USF General Education Council - Minutes of November 6, 2006

Present: Andrew Smith, David Frankel, Ed Kellner, Gladis Kersaint, Hunt Hawkins, Irene Frank, Jane Noll, John Ferron, John Hodgson, Nancy White, Philip Robert Potter (Chair), Philip Levy, Scott Campbell, Sharon Geiger, Terry Sincich

Absent: Gregory Paveza, Joan Morris, Suzanne Perry-Casler.

Guests: Diane Wiiliams, Joseph Moxley, Patricia Maher, Philip Bishop, Theresa Flateby, Arka Bhattacharya.

The meeting was called to order at 3:05 p.m.

1. The minutes of October 16, 2006 were approved as submitted.

2. Gordon Rule Communication Guidelines: The council discussed about word count limit for Gordon Rule communication courses. Courses approved to meet the USF Gordon Rule Communication requirements should enable students to demonstrate college level writing skills through multiple assignments. The council attendees discussed the break up of the assignments adding up to 4500 words. USF Gordon Rule Communication requirement includes assignments where students are engaged in writing and also revise or edit documents in response to teacher feedback. However, it excluded assignments for which students do not receive feedback. A course grade of "C-" is the minimum acceptable grade for the course credit to meet the Gordon Rule Communication requirement.

3. Discussion:
   • The council approved for inclusion of "four dimensions" instead of "minimum of four dimensions" as a criterion for course approval. The council decided to emphasize four dimensions. The inclusion of the two dimensions "Critical Thinking" and "Inquiry" is compulsory. In addition, two other dimensions must be emphasized.

4. New course/curriculum proposals

   • ANT 2000 - Introduction to Anthropology--------Approved
     The cross-cultural study of the human species in biological and social perspective. Surveys the four major branches of anthropology: physical anthropology, archaeology, linguistic anthropology, and cultural anthropology.

   • ANT 3101 - Archaeology-----------Approved
     This course focuses on critical thinking about the past, archaeological research methods, theory, web resources, and scientific analysis in the study of world prehistory, from human origins to modern times.

   • PHH 2000 -Introduction to Philosophy-------------Returned for revisions X

   • AMH 2020 - American History----------------------Returned for revisions.

   • LIS 2005 - Library and Internet Research skills------Approved
     This course covers the development of undergraduate research and critical thinking skills to identify, evaluate, and use appropriate information sources to address educational, research, and other information needs.

   • EVR 2002 - Environmental Science------------------Returned for revisions.

   • ARH 3001 - Introduction to Art--------------------Returned for revisions.

   • ENC 1101 - Composition I-------------------------Course content is well done, writing is the key focus. Pending for further discussion

   • ANT 4302 - Gender in Cross-Cultural Perspective--------------Approved. Syllabus needs to be updated.

The next meeting will be Monday, November 20, 2006. The meeting was adjourned at 4:39 p.m.

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