1. Welcome

• On behalf of the committee, Dr. Lynch welcomed approximately 22 faculty members to the meeting.

2. Review of Mission

• Dr. Lynch read the Mission Statement and the floor was opened to any comments regarding the Mission Statement. No comments were offered.

3. Discussion of Goal 4 - Ethical Issues and Responsibilities

• Dialogue from faculty:
  • As the goal is written, it suggests that everyone already has a value system, and that may not always be the case.
  • Possibly add "development of a value system" or "enhancement of a value system" or something that suggests that it’s really critical to develop one.
  • Self reflection should be included. Students should be asked to support their value system.
  • Concerned with the word "moral" in that it has a religious context.
  • Suggested using "awareness" instead of "respect" because a person cannot always respect the value system of others but can be aware of it.
  • Does "ethical responsibility" suggest that all we want our students to do is to develop their own value systems or are we also talking in terms of application?
  • Suggested adding the word "inclusive" before "decision making" in the goal. Suggested adding the word "critically" before "evaluate" in the goal.
  • The words "develop consideration for" is very vague and open to many interpretations.
  • Suggested removing reference to "ethical."
  • The following alternate wording of the goal was offered:
    • Students will be able to examine and critically evaluate their own value systems as well as the value systems of others in order to facilitate substantive decision making based upon reasoned moral considerations.
  • Confusion over what is intended to be accomplished by the statement relative to morals.
  • Suggestion to use "respect the value system of others" in place of"consideration for the value systems of others."
  • Concerned with words "develop consideration for the value system" in that just developing a consideration doesn’t do enough.
  • Are we looking at both ethical and moral equally or one more than the other?
  • Is concept of citizenship included?

4. Comments Relative to Implementation of Goal

• Dialogue from faculty:
  • Implementation depends on format that the team arrives at. Not knowing which way the team is leaning makes it difficult to talk about implementation.
  • Concern expressed that transfer students will have a problem taking an upper level general education course when they think they have already completed all general education courses.
  • Suggestion to use "will be expected" in place of "will be able to" in the goal.
  • The responsibility should be the application of how to do something appropriately in addition to the evaluation.

5. Closing

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