assessment is done.  Adkison stated that the assessment would go to the Curriculum Council as a recommendation as the Council cannot set policy.  It will also be sent to the Faculty Senate as the Council reports directly to them. 

            There was a brief discussion concerning if these goal courses should or should not be graded, rather given a pass/fail.  The students could focus on what needs to be accomplished instead of focusing on getting a good grade.  Smith mentioned that in the college she attended, 50% of her classes were a choice of pass/fail.

            Smith recommended a survey of the departments to find out which ones use English and Math as pre-requisites.  Adkison will have the catalogue checked for that information.  Smith mentioned that some of her students are failing because they are not prepared due to putting off English and Math courses.

            Nitse commented that students learn behaviors on what courses are offered and when.  Some courses are not always offered, but if they know in advance that they must take a certain class, the students always accomplish this task.

 

4.  The next meeting will be on October 23, 2002 at 11:00 a.m.

 

5.  Adjourn at 12:05 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted

Connie Patchin, Secretary