SUMMARY REPORT

                            Edison College CURRICULUM COMMITTEE
   FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 2008, at 1:00 PM in IT BUILDING, ROOM G 102

Action Item # 1

Proposal:  Professor Don Ransford, SLOC Chair; Jan Ohlemacher, SLOC General Education Sub-committee Chair; Professor Marty Ambrose, Communications Discipline Chair; and Professor Wendy Chase, Humanities Discipline Chair, proposed changes to Section IV. Of the Common Course Syllabus eliminating the division of Section IV into parts A. and B. and adding a third column to the Course Competencies table to designate measurement of the General Education competencies.  These changes would be applicable beginning Fall Semester 2008 and continue over an ongoing three-year syllabi review process involving all faculty and all courses at some point during the three-year cycle.
Explanation:  These changes would allow faculty to better review course competencies, determine if the competencies are measurable and how they should be assessed, and examine how course competencies contribute to students’ General Education. Jan Ohlemacher said these changes promote the integration of the General Education competencies and make them less artificial.  Professor Landau asked how SACS would view these changes. Professor Marty Ambrose responded that SACS will see this as a move for continuous improvement.  Professor Wetzel was concerned about the nursing syllabi because there are many requirements that the nursing program must meet.  Professor Ransford responded that the nursing syllabi can use the current statements.  Professor Hayden suggested that “Gen. Ed.” be spelled out and not abbreviated. Chair Conwell agreed that some people may not know what “Gen. Ed.” means. There was a discussion between Professor Ransford and Professor Rice about letter coding in column three (Professor Ransford) versus numbers (Professor Rice).  Professor Ransford pointed out that such a change would necessitate a return visit to the Curriculum Committee.  Professor Ransford also informed the Committee that an official schedule for syllabi revision was not settled yet.
Recommendation:  On a Voice Vote, the Proposal was Accepted.
Status:  N. Thomas, Approved, 4/9/08

Action Item # 2

Proposal:  Dr. Erin Harrel, Education Faculty, proposed a new bachelor’s degree program:  Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education with Infused ESOL.  The applicable date would be Spring Semester 2009.
Explanation:   This program will help public schools in Southwest Florida fill teaching vacancies in elementary education, increase access to teacher education programs, and meet community and student demands for additional teacher education programs. Funding will be provided by the Baccalaureate Degree Grant from the Department of Education and student tuition.  Professor Griffith had a question about the term “infused ESOL.”  Dr. Harrel responded that ESOL will be part of every course and that program graduates will receive an ESOL endorsement on their teacher certification.  Professor Ambrose commented that 10 of 20 public school students now speak a language other than English.  Dr. Harrel indicated that the State of Florida has already approved this bachelor’s degree program.
Recommendation:  On a Voice Vote, the Proposal was Accepted.
Status:  N. Thomas, Approved, 4/9/08

Action Item # 3

Proposal:  Dr. Harrel proposed a new course, Educational Assessment-ESE 4323, as a degree core requirement for the Bachelors of Science in Secondary Math & Biology Education programs. The applicable date would be Summer Semester 2008.
Explanation:  The course follows state-mandated Common Core Curriculum guidelines and Florida Educator Accomplished Practices; it also provides a mapping system for the Edison College Education Department.  Professor Ambrose inquired about who would teach this course.  Dr. Harrel responded that a professor with a master’s degree in educational instruction or educational leadership would be appropriate.
Recommendation:  On a Voice Vote, the Proposal was Accepted.
Status:  N. Thomas, Approved, 4/9/08

Action Item # 4

Proposal:  Kristen Zimmerman, Associate Dean of Baccalaureate Programs, and Dr. Mary Lewis, Associate Dean of Health Professions, proposed a new bachelor’s degree program:  Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).  The applicable date would be Fall Semester 2009.
Explanation:  The RN to BSN program will provide Associate Degree RNs and Diploma RNs with a path for additional nursing education, as well as meet the urgent needs of local healthcare providers to employ more BSNs.  Professor Ransford asked how the BSN program would be funded.  Kristen Zimmerman stated that funding will be provided by the Baccalaureate Degree Grant from the Department of Education and student tuition.  Vice Chair Ward and Professor Ransford raised questions about math requirements. Dr. Lewis said there would be an increase in statistics enrollment since the DOE requires statistics. Dr. Lewis informed the Committee that Edison’s nursing program is the 20th largest nursing program in the United States.  She also told members that the nursing faculty and nursing students are thrilled with the proposed BSN.  Just because the BSN will be available, students can still stop at the RN level. 
Recommendation:  On a Voice Vote, the Proposal was Accepted.
Status: N. Thomas, Approved, 4/9/08

Action Item # 5

Proposal:  Pamela Mangene, Academic Services Manager, proposed changes to the following documents: Change of Course Proposal Form; New/Experimental Course Proposal From; New Program Proposal Form; Other Action Proposal Form; Curriculum Committee Proposal Submission Checklist; and Curriculum Committee Guidelines.  The applicable date would be Fall Semester 2008. 
Explanation:  These revisions reflect changes in Edison College’s administrative structure and better implement the vision of Edison College as it transforms from a two-year institution into a four-year, bachelor-degree granting college.  A Decorum clause was included in the Curriculum Committee Guidelines to address concerns of committee members and presenters, as well as to participate actively in the growing movement for civility on college campuses throughout the country.  The submission process changed from submission of proposals to the Dean’s Council to submission of proposals to the Academic Dean before forwarding to the Curriculum Committee.  Any proposals related to Learning Outcomes and Assessment should also be reviewed by Jan Ohlemacher before submission to the Academic Dean.  Professor Ransford suggested amending the due date for proposal submissions to two weeks prior to the fourth Friday of the month.  Professor Wetzel and Professor Griffith raised concerns about enforcing violations of the Decorum statement.  Dean Linck felt that the Decorum statement was patronizing.  Professor Griffiths moved to delete the Decorum statement.  Professor Ransford suggested that the Academic Standards Committee be requested to develop a Decorum policy for all college committees.
Recommendation:  On a Voice Vote, the Proposal was Accepted with Minor Corrections.  These Corrections were to change the Proposal submission deadline to two weeks prior to the fourth Friday of the month and to delete the Decorum statement from the revised Curriculum Committee Guidelines.  It should be noted that Chair Conwell spoke to Professor Romeo, Chair of the Academic Standards Committee, at the Academic Forum, on April 4, 2008, about the Curriculum Committee’s desire that the Academic Standards Committee develop a comprehensive Decorum policy.
Status:  N. Thomas, Approved with Changes, 4/9/08

Action Item # 6

Proposal:  Professor Lisa Rice McGarity proposed changes in the course prerequisites for various chemistry courses to require a grade of “C” or better in the prerequisite courses.  Specifically, the prerequisites for General Chemistry I-CHM 2045 would require a grade of “C” or better in BOTH prerequisite courses of Introduction to College Chemistry-CHM 2025 AND Introduction to College Chemistry Laboratory-CHM 2025 L.  Also, a change in the prerequisite to Organic Chemistry II-CHM 2211 would require a grade of “C” or better in Organic Chemistry I-CHM 2210. Applicable date would be Fall Semester 2008.
Explanation:  This proposal clears up any potential confusion for students about what prerequisites they must meet to take a particular chemistry course.  This proposal also clarifies any questions from the February 2008 meeting when chemistry course prerequisites were changed for a number of chemistry courses. The change in course prerequisite approved at the February 2008 meeting for CHM 2045 was for a grade of “C” or better in ONLY CHM 2025.  Organic Chemistry II was also not considered at the February 2008 meeting.  Professor Ransford inquired about the meaning of the slash mark in CHM 2025/CHM 2025 L.  Professor Rice responded that the “slash” means a sequence of the two courses.
Recommendation:  On a Voice Vote, the Proposal was Accepted.
Status:  N. Thomas, Approved, 4/9/08

                                                         End of Report

Respectfully submitted,

Mary Conwell, J.D.
Chair of Curriculum Committee