October 9, 2007

Curriculum Committee Minutes

Members present: Susan Cordes-Green, Mark Gealy, Stephen Grollman, Michelle Lelwica, Mary Rice, Jonathan Steinwand (chair), Samantha Schmidt

Minutes for September 27, 2007 meeting were approved.

The first item was a resubmitted new course proposal: Biology 108: Food, Fiber, and Drugs, Plants and People. The course was approved with the following feedback: 1. The committee requested clarification for students in the syllabus whether there is one paper or two papers required and whether this means that each student will participate in two debates each or what the second paper is on and when it is due. 2. The instructor referred to the course as a "freshman course" when it should be characterized as an introductory level course because upperclass non-majors will likely enroll in the course if it is approved for exploration credit.

Second item was also a resubmitted new course proposal, for Biology 316: Conservation Biology. Action was postponed pending feedback from department regarding load implications for this arranged lab. If the course will count as 1.5 courses in the instructor’s load, how does the department feel about the lab being arranged and operating under apparently unsupervised time

The third item was a course modification for Religion 316. The title was changed from “Texts and Community in the Old Testament” to “The Good Life: Old Testament Perspective” and modification of course description for Fall 2008 to “What is 'the good life?' ” This course explores various perspectives on “the good life” contained in the writings of the Old Testament. Comparisons will be made to contemporary views. The course will also look at what the biblical writings picture as obstacles to “the good life” and what are viewed as challenges today. These changes were approved.

The meeting ended at 5:30

Respectfully Submitted,

Stephen Grollman