Minutes
September 28, 2005

Present: G. Brey, J. Chernekoff, D. Lynch, R. Mayrhofer, B. Mowder, L. Rinker, P. Sable, R. Schaeffer, B. Wlazelek

Unable to Attend: R. Flatley, K. McCloskey, L. Vella

1. Welcome - D. Lynch opened the meeting at noon.

• Leigh Vella, our team student representative, cannot serve this semester. At this point in the process the team will not replace her with another representative. A thank you note will be sent.
• K. McCloskey cannot attend on Wednesdays this semester.
• D. Lynch suggested we ask Dr. Cevallos to postpone the faculty meetings until later in the semester to allow time to complete department meetings, synthesize information gathered, and prepare.

2. Approval of Minutes from September 21, 2005

• J. Chernekoff moved to approve the minutes from the September 21 meeting with a few editorial changes, seconded by P. Sable. The motion passed.

3. Scheduled department meetings

• Geography - Thurs., Oct. 20 @ 11 a.m. in Boehm 101
• College of Education - Tues., Oct. 25 @ 11 a.m. in Boehm 262
• Computer Science - Wed., Oct. 26 @ noon in Lytle 226
• Philosophy - Thurs., Oct. 27 @ 11 a.m. in deFrancesco 207

4. Resources

• The team discussed staffing of freshman seminar and foundation courses and whether it was appropriate to set limits on class size. None of the courses has to be constrained in size, as many are not now.
• A list of the proposed courses that will be taught in the Academic Forum should be distributed. This issue will be moved back to Dean’s Council.
• Tenure lines could be added so these courses will be taught by regular faculty, not temporary faculty. However, many regular faculty do not teach introduction courses now.
• Incentives will need to be offered to have faculty develop courses.

5. Freshman Experience

• The design of the current freshman seminar for undeclared students meets in a large group once per week and again for an hour breakout session that are team taught.
• Other freshman seminar designs, depending on the department and college:
  • Five clusters with a central teacher (one faculty member teaches three large lectures per week or three recitation sessions per week, 1 hr. each = 3 LHE.)
  • 25 sections – 1 faculty each for 3 credits (smaller groups to make a strong connection with teachers early on).

5. Proposed written document

• L. Rinker handed out a document, "Proposed Written Document – General Education" for review and suggestions.

6. Closure