General Education Council
Minutes
10.02.06 

Council Present:
B. Stone-Applied Arts
C. McCall-Education
D. Yarbrough-Health Professions
M. Johnson-Education
T. Hindson-Liberal Arts Alternate
E. Morrison-Health Professions
T. Mottet-Fine Arts and Communication
C. Hazlewood-Science
V. Sriraman-Science
S. Beebe-Liberal Arts
L. Lloyd-Education Alternate
K. Morris-Student Rep.
B. Blunk-Applied Arts
I. Davidson-Fine Arts and Communication
J. Charles-McCoy Business Administration
A. Krejci-Student Rep.
S. Ogletee-Liberal Arts
V. Luizzi-Chair Rep.
Council Absent:
S. Beebe-Chair Rep.
E. Blankmeyer-McCoy Business Administration 

Meeting convened at 3:31 p.m. 

Motion:

R. Brown asks for a motion to approve the minutes from September 18 and September 21.  T. Mottet so moves.  C. Hazlewood seconds the motion.  The September 18 and September 21 minutes are approved as prepared. 

Dr. Lisa Lloyd-presenter for PFW

Spoke of how valuable PFW is for our students
-Mentioned the data that supports student PFW and student success
-Mentioned the need to do something about the state and particularly San Marcos having serious obesity problems
-Showed visuals of how much of a problem obesity is across the US
-Some potential effects on the department:  loss of 4,000 SCH a year; 5-10 GTAs; 2 positions
-What is the percentage of courses that aren’t cardio?  Three courses don’t have cardio (bowling, billiards and yoga).
-Most of the classes have heart rate monitors and give feedback
-NASPE-innovated use of technology in classes and curriculum
-High school students are taking less PFW
-Health class is about life long wellness components with a focus on the cognitive not the physical activity
-Some students take more PFW – more than needed for core
-Data on enrollment
-Option of offering the course to students without charging them—behavior would suggest that if they don’t pay for the class they will drop out of attending
-Award grade without fee
-Move Speech into 040
-041-Other Universities have music, animal science, military science, health, and band 

Dr. Pam Wuestenberg-presenter for University Seminar
-Handout
-Specifics about the course such as it meets 1 hour weekly for 16 weeks—Faculty Textbook with major publisher; 2 first call classrooms, but utilize every building on campus—Each incoming freshman is given the Common Experience reading (book)
-Some course specific sections such as Residential College, Honors, First Generation, Academic content based, off-campus and online sections
-Faculty/Staff/Administrators—instructors are interdisciplinary as well as diverse—three instructor trainings a year—Cross-disciplinary and Cross-campus involvement
-Diversity—a major university initiative—one objectives in US 1100 is Diversity Awareness—pursing a ‘multicultural designation”
-Support of other campus diversity programs such as (Hispanic Heritage month, Latino Presence on Campus, etc)
-Participation in Common Experience events—most of the Common Experience events focus on diversity awareness 

Tangible Effects of University Seminar on Texas State initiatives
-Retention Efforts—US 1100 is part of all the following retention efforts: Summer Orientations, PAWS Preview, Freshman Convocation, Summer Reading Program, Early Alert, Class size of 30 (one of only 2 small-classes for freshmen), Key contact for Terry and Mitte Scholars and retention rates are shown to be stronger when taking US 1100 and being in good academic standing
-Shared some retention information
-People that teach US 1100 don’t do it for the money
-Most instructors are using the new book especially newer instructors
-Freshmen started in 1986 and was fazed in during 2 years
-Transfer sections started in 1999 with change in core curriculum 

Interactions across campus departments such as Library, Career Services, Student Health Center, Campus Recreation, Advising Centers, Information distributed from varies student organizations, contacted and given information via their US 1100 class, Aquarena Springs, SLAC and other academic services are explained and encouraged and Mitte Honors Program
-US 1100 participates in many university events and is a sources of funding for departmental initiatives 

Common Experience:
-US 1100 covers over $50,000 of the Common Experience funding
-The University Seminar department is the prime provider of the events and without it the program?
-Provides attendance to other departmental and university events (8,000-16,000 participants through US 1100 classes)
-Community Outreach
-Students attend other departmental programming because of US 1100 requirements
-It would be difficult to sustain a strong Common Experience without the involvement of US 1100 students and faculty efforts. 

University Seminar also develops unique relationships with their students and the instructors know their stories.
-Course serves as a conduit for all freshmen.
-Increase quality of their education through classroom discussion
-Helps students develop personal philosophy of life and education as well as discussing education (its value, role, meaning, future community involvement and university experience)
-Connects 4,000 students each fall with a teacher who knows their name
The program has also received national recognition.
-Myth that it is a blow-off class --it is like the myth that we are a party school
-Would like to see some different retention data on US 1100 

The university is a little unique that it has a body that meets to decide on the general education.  Many universities have the top-down model.  If you are serving on the council then your peers elected you.   

R. Brown told the council his role is to keep the conversation going because many departments have indicated that they need bigger cuts.  Will take a look at and think about the size and integrity of the minors.   

Meeting adjourned 5:01 p.m.