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Liberal Learning Program Council Minutes 2005-2006

May 17

Present: Daryl Fair (Chair), Bob Anderson, Mary Goldschmidt, Susan Ryan, Philip Sanders, Kathryn Speaker, Donald Vandegrift

A luncheon of Italian, turkey, and roast beef subs (the later sent instead of the tuna ordered); tortellini, basil, and walnut salad; fruit salad, chips, brownies, and cookies was arranged for the beginning of the meeting.
The Minutes of May 3rd were approved as distributed.
AFA 280, Photography I was approved for literary, visual, and performing arts. The vote was unanimous without abstention.
AAH 242, Introduction to Renaissance Art was approved for literary, visual, and performing arts, and sophomore/junior level writing intensive. The vote was unanimous with no abstentions.
Five additional writing intensive courses recommended by the writing committee were approved as a package by unanimous vote without abstentions:
- CSC 498/499, Mentored Research I and II (senior level)
- SPA 497, Senior Seminar in Spanish (senior level)
- SPA 240, Introduction to Literature in Spanish (sophomore/junior level)
- LIT 476/477, Honors Projects in English (senior level)
- LWJ 350, Advanced Criminology: Juvenile Delinquency (sophomore/junior level)
Further work on civic responsibilities and interdisciplinary concentrations was scheduled to be completed during the summer and returned to the agenda at an early fall LLPC meeting.
Adjournment was at 2:15 (the meeting having begun at noon). No further meetings are scheduled, but it is anticipated that the first meeting of 2006-2007 will be on or about September 6th.

May 3

Present: Daryl Fair (Chair), Susan Albertine, Bob Anderson, Ed Conjura, Danielle Dalafave, Luis Gabriel-Stheeman, Mary Goldschmidt, Kathryn Speaker, Donald Vandegrift

The minutes of April 19th were approved as submitted.
LIT 227, Global Animated Film was approved for literary, visual, and performing arts and global. The vote was unanimous with no abstentions with the following proviso: Course objectives should be updated to match the global goals on the cover sheet. Bob Anderson agreed to relay the message to the English Department.
The following courses were approved, by unanimous vote, without abstention, as writing intensive as indicated:
- PHY 316, Biomedical Ethics (sophomore/junior level)
- POL 390, Tutorial in Political Science (sophomore/junior level)
- POL 498, Seminar in Political Science (senior level)
- HIS 455, Barbarians, Brigands, and Bishops: Topics in Early Modern History (senior level)
Tom Hagedorn's letter (dated April 24, 2006) on the desirability of his department's majors satisfying the mid-level writing intensive requirement outside their department, and the paucity of such available courses, resulted in Bob Anderson agreeing to indicate the prerequisite status of approved writing courses as they appear on the website. Bob also agreed to find a means of identifying prerequisites generally, across all liberal learning categories. Susan Albertine indicated that every effort would be made to make available as many WRI 202 courses as would be needed to allow students ample opportunity to complete the requirement.
VPA 101, Integrated Visual and Performing Arts was approved for literary, visual, and performing arts and global. The vote was unanimous with no abstentions following a disussion about differential standards among the various schools, and between courses with performance components and those that are more analytical, conceptual, or theoretical in nature.
Adjournment was at 2:35. The next and final meeting of the academic year was set for Wednesday, May 17th at noon in Social Science 131. Lunch will be provided.

April 19

Present: Daryl Fair (Chair), Susan Albertine, Bob Anderson, Ed Conjura, Teegan Conti, Danielle Dalafave, Luis Gabriel-Stheeman, Mary Goldschmidt, Nicole Mummey, Susan Ryan, Kathryn Speaker, Donald Vandegrift; Guest: Rick Kamber

The minutes of April 5th were approved as submitted.
After reminding us of the importance of sending letters to state legislators about the effects of the impending budget crisis on TCNJ's programs, Richard Kamber spoke to council members on some special problems students completing their breadth requirements by means of interdisciplinary concentrations may encounter in fulfilling civic responsibilities. Because their overall list of courses to select from is smaller, there is a reduced opportunity to count courses both for breadth and civic responsibilities. Compounding it is the fact that, in several concentrations, there are few if any courses that formally meet civic responsibilities requirements. What to do? Rick distributed a three-part proposal: First we need to make sure that in each 'Option A' concentration courses that do fulfill civic responsibilities are clearly indicated. Second we need to implement the existing liberal learning policy that specific requirements may be fulfilled by "a course, a program, or an equivalent sustained experience." Using the Law and Society as an example, Rick showed how the concentration, itself, could be defined as fulfilling the race and ethnicity requirement. Third, we need to urge concentration sponsors to modify and supplement their concentrations so as to increase the probability that they would fulfill civic responsibilities requirements, as well. After a discussion on the value of civic responsibilities in the curriculum, a committee on civic responsibilities, consisting of Susan Ryan, Mary Goldschmidt, and Bob Anderson, agreed to work on Rick Kamber's proposal and report back at the May 17th luncheon meeting.
The following courses were approved, by unanimous vote, without abstention, as writing intensive as indicated:

BUS 200, Legal and Regulatory Environment of Business (sophomore/junior level)
COM 216, History of Performance (sophomore/junior level)
ENG 214, Circuit Analysis Laboratory (sophomore/junior level)
HIS 338, Early India (sophomore/junior level)
PSY 299, Research Seminar in Clinical Psychology (sophomore/junior level)
HIS 455, Readings Seminar in History (senior level)
PHY 451, Experimental and Analytical Physics (senior level)

After Bob Anderson pointed out that we are not authorized to approve more than two civic responsibilities categories for a given course or program, the committee on civic responsibilities (as defined in item 2 above) agreed also to look at the School of Nursing's proposal for program approval for gender, community engaged learning, and global. We also agreed to forward the civic engagement portion of the proposal to Nino Scarpati and David Prensky for their response.
HIS 364/INT 352, History of the Caribbean/The Caribbean was approved for social change in historical perspectives, global, and race and ethnicity. The vote was 10 in favor, 0 opposed, and 0 abstentions.
Adjournment was at 2:45 pm. The next meeting was set for May 3rd at 1:30 in SB 131. A May 17 meeting was also agreed upon provided Bob Anderson brought lunch. Neither time nor place was set, but SB 131 at noon would be a good possibility.

April 5

Present: Daryl Fair (Chair), Susan Albertine, Bob Anderson, Ed Conjura, Teegan Conti, Danielle Dalafave, Luis Gabriel-Stheeman, Nicole Mummey, Susan Ryan, Philip Sanders, Kathryn Speaker, Donald Vandegrift

The minutes of March 1st were approved as corrected for punctuation clarity.
HIS 341, Islamic History from Muhammad to the Ottomans and HIS 342, The Modern Middle East were both approved, in a single motion, for the race and ethnicity civic responsibilities category. Each course had been previously approved for social change in historical perspectives and global.
In response to a request by Ursula Wolz for a formal response from LLPC to five questions (numbered 1, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, and 2) seeking clarification of the quantitative reasoning learning goals, the following resolution was proposed: That the Liberal Learning Program Council would form a quantitative reasoning committee analagous to the writing committee, that Ed Conjura would take the lead in proposing a charge and recommending appropriate persons to fill the committee, and that LLPC would have final approval on the charge to the committee and its membership. Approval was by a vote of 9 in favor, 0 opposed, and 1 abstention.
A brief discussion on some potential difficulties students may have in completing interdisciplinary concentrations and civic responsibilities, particularly under circumstances where no courses meeting civic responsibilities are contained within a concentration's course offerings, resulted in a decision to invite Rick Kamber, Coordinator of Interdisciplinary Concentrations, to the next meeting.
Adjournment was at 2:55. The next meeting was set for April 19th at 1:30 in Social Science 131.

March 1 (corrected)

Present: Daryl Fair (Chair), Bob Anderson, Ed Conjura, Mary Goldschmidt, Steven Link, Philip Sanders, Donald Vandegrift

The minutes of February 15th were approved as amended.
SOC 302, Quantitative Research Methods was approved as a sophomore/junior level writing intensive course. The vote was unanimous, without abstention.
FIN 495, Senior Thesis in Finance was approved as a senior level writing intensive course. The vote was unanimous, without abstention.
By unanimous vote, without abstention, students in Elementary and Early Childhood Education who couple their majors with Art, Math/Science/Technology, and Music were approved to use the Option A, Second Major, means of completing their breadth requirements. This is consistent with existing policy for such students combining Elementary or Early Childhood Education with Biology, English, History, Mathematics, Psychology, Sociology, Spanish, and Women's and Gender Studies.
Action on AFA 280, Photography I was tabled pending responses to the following questions and concerns: Cultural, critical, and historical components are not clear from the cover sheet and syllabus, and it would seem that there is a need for more historical and theoretical material. There appears to be a need for more readings--a suggestion to move the optional readings to the required list was offered. There also appears to be a need for a more substantive paper, project, or test. A clarification of what student journals count for, and why they are not listed in the table of requirements on the first page of the syllabus, was noted.
AAH 117, Arts of the Islamic World was approved for literary, visual, or performing arts. The vote was unanimous, without abstention.
AAS 335/LIT 335, Caribbean Women Writers was approved for literary, visual, or performing arts, and for race/ethnicity and gender. The vote was unanimous, without abstention.
The interdisciplinary concentration in International Political Economy was approved by a unanimous vote with no abstentions. Don Vandegrift suggested the addition of ECO 210, History of Economic Thought to the list of introductory courses, and agreed to speak to one of the concentration sponsors about it. [Subsequently Bob Anderson observes that it would upset the balance between the Arts and Humanities and Social Science and History sectors--ECO 210 counts as world views and ways of knowing .]
Adjournment was at 2:20. The next meeting was not set pending exploration of the need to use the fifth Wednesday slot that is reserved for councils not meeting due to a conflict with Spring Break.

February 15 (revised)

Present: Daryl Fair (Chair), Bob Anderson, Susan Albertine, Teegan Conti, Luis Gabriel-Stheeman, Mary Goldschmidt, Steven Link, Nicole Mummey, Philip Sanders, Kathryn Speaker, Donald Vandegrift

The minutes of February 1st were approved as submitted.
DHH 303, Language Development for Deaf or Hard of Hearing Students was approved as a sophomore/junior level writing intensive course. The vote was 9 in favor with no opposed or abstentions.
CSC 340, Programing in the Large was approved as a sophomore/junior level writing intensive course. The vote was 9 in favor with no opposed or abstentions.
Members confirmed the policy for approving writing intensive courses as previously discussed: Mary Goldschmidt will present a list of courses reviewed and recommend by the Writing Committee for LLPC's final approved. LLPC members will give more thorough examination of such courses identified as problematic by the Writing Committee (and needing a second opinion), or as appealed by departments or programs when their proposals were not recommended by the Writing Committee.
Bob Anderson gave LLPC members an update on the status of FSP courses for Fall 2006, noting that Glenn Steinberg is doing an excellent job (and also noting that we are not finished yet). He also reported on the status of Interdisciplinary Concentrations, pointing out that Rick Kamber has been meeting with representatives of the SGA, the Admissions Office, and with Matt Winkel to upgrade the website, and that we need to do more to 'advertise' the concentrations.
Adjournment was at 2:30. The next meeting was set for March 1st at 1:30 in SB 131.

February 1

Present: Daryl Fair (Chair), Bob Anderson, Susan Albertine, Ed Conjura, Teegan Conti, Danielle Dalafave, Luis Gabriel-Stheeman, Matthew McGarry, Mary Goldschmidt, Nicole Mummey, Susan Ryan

The minutes of November 16, 2005 were approved as submitted.
The schedule of meetings for Spring 2006 was acknowledged as Feb. 1, Feb. 15, Mar. 1, Apr. 5, Apr. 19, May 3, and May 17, all at 1:30 in SB 131.
BIO 221, Ecology and Field Biology was presented by the Writing Committee as a writing intensive course and approved for such by a uninimous vote of 9 to 0 with no abstentions. In a related discussion, LLPC members decided to approve, as presented, recommendations by the writing committee unless the writiing committee requests a fuller review or second opinion by LLPC.
COM 216, History of Performance was approved for literary, visual, or performing arts. The vote was 8 in favor, 0 opposed, with one abstention. Susan Ryan agreed to look into the title of the course to see if a more accurate one might be devised.
Mary Goldschmidt announced that a Rubrics Workshop would be held on February 15th from 11:00 to 1:00 in Social Science 21. The workshop will explore best practices and computer-based means of grading written work using SOCS and other methods. Mary also reported that Rachel Adler had asked whether senior writing intensive courses must be 'capstones,' and if they may be taken earlier than the senior year. LLPC members agreed that, although the course did not need technically to be called a 'capstone,' it should be a significant senior-level experience.
Adjournment was at 2:30. The next meeting was set for February 15th at 1:30.

November 16

Present: Daryl Fair (Chair), Bob Anderson, Susan Albertine, Katie Corcoran, Danielle Dalafave, Mary Goldschmidt, Nicole Mummey, Susan Ryan, Kathy Speaker. Jean Konzal and Maureen Heffernan were present as guests.

The minutes of November 2nd were approved as submitted.
Council members expressed clear appreciation for the aims and purposes of VPA 101, Integrated Visual and Performing Arts. However, some issues need to be addressed before final approval can be granted. The committee is concerend about the extent to which the course fulfills the major learning outcomes for the Literary, Visual, and Performing Arts domain. The cover sheet mentions identifying and discussing "various historical, cultural, political, and technical influences and traditions that shape art forms," but the course outline itself seems to focus solely on the formal elements of the arts forms themselves (acting methods, movement, sound, dialogue, costume, color, plot, etc.). Council members want to know how the course addresses issues such as how art forms reflect or challenge cultural values, or how it leads to understanding the multiple contexts in which the arts acquire meaning and value. Similarly, the "variety of conceptual lenses" referred to in the student assessment portion and the rationale were not clear to council members. Does the course use gender as a conceptual lense? Does it introduce historical, psychological, reader response, or other interpretative approaches?
Again, members of LLPC think quite highly of VPA 101. With these comments in mind, they urge the proposers to resubmit the course.
ECE 102: Multicultural Children's Literature for Young Readers was not approved. Council members have questions about the level of academic analysis of the texts, about how the texts themselves relate to the syllabus (including which are required and which are recommended), and how content and performance goals are connected to the readings--whether primary or secondary. Questions concerning literary criticism, theoretical connections, the use of the Selected Bibliography, and the place of litearture other than multi-cultural also remain. Nevertheless council members would be pleased to reconsider the course if these issues can be clarified.
Adjournment was at 2:40. The next meeting was set for December 7th at 1:30 in Social Science 131.

November 2

Present: Daryl Fair (Chair), Bob Anderson, Ed Conjura, Teegan Conti, Katie Corcoran, Luis Gabriel-Stheeman, Mary Goldschmidt, Matthew McGarry, Nicole Mummey, Susan Ryan, Phil Sanders, Kathryn Speaker, and Donald Vandegrift. Rachel Adler was present as a guest.

The minutes of October 19th were approved as amended.
Rachel Adler presented an updated version of SOC 101, Introduction to Sociology for consideration for the race and ethnicity civic responsibility category. Approval was granted by a vote of 9 in favor, 0 opposed, and 1 abstention.
JPW/AAS 321, Race, Gender, and the News was approved as a 'free standing' civic responsibilities course meeting the race and ethnicity category.
Council members discussed the need for further discussion on the temporal boundaries of the global civic responsibilities category. Specific proposals would be useful and are expected.
Daryl Fair reported that Mary Goldschmidt's ex-officio, non-voting status presents no problems, but that if we want to upgrade her membership to a voting one we need to 'go through governance.' Daryl indicated he would follow up on that.
Adjournment was at 2:30. The next meeting was set for November 16th at 1:30 in Social Science 131.

October 19

Present: Daryl Fair (Chair), Susan Albertine, Bob Anderson, Ed Conjura, Teegan Conti, Katie Corcoran, Danielle Dalafave, Luis Gabriel-Stheeman, Mary Goldschmidt,Matthew McGarry, Susan Ryan, Phil Sanders, Kathryn Speaker, and Donald Vandegrift. Terry O'Connor was present as a guest.

The minutes of October 5th were unanimously approved. Subsequently, the omision of Mary Goldschmidt's name on the list of members present was discovered and corrected.
Daryl fair reported that he has sent a letter to Jo-Ann Gross (also signed by Bob Anderson) reporting on relevant events from the October 5th meeting. He also indicated that he met with Dr. Gross who intends to re-submit certain courses for the global category, and that the Office of the Dean of Culture and Society will be getting syllabi together for that purpose.
After a presentation by Terry O'Connor, EFN 398/Historical and Political Contexts of Schools was approved for Behavioral, Social, or Cultural Perspectives. The motion included the recommendation that reading assignments include some items from the five module bibliography at the end of the syllabus. The vote was 10 in favor, 2 opposed, and 0 abstentions. Action on the request for community engagement was tabled pending a response from the committee on community engagement to which the proposal will be sent by the council secretary.
ECO 210/History of Economic Thought was approved for World Views and Ways of Knowing. The vote was unanimous with no abstentions.
ECO 340/International Economics and INB 330/Capital Flows and Currency Crises were considered together and each was approved for Behavioral, Social, or Cultural Perspective and Global by unanimous consent with no abstentions.
Adjournment was at 2:45. The next meeting was set for November 2nd at 1:30 in SB 131.

October 5

Present: Daryl Fair (Chair), Susan Albertine, Bob Anderson, Katie Corcoran, Danielle Dalafave, Luis Gabriel-Stheeman, Mary Goldschmidt, Matthew McGarry, Susan Ryan, Kathryn Speaker,and Donald Vandegrift

The minutes of September 21st were approved without discussion.
Following a discussion of Jo-Ann Gross's response to the Oct. 5th email written to her on behalf of the council, Bob Anderson was asked to delete the following courses from the Global Civic Responsibility category: HIS 315, HIS 332, HIS 333, HIS 350, HIS 351, HIS 314, HIS 301, HIS 302, HIS 303, HIS 304, HIS 305, HIS 306, HIS 308, HIS 311, HIS 312, and HIS 347. He was also asked to notify the History Department that they are welcome to submit any or all of those courses for inclusion in the Global category, but that the council would need to see syllabi and rationales indicating why or how the courses met the global goal and outcomes as delineated at http://www.tcnj.edu/~liberal/outcomes.html. The decision was unanimous and based on the council's understanding that the original listings were in error.
Mary Goldschmidt was welcomed as a non-voting, ex-officio member of the Council (pending approval of a request to the Steering Committee to make her a voting, ex-officio member). Mary Goldschmidt then presented a set of revised Guidelines for Writing Intensive Courses. Council members recommended that the number of pages of "finished academic prose" be stated as "approximately 20 pages," rather than a 20 to 25 page range. They also questioned the practicability of the 15 to 18 student class size, recommending that Mary look into actual practice at TCNJ and elsewhere. No decision was reached; rather, the Guidelines were referred to the Writing Committee for further consideration and possible revision.
Daryl Fair reported on a meeting with Nino Scarpati, David Prensky, and Heather Camp over plans to initiate the larger Community Engaged Learning program approved by this body. Their plans include visiting with Deans and Chairs to describe ongoing activities and future plans, and to solicit support in the building of CBL courses. They will communicate with departments such as Psychology, Political Science, Sociology and Anthropology, and Communication Studies that already have on-going courses or activities. They will also take on a longer range strategy to engage the wider range of schools and departments. It is anticipated that we will need 60 sections or so of CBL courses each year once the standards apply to all students. Daryl also indicated that the Bonner Center expects to be lending support to faculty members engaging in CBL and that they are planning a Summer Institute in 2007.
Adjournment was at 2:35. The next meeting was set for October 19th at 1:30 in Social Science 131.

September 21

Present: Daryl Fair (Chair), Susan Albertine, Bob Anderson, Ed Conjura, Teegan Conti, Danielle Dalafave, Matthew McGarry, Susan Ryan, Kathryn Speaker, Donald Vandegrift, Steven Viola, Ellen Friedman (Guest)

The minutes of May 10, 2005 were unanimously approved pending a spelling correction.
The Minutes of September 7th were unanimously approved as submitted.
At the request of Ellen Friedman the council reconsidered the following statement in the minutes approved October 27, 2004:

The History Department's request to expand the global awareness civic responsibility category beyond the analysis of contemporary and near contemporary issues was unanimously approved by voice vote.

Following discussion and an examination of the goal and outcomes for the Global Civic Responsibility category, noting that the goal itself says "Students should have an understanding of the nature of the global community and the complexities of modern society in an international context," the following resolution was approved by a vote of 10 in favor, 0 opposed, and 0 abstaining:

The interpretation of Item 5 in the LLPC's minutes of October 27, 2004 is that the council did not thereby approve any additional courses, but that the council would consider approving such courses, one by one, as syllabi were presented and requests made.

Bob Anderson agreed to correct the total list of approved courses, and affirmed that students who began or completed affected courses prior to the beginning of the Spring 2006 semester would continue to receive global credit.
By a vote of 9 to 0 (with one abstention) members of LLPC agreed that Mary Goldschmidt, Director of Writing, should be invited to LLPC meetings, preferably as ex-officio with vote, but if that is not possible, then as non-voting ex-officio member. Daryl Fair agreed to contact Michael Robertson, Chair of Faculty Senate to make the arrangement as possible.
Bob Anderson reported that Glenn Steinberg has been appointed Coordinator of the FSP program and that the Coordinating Committee for FSPs will be forming shortly. Members of the council stressed that some relationship between LLPC and the FSP Coordinating Committee (and Glenn Steinberg) will need to be formed. Understanding that the bulk of the work in organizing and approving FSP courses should and would be delegated to the FSP Coordinating Committee, the principle that LLPC retains ultimate authority for approving FSP courses was underscored.
Susan Ryan reminded the council that the community based learning procedures for this year would be replaced by a more extensive requirement for first year students entering Fall 2006 and that it was up to us to make sure courses and experiences were in place. Having a permanent advisory committee of community based learning consisting of Nino Scarpati, David Prensky, the LLPC Chair (Daryl Fair), and the Director of Liberal Learning (Bob Anderson) was reaffirmed.
Adjournment was at 2:30. The next meeting was set for October 5th at 1:30 in Social Science 131.

September 7

Present: Daryl Fair, Chair, Susan Albertine, Bob Anderson, Ed Conjura, Luis Gabriel-Stheeman, Larry McCauley (convener and out-going chair), Matthew McGarry, Susan Ryan, Philip Sanders, Kathryn Speaker, Donald Vandegrift

Daryl Fair was elected Chair for 2005-2006. The vote was unanimous and by acclamation.
Bob Anderson was re-elected Vice-Chair and Secretary. There were no other candidates.
A brief discussion of procedures and possible agenda items for the up-coming year produced no actionable resolutions.
Adjournment was at 2:00. The next meeting was set for September 21st at 1:30 in Social Science 131.