USF Undergraduate Council - Minutes of November 24, 1997

Present: J. D. Noonan, Nell Faucette, Lois Gonzalez (Chairperson), Mary Hardy, Ram Pendyala, Ken Pothoven, John Robison, Joseph Simon, Heather Weintrobe, Richard Wunderlin

Absent: Stanley Birkin

Guests: Rod Banks (Student Government), Donileen Loseke (Sociology), Chandan Manansingh (Student Government, Tom Porter (Undergraduate Studies)

The meeting was called to order at 3:06pm.

1. The minutes of October 27 and November 10, 1997 were approved as submitted.

2. No announcements.

3. Discussion and action on proposals

   • SYP 3562 Family Violence
     This course will cover all forms of family violence and is research focused. The Arts and Sciences College Council members did not feel that concurrences were necessary because of the course's broad appeal. This course was approved with one abstention

   • EML 4414 Heat Power Engineering
     The Department provided corrections requested by the Council. A day-by-day syllabus was added, the majority of the typographical errors corrected, course objectives were better outlined, and the evaluation methods were clearly detailed for students. This course was approved, with one abstention, pending concurrences.

   • Discussion - What is in a proper syllabus?
     The College of Arts and Science syllabus check list was distributed. The check list was prepared by Carmen Burton of the CAS Advising Office. General discussion of "what is required to meet the University's syllabus requirement" followed. Concerns were raised regarding flexibility to meet the needs of the students in each individual class. Chairperson Lois Gonzalez will address this issue at the Faculty Senate Executive Committee.

   • Honor Court & Code
     Chandan Manansingh and Rod Banks from Student Government address the Council on the Honor Code and Honor Court. Discussion involved the composition of the Honor Court and its functions; the reporting authority of the Honor Court; the creation of a two track system (current procedures and the Honor Court); the possibility of confidentiality problems with student review. The council supports the concept of the Honor Code (signing exams, texts, papers, assignments), concerns discussed. Council members wanted more faculty representation on the Honor Court. More data was requested on other schools with honor courts. The issue was tabled by the Council and the students were asked to respond to the Council members concerns.

The next meeting will be Monday, January 12, 1998. The meeting was adjourned at 4:40pm.

Please send any suggestions or comments to:
Office of Undergraduate Studies