Academic Affairs and Standards Council

Meeting Minutes: September 23, 2003

PURPOSE: The purpose of the Council is to provide direction for the College president in all matters included in academic affairs, including course outlines, award requirement, academic standards, course and program components, and the inventory of course and program offerings.

DATE:       September 23, 2003

PRESENT: 

MINUTES:

Introductions were made and a brief review of the committee's purpose and function were reviewed for the benefit of the new members. C. Barnack indicated that the committee consists of two-thirds faculty and one-third administration. Each division is represented by a voting member and has a designated alternative. The administrators on the committee are C. Barnack, Vice President of Academic Affairs, B. Adams, Vice President of Student Services and one dean appointed by C. Barnack prior to each meeting depending on the curriculum being discussed. C. Barnack referred to Article 8, Section 2, "Academic Affairs and Standards Council," pages 9-10, of the final MSCF contract describing the structure and purpose of the Academic Affairs and Standards Council.

1-5. Curriculum Proposals

• B. Ingram-Diver, acting chair, informed the meeting that items 1-5 on the agenda have not been approved by MSCF and, therefore, will only be looked at as informational items and not action items. C. Barnack indicated that we will have problems if curriculum is brought forward today that the union has not signed. These items need to go back to the association for review. It was pointed out that the curriculum proposal form signature section is set up in the order it needs to move through the curriculum process.
• Item 4, "New Geology course: (Matt Whitehill)". This proposal was informally discussed because Matt Whitehill was present in support of this course. Questions were raised regarding the lab component and that college level writing was not a prerequisite. M. Whitehill indicated that this course's lab component is typical of a science course within our system. He indicated that he would take into consideration that ENGL 0450 is basic level writing, but he did not feel this course would be writing intensive, it would mostly be recording observations in field notebooks. J. Jurkovich stated that geology courses have been filling quickly and we need more offerings in this area and that this would be a good addition. This course will be reviewed again at the October meeting.
• It was requested that section V on the curriculum proposal form be revised to have a separate line for checking requirements for reading and writing college readiness levels. B. Ingram-Diver will take care of modifying the form.

6. AASC Chair

• M. O'Mara nominated B. Ingram-Diver as Chair, the motion was seconded by T. Robison and unanimously passed.

7. Additional Items

• Quorum: After a brief discussion was held regarding the number of faculty and administrators required to constitute a quorum on this committee, on motion of A. Swing, seconded by J. Jurkovich and unanimously carried, four faculty and two administrators will constitute a quorum.
• Class Size: A discussion took place on whether class size for new classes should be decided by this council. It was noted that issues relating to curriculum are to be decided here and that any disputes would be brought to Shared Governance, but there is no language in the contract relating to class size. It was suggested that this process begin at the division curriculum meetings and then be reviewed at this council with the process being the same for both groups. It was felt that guidelines and a process need to be developed. The discussion then moved to reviewing class size for existing classes. B. Ingram-Diver indicated that Greg McKay has recommended that all courses class size be reviewed. A suggestion was made that the process of reviewing each course for class size should start at the division curriculum meetings. B. Ingram-Diver stated that she would email faculty asking them to consider class size and what changes they would like to see made and she would then report back to this council.
• MnTC Review: B. Ingram-Diver stated that our MnTC should be reviewed annually to make sure it still reflects our needs or to see if there is an area that needs more courses.
• Internship/OJT Definitions: It was felt that there is inconsistency regarding definitions of the configuration of internships, OJT, what the instructor's role is in OJT, service learning and what constitutes a lab activity for both on-ground and on-line classes. It was suggested that a task force of both faculty and administrators be formed to address this issue and then bring their recommendation back to this council. B. Ingram-Diver stated that this should be discussed at the October 9th MSCF meeting and M. O'Mara suggested that they ask for faculty representatives at that meeting. C. Barnack said she would find an administrator to serve on this task force.

8. Other

• B. Ingram-Diver stated that she has emailed the faculty encouraging them to get all course proposals, planner and program changes to this committee by November 30, 2003 so that there is enough time to move them through the process so they can be offered for fall registration.
• Meeting dates were noted in the minutes of the August 28, 2003 meeting, a copy of which are attached. It was decided that 3:00 pm fit well into people's schedules, but the time can be revisited if it becomes a problem. The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, October 21, 2003 at 3:00 pm in the Student Services Conference Room.

MEMORANDUM

TO: Academic Affairs and Standards Council
DATE: September 23, 2003
RE: Curriculum Proposals

The following proposals are being submitted to Academic Affairs and Standards Council for approval:

* = presented to AA&SC for approval
> = approved and forwarded to President Nelson
% =not approved and forwarded to President Nelson
< =returned to Division
^ =proposal withdrawn from process
# =change in class size
@ =tabled until next meeting

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FUTURE MEETINGS:

October 21, 2003
November 25, 2003
December 16, 2003
January 27, 2004
February 24, 2004
March 30, 2004
April 27, 2004
May 18, 2004

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