General Education Council
Minutes
10.23.06 

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

Meeting convened at 3:32 p.m. 

Dr. Habingreither presented to the Council why the labs are so important for the core. 

-Lab component has been a science requirement for GE since 1984
-Rationale-inclusion of lab requirement of at least 1-hour—not an issue for their own majors, but for the university as a whole—it is so important for students so they understand what they are learning.
-Everything in the core has value—we are looking at what does the least damage to the students—they had labs in high school-support understanding of academics of class
-Can’t disconnect lab and class because they go hand and hand—definite connection
-Students go to the labs for understanding and hands on experience
-High school you get same-math, writing, etc.
-Don’t go away from—our lives dominated by science and technology
-If could would choice to cut other courses
-UT has 120-hours because it farms out ENG 1310/1320
-Lab experience is central to science—essential to students
-LA and BA additional 3-hours
-What every student should experience-constraints for what can and cannot do
-Lots of GAs teach in the labs so would loose those
-Value what learn in creation
-Need to not speak from protecting domain, but about the college student 

-Provost publicly said he wanted 4 hours from core and 4 hours from major
-Cut Phil – not required anywhere
-Core is only 1 part of several places for the 120-Hour Committee (core, minors, majors)
-About 95% take courses in 090 

Adding the 1-hour lab to the institutionally designated option—the definition doesn’t fit with adding this class—doesn’t meet integral definition of institution option
-Lab can’t move into category 090 so cut lab hour and change courses to 3 hours or leave alone—it is an integral part of the course (natural science)
-6-8 science—44 GE—majors require 8 science hours then no 090
-Know for sure only 4 courses that don’t have links—only require 1 path—say 6 or 7 or 8—031
-Don’t support moving to 090—so reduce to 6 & if sequence is 7 or 8
-The Council can do what they want, but R. Brown can’t support a recommendation that mixes apples and oranges. 

Motion:
S. Ogletree recommends 1^st preference no cuts in the general education core curriculum.  The 2^nd preference is to change core from 46-hours to 44-hours with 6-8 hours of natural science and 0-2 hours in 090 with the student not to exceed 44-hours.  C. Hazlewood seconds the motion.   

Discussion:
-Provide means for a student not all students to get 120-hour degree in major
-Cut science by 1 hour and still leave classes as they are
-Need path out at 120
-30-hours above-counts drops-then students pay out of state-can’t experiment with classes—this is political issue 

Revised Motion:
1^st preference we recommend leaving core as it is.  2^nd preference we recommend mandating 0-2 in 031 category (lab) and 0-2 hours in 090 with the student not to exceed 44-hours. 

Motion:
Call for the question. 

For:  4  Against:  9  Abstained: 2 

Motion did not pass. 

Y. Morales showed the Council visually how the core was broken up. 

Motion:
M. Johnson recommends 1^st preference no cuts.  2^nd preference of the Council is change category 030 to 6-hours, category 031 to 0-1 and category 090 to 1-2 with the student not to exceed 44 hours.  L. Lloyd seconds the motion. 

For:  6  Against: 4 Abstained: 5 

It is a retention issue not having US 1100 required so R. Brown has to oppose on those grounds.  R. Brown will send your recommendation forward. 

Thanks to the two student representatives for their thoughts and input.
I also support the we keep the core. 

Next Mtg. Nov. 13. 

Meeting adjourned 4:46 p.m.