LACOB Minutes

Tuesday, September 16, 2010

9:00 am BA 524

Present: Brodersen, Lyn; Butler, Corey; Gehle, Vaughn; Nelson, Linda

Absent: Brandt, Maria; Thomas, Will

Approval of Minutes

  • Corey Butler moved to approve the minutes from the September 2 meeting. Vaughn Gehle seconded. Motion carried.

Science Department Issues with People and the Environment

  • Two problems: all science majors will have to take an additional science course to meet all requirements of the LAC and we are funneling every student in the University into an Environmental Science course. Could there be a Chemistry or a Biology course that would meet the requirement? Nothing seems to fit. There are many Environmental Science courses that could be included in this area, but there aren’t options for the Biology majors. Possibly, a literature course could be added that would focus on People and the Environment for the Biology majors. The group also talked about the possibility of submitting Physical Geology and Lab to meet the requirement for Biology Ed majors, and a Chemistry course to meet the requirement for those majoring in Phys Ed.

Draft LAC Interpretation Document

  • The group discussed Corey Butler’s draft LAC Interpretation document. Under discipline areas, there are also now distinct categories. Foreign languages were not included on this list, but languages are included on the grid. There is a tension between the documents that needs simplification. Corey proposed returning to Faculty Assembly to ask that the distinction be between categories F and G only, which would bring us into line with the MnTC requirements (9-12 credits under each). Foreign language would still be represented under the Global Perspective category. We are awaiting feedback from Louise Hoxworth, Transfer Specialist with the Office of the Chancellor, before we go back to Assembly to address any potential issues.

Proposals

  • Physics 121 (Intro to Astronomy) for Natural Sciences. Butler moved approval; Nelson seconded. Motion carried.
  • Environmental Science 101 and 101 L (Physical Geology Lecture) and Lab for Natural Sciences. Brodersen moved approval; Baker seconded. Motion carried.
  • Philosophy 230 (Philosophy of Religion) for Humanities and Fine Arts. Butler moved approval; Brodersen seconded. Motion carried.
  • Literature 100 (Human Diversity) for Humanities and Fine Arts. Gehle moved approval; Baker seconded. Motion carried.
  • Literature 150 (Global Perspectives) for Humanities and Fine Arts. Gehle moved approval; Baker seconded. Motion carried.
  • Literature 264 (World Drama: the Global Perspective) for Humanities and Fine Arts. Gehle moved approval; Baker seconded. Motion carried.
  • Literature 265 (Literature and Film) for Humanities and Fine Arts. Gehle moved approval; Baker seconded. Motion carried.

Other

  • Corey indicated that the FYS and Contemporary Issues meetings went well and were interesting. Lori Baker asked if there would be another Contemporary Issues open meeting. Corey Butler indicated that, with feedback, a proposal would be developed to take to Faculty Assembly.
  • The Composition Committee and English Department asked whether they might review other writing courses that come before LACOB for review. The English faculty would like to be at the front of developing appropriate assessments for LAC writing courses. Lori Baker will reviewsuch proposals with the Comp Committee and English Department and ask for their feedback to share with LACOB.
  • Lyn Brodersen moved to adjourn the meeting; Corey Butler seconded. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 10:06 am.

Respectfully submitted by Lyn Brodersen