Proposal for Change in Class Size
Discipline: Music
Course: MUS 113 Fretboard Harmony
Recommended Change: From 37To 20
Name of author of proposal: Richard Wright
Signature of author of proposal: Richard Wright
- Rationale for the change:
1)This course is a performance/skills-based class for guitar players. Consequently, it is taught in a room that is not a regular classroom. There are no desks in the room, no computer/smart cart, and no chalkboard. There are individual chairs and music stands for each student, but not for 37 of them. Twenty is a more accurate number for the amount of chairs, stands, and students that can be accommodated in that room. Guitar students cannot sit at desks – the desks will not allow them to hold their instruments on their laps!
2)The method of instruction and testing/evaluation is very similar to that of a Piano class, where the teacher works very closely with each individual student, almost on a one-to-one basis. This is further justification for the number being 20 – a teacher cannot give individual attention to 37 students on an ongoing basis.
3)I am certain the reason the number 37 ever came up at all on the FA list is because someone must have thought that this was a regular class in a regular room and therefore could have a size limit of 37 students. This is the error I seek to rectify. I am assuming and hoping it should be a relatively simple change to make.
4)According to the former Chair of Music and former professor of this course, Craig Boyd, the class has existed for about 16 years. The College has historically offered only one section per semester. In all that time, he says the course has maybe come close to having 20 students in it only a couple of times. The average number of students is usually between 10 and 16.
IISummarize the appropriate published research which supports a change in the current
class size. Attach a copy of the research to this form.
N/A
III.Provide maximum class sized limitations for similar courses at similar institutions.
Attach a copy of the documentation to support this data.
The class limit for this course on all three campuses should be 20, according to the SCCC numbers.
Nassau Community College’s Course Catalog says the following about their equivalent class:
MUS 103 Beginning Guitar
A course designed for beginners only. Classes have a maximum of 15 students. Obtaining an acoustic instrument is the student’s responsibility, since the College does not provide guitars for student use. Areas covered include guitar technique, developing concepts of melody, harmony and rhythm particularly in providing accompaniments for folk singing. (Students may be required to trim fingernails.)
SUNY GEN ED-GART; NCC GEN ED-FAPA, HUM
Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer
Other Schools Surveyed and Their Class Size Limits:
Adelphi University – no class, but limit would be 10-15 if they had one.
Dowling College – no class
Hofstra University – 15
LIU Post – 12
Molloy College – 10
SUNY Fredonia – 5
SUNY Potsdam/Crane – 18
SUNY Stony Brook – no class
Thus, no other school in the area has a beginning guitar class with a size limit over 20, and some of them do not even have half of that.
IV.Explain the impact on other courses in the discipline/program.
None, other than this is the class that usually feeds into the Guitar Ensemble, so the more student-based, focused instruction with a smaller number of students will better prepare them to participate in the Guitar Ensemble. Both courses are taught by the same professor.
V.Indicate the impact on staffing.
None. No teachers will need to be let go, and no new teachers need to be hired.
VI.What is the fiscal impact of the change?
None. Since no other course sections need to be added nor deleted, there is no fiscal change.
VIIMention any physical constraints which would affect this change.
Again, there are no desks in the room. There are individual chairs and music stands for each student, but not for 37 of them. Twenty is a more accurate number for the amount of chairs, stands, and students that can be accommodated in that room.
VIII.What would be the total number of students per faculty member? Answer: 20