USF General Education Council - Minutes of September 18, 2006

Present: Scott Campbell, John Ferron, Irene Frank, David Frankel, Sharon Geiger, Hunt Hawkings for Joseph Moxley, John Hodgson, Ed Kellner, Gladis Kersaint, Phil Levy for William Murray, Joan Morris, Gregory Paveza, Suzanne Perry-Casler, Robert Potter (Chair), Andrew Smith, Terry Sincich, Nancy White

Absent: Ronald Dulaney

Guests: Joel Amnott, Theresa Flateby, Patricia Maher, Janet Moore, Diane Williams

The meeting was called to order at 3:00 p.m.

1. The Minutes of June 30, 2006 were approved as submitted. The Minutes of August 21, 2006 were approved with the change of the word Issues to Science in the title of HSC 2100.

2. Membership of the Council - The members discussed the current vacancies on the Council. Following this discussion a motion was made and approved that:
   The council add an additional member from the College of Arts and Sciences with expertise/understanding in global cultures.

3. GEC Support for Honors College Building Priority - The Council was asked to provide a letter of support to President Genshaft for the new Honors College Building asking that it be made a priority on the list of capital outlay project. A motion was made and approved to send the letter of support to the President.

4. Call for New Course Submissions - Chair Potter sent the council members a draft letter to chairs and directors calling for a new round of course submissions for the new GE Core. The incentive payment will remain the same - $1,500 per course for up to three courses per department. The letter will request that proposers pay particular attention to how the course will meet critical thinking; that each course must meet the two required dimensions and the two selected; and that the course syllabus needs to reflect what is in the courses proposal. The draft letter was approved.

5. Discussion:
   • There is a need to balance between competing imperatives for critical thinking and inquiry-based learning versus the drive for increased SCH and large classes. Agreement was made among members that the university has an obligation to provide quality instruction.
   • The council discussed the need to have a balance between the competing imperatives for critical thinking and inquiry-based learning versus the drive to for increased student credit hours and large classes. The University has an obligation to provide quality instruction.

6. New course/curriculum proposals

   • ANT 3610 - Anthropological Linguistics - returned for revisons X
   • ANT 3101 - Archaeology - returned for revisions X
   • CHM 2023 - Chemistry For Today - returned for revisons X
   • GEY 2000 - Introduction to Gerontology - returned for revisions X
   • MUH 2020 - History of Blues and Rock - returned for revisions
   • ARH 2050 - History of Visual Arts I - returned for revisions X
   • ARH 2051 - History of Visual Arts II - returned for revisions X
   • PHI 1600 - Introduction to Ethics - returned for revisions X
   • WST 2600 - Human Sexual Behavior - returned for revisions X
   • HSC 2133 - Sex Health and Decision-Making - returned for revisions X
   • FIN 2104 - Personal Finance - returned for revisions X
   • GEY 4647 - Ethical and Legal Issues in Aging - returned for revisions X
   • GEY 4641 - Death and Dying - returned for revisions X
   • WST 3015 - Introduction to Women's Studies - returned for revisions X
   • ARH 3100 - Introduction to Art - need summary
   • PHI 1103 - Critical Thinking - need summary
   • ENL 3325 - Shakespeare from Historical Perspectives - need summary
   • GEY 4635 - Business Management in an Aging Society - need summary

     X= letters sent and course released back to pending status

   • ECO 1000 - Basic Economics
   • ECO 2023 - Principles of Economics (Microeconomics)
   • GLY 2163 - Geology of Our National Parks
   • OCE 2001 - Introduction to Oceanography
   • LIS 2005 - Library and Internet Research Skills
   • WST 2250 - The Female Experience in America
   • GEA 2000 - World Regional Geography (currently being modified for resubmission)
   • AMH 2020 - American History II
   • ENC 1101 - Composition I
   • ISC 1005 - Science That Matters I
   • EVR 2002 - Environmental Science: Regional and Global Issues

The next meeting will be Monday, October 2 , 2006. The meeting was adjourned at 5:05 p.m.

Please send any suggestions or comments to:
Mia Fluitt - webcat@ugs.usf.edu