April 19, 2016

TO: UAAC

FROM: Deborah Schlacks, Chair

Writing & Library Science Department

SUBJECT: New delivery format for the Writing Minor

On behalf of the Writing & Library Science Department, I wish to report that the Writing Minor, beginning in Fall 2016, will be delivered online. It will continue to be delivered in person as well. Please see the attached department meeting minutes.

Writing & Library Science Department

Meeting Minutes

April 12, 2016

11:30 a.m.

Present: Ella Cross, Deborah Faul, Julie Gard, Beth Grbavcich, Jayson Iwen, Laura Jacobs, JohnMcCormick, Heather McGrew, Yvonne Rutford, Deborah Schlacks, Tom Tu, JamieWhite-Farnham.

  1. Approval of Agenda: Motion to approve the agenda (Jacobs/Gard). Motion passed.
  2. Approval of Minutes: Motion to approve minutes of March 8 meeting (Rutford/Jacobs). Correction to the minutes: Include last names when referring to department members. Minutes approved with corrections.
  3. Approval of Online Delivery of Writing Minor: Motion to approve online delivery of the writing minor (Iwen/Rutford). Motion passed. Item to be reported to UAAC. Deborah S. reported that an overload has been approved for Yvonne to teach WRIT 301 online in Spring 2017.Julie will prepare a summary of her and Jayson’s recent meeting with Distance Learning.
  4. Language Resolution:(This item is in regard to a March 7 memo addressed to Haji Dokhanchi from Nick Sloboda, subject “Possible Senate Resolution on World Languages being offered on campus.”) WLS department members concurred with the concern that the dearth of language offerings on campus negatively impacts students, particularly, of course, those seeking the Bachelor of Arts degree. Members provided feedback regarding the language resolution language, noting that all currently existing language programs on campus should be supported, including Ojibwa and American Sign Language. Deborah S. will provide the feedback to Haji.
  5. Shared Advising: In preparation for a meeting with the advising office, WLS department members discussed issues regarding the shared advising Memorandum of Understanding language, including ensuring that “and instructional staff” be added wherever the word “faculty” appears, clarifying the issue of secondary advisors for writing minors, and inquiring about assessment of advising. The meeting is scheduled for Friday, April 15, at noon.
  6. AWP Update: Julie reported on her recent attendance at AWP in Los Angeles, noting in particular that she had “attended the member programs plenary session, and it was affirming to see that our program is well-aligned with fellow B.A. programs in terms of genre offerings, class size, etc.” (quoted from Julie’s e-mail message of April 1).
  7. Reports:
  8. Chair: By May, the official declaration of each academic program’s chosen HIPs is due. Per the registrar, students will now be allowed to list their preferred name on class lists.
  9. UAAC: Currently engulfed in catalog copy and course approvals for the new University Studies program.
  10. Faculty Senate: Recent discussions have included catalog copy, a process for evaluation of department chairs (via an anonymous, aggregated survey), concerns regarding the need for an on-site Human Resources director, and the Faculty Senate Chair’s recent campus-wide message regarding the Board of Regents’ changes to tenure policy.
  11. Other: Laura reported on a recent issue that had arisen involving the WITC-Superior articulation agreement and transfer of writing credits. Julie will follow up with WITC’s VP of Academic Affairs, Bonny Copenhaver.

Meeting adjourned at 12:42 p.m.