General Education Council
Minutes
7.26.06  

Council Present;
C. Hazelwood-Science
S. Ogletree-Liberal Arts
E. Blunk-Applied Arts
T. Mottet-Fine Arts and Communication
K. Morris-Student Representative
L. Lloyd-Education
D. Yarbrough-Health Professions
S. Beebe-Liberal Arts
S. Beebe-Chair Representative
V. Sriraman-Science
V. Luizzi-Chair Representative
M. Johnson-Education
E. Morrison-Health Professions
Council Absent:
B. Stone-Applied Arts
J. Charles-McCoy Business Administration
E. Blankmeyer-McCoy Business Administration
Guests: Mark-ASG, H. Flores, N. Grayson, Y. Morales and T. Thompson 

Meeting convened at 3:32 p.m. 

Handouts:

1. An Assessment of Student Learning in English 2360.252, Spring 2006 (makes a good model for GE courses)
2. Texas State General Education Curriculum effective Fall 2001
3. Diagram-Components of Undergraduate Degrees (sent to Deans and Chairs from 120-Hour Degree Committee)
4. Email from B. Stone with suggestions for GE cuts (also sent via email) 

120-hour impact:
-Texas State has 46-hour core
-State requires 42-hour minimum core
-36 hours of core are mandatory-state law
-Must add 6 additional hours
-Exceptions: certification, industry standards, licensure
-Courses that can be cut: COMM 1310, 1 hr Science Lab, PHIL 1305, Institutional Option (2-hrs PFW and 1 hr US 1100) 

Department follow-up:
-FCS (will have a hard time meeting 120 hours and would like some help by cutting core—most problem degrees have licensure exceptions)
-Engineering- (will have a hard time meeting 120 hours and would like the core cut so it is equitable to everyone)
-Some issues of concern are recruiting
-Social Work-will have licensure and accreditation exceptions (little give with program and would like a little help with core
-Music-accreditation, but need to check hour requirements 

Deficiencies are Admission Standards:
-2 years of same foreign language in high school
-Computer Science course in high school 

If the Council recommends a reduction to a course we will invite that department to come to a meeting and present information of the impact to their program 

The Provost has spoken with R. Brown and told him US 110 is off the table for retention reasons 

K. Morris-he is here for ASG, but student perspective won’t be here until fall 

Institutional Option Suggestions:
-Set broad categories, but not if we are wanting all students to have similar experience
-All core curriculum is important
-Lots of institutions have different courses in institutional option
-Alternate-instead of dropping PFW – provide latitude in institutional option for mix and match model through core (was clarified this would not work with the component restrictions to move Institutional Option to another component)
-Cuts-we all share burden
-Think about redesigning the whole thing 

Guest H. Flores:
-Should think about what the GECC should be
-How can we best serve our students and what is in the best interest of the student 

We have an obligation to provide some direction to the departments about what we are recommending for the core curriculum. 

Where can we make cuts?
-COMM 1310 (3 hours)
-PHIL 1305 (3 hours)
-Science Lab (1 hour)
-Institution Option
         -US 1100 (1 hour)-recommended by Dr. Moore to keep
         -PFW (2 hours) (1 hour each course) 

If most can meet do we really want to cut? 

Can we manage 120-hour?

Where is the problem? 

Look at:
-What is good for the student?
-Impact to department, faculty, council philosophy and recruiting
-Criteria 

120 Hour Degree Committee is hoping for recommendation by early fall 

Look at how many programs are unable to meet the 120-hours 

Coordinating Board compares degrees across institutions 

Strategy:
-Identify problem (Do we or don’t we have one?)
-Identify criteria for impact (faculty, students, departments, council philosophy and recruiting)
-Identify possible solutions 

Next meeting Aug. 7 

Meeting adjourned at 4:59 p.m.

General Education Council

Minutes

8.14.06

Council Present:

J. Charles-McCoy Business Administration

R. Stein-Fine Arts and Communication

E. Blankmeyer-McCoy Business Administration

T. Hindson-Liberal Arts

B. Stone-Applied Arts

V. Luizzi-Chair Representative

S. Springer-Applied Arts

D. Yarbrough-Health Professions

E. Morrison-Health Professions

V. Sriraman-Science

C. Hazlewood-Science

M. Johnson-Education

L. Lloyd-Education

S. Beebe-Chair Representative

S. Ogletree-Liberal Arts

T. Mottet-Fine Arts and Communication

K. Morris-Student Representative

A. Krejci-Student Representative

Guest: Dr. Moore 

Meeting convened at 3:29 p.m. 

Motion:

R. Brown asks for a motion to approve the minutes from July 26, 2006 and August 7, 2006.  C. Hazlewood so moves.  E. Morrison seconds the motion.  The July 26^th and August 7^th minutes are approved as prepared. 

Introduction of Dr. Moore 

Dr. Moore shared his thoughts on the 120-Hour Degree

-It will be enforced and it is something we have to do for the Coordinating Board-effective Fall 08

-Need to incorporate all the changes into the catalog

-Understands and supports the need for lots of discussion to reach a conclusion

-Exceptions via memo

-Complete degrees in 4 years

-Changes won’t affect faculty, full-time tenure track faculty

-If large number could do without change in core then we wouldn’t have a problem, but I don’t think that will happen

-Many chairs may reference a joint core and major reduction

-I sent an earlier letter to offer up an option “in case”

-Need to do now because later may be too late

-Have to get to 42 hours--suggestion—Philosophy moves to English Literature section in humanities component as option and another hour from PFW or natural science lab

-Oppose the cutting of the natural science lab because need it for BA degrees

-Oppose the cutting of US 1100 because of retention issues and reluctant at this point to take out a vehicle that could be used for making sure students are getting what they need

-Oppose Comm 1310 because it just became multicultural designated

-With the move of Philosophy it would reduce both English and Philosophy, but they could both maintain

-We have to make a serious effort to reduce to 120 hours because I have to explain and be comfortable explaining any exceptions

-I have heard that all of Liberal Arts will be able to meet the 120 hours without reducing the core.

-Concern-What do the students need?

-60% of our graduating students are transfers so many don’t have Philosophy anyway

-I will stay on top of what the Coordinating Board in our system and in state are doing

-Remember we live in a science and technology world

-All institutions are facing these same problems and it will be LAW

-Whatever is decided ultimately has to bee approved by me

-Different requirements now

-Concern-SCH for course fees to pay IA and TA—likely that course fees won’t exist in the future so this is irrelevant—the course fees will be funded in another way (perhaps wrapped into tuition)

-Concern-PFW-would money be available for RA/GA or would this hurt our GA program—fear is also in adjunct and per course appointments

-Emphasize that we might not have to make a core change, but you need to be prepared—I am showing you the respect of allowing the Council to give a recommendation for these cuts.  If you don’t do anything then someone will make that choice.

-Chairs will respond by 9/15 with their recommendations

-I suggestion is you make a recommendation for cuts and then give students some more choices in the areas they can have them

-Students-don’t feel they need 2^nd history, science, math or philosophy

-Research-relationship between academic performance and fitness

-Believe in some level of physical fitness

-I would like a recommendation by the October-November at the latest  

Wish I had been to see the Council before coming with the requirement.  I appreciate your work and know this is not easy, but it is something you have to deal with. 

US 1100-connection with Common Experience-core of thought—broad agreement across campus and with PAWS Preview—helps with transition and retention—it is better today than it was in the past—Conceptually sound—we would like to raise the salary, but not funds at this time  

-Data collections—core courses and SCH since 1999 from Joe Meyer 

Next Mtg. will bring survey information  

Motion:

Approve revised PPS 1.12.  S. Ogletree so moved.  B. Stone seconds the motion. 

Corrections:

6. Change--16 to all  
9. Change—college to department

Motion passed unanimously. 

Next meeting is next Monday (3:30-4:30) to discuss criteria so bring your criteria.