Faculty Senate

Curricular Affairs Committee

Minutes for the eighth meeting of the 2002-2003 academic year.

I. The meeting was called to order at 3:05 p.m. on Monday, April 14, 2003, in Library Conference Room A, Chairperson Kaufman presiding.

The following members were present: Professors Agostinucci, Kaufman, Kislalioglu, Lessmann, Paton, Rusnock and Yeaw. Vice Provost Rhodes.

Guest: Ms. McMahon.

II. The Minutes of Meeting #7, March 17, 2003 were approved. Chairperson Kaufman thanked Ms. McMahon for taking notes at the March 17 meeting.

III. REPORTS

Chairperson Kaufman said that he had no reports at that time.

IV. UNFINISHED BUSINESS

A. College of Arts and Sciences (Series B. No. 2 - November 8, 2002)

African and African-American Studies Program and Department of Communication Studies

Consideration of the cross-listing of COM 465 as COM 465 (or AAF 465)* remained postponed.

B. College of Arts and Sciences (Series A. No. 3)

Following discussion, a motion to recommend to the Faculty Senate Class C classification for the proposal to establish the URI Feinstein Center for a Hunger Free America carried.

C. Responsibility for permanent courses

The committee reviewed a proposed statement drafted by Chairperson Kaufman. After discussion, the following statement was approved.

It is appropriate that courses which are part of the University's permanent offerings be instituted by continuing members of the University faculty.

Courses by anyone other than continuing faculty members should be proposed as temporary ('X') courses. Such temporary courses shall not subsequently be considered for transformation to permanent status unless a continuing member of the department's faculty proposes and assumes responsibility for the course.

Ms. Grubman announced that the statement would be included in the informational section of the CAC's 415th Report.

D. College of Arts and Sciences (Series B. No. 3 - January 7, 2003)

1. Department of Chemistry

a. The addition of new course code FOS Forensic Science was approved.

b. The addition of CHM 392 (or FOS 392) was approved with the addition of "May not be repeated for credit. May not be taken in the same semester as 391."

2. Department of Sociology

Consideration of the addition of SOC 424 remained postponed.

E. College of Arts and Sciences (Series B. No. 4 - February 14, 2003)

Department of Sociology and Anthropology

The addition of APG 301 was approved with a revised description.

F. Temporary course - College of Engineering

Department of Mechanical Engineering

The addition of MCE 433X* was approved.

G. College of the Environment and Life Sciences

Department of Plant Sciences

Ms. Grubman reported that Professor Logan had asked that the addition of new simultaneous courses EVS 434 and EVS 435 be removed from consideration.

She then distributed copies of the CAC's policy on computer courses.

H. College of Human Science and Services

Department of Physical Education and Exercise Science

The addition of PEX 411* was approved.

IV. NEW BUSINESS

A. Temporary Course - College of Arts and Sciences

Department of Economics

Consideration of the addition of ECN 398X was postponed pending consultation with the Department of Environmental and Natural Resources Economics.

B. College of Arts and Sciences (Series B. No. 5 - April 3, 2003)

1. Department of Economics

The addition of ECN 371 was approved.

2. Department of History

The change in description for HIS 333 was approved.

3. Justice, Law and Society Committee

The change to the Justice, Law and Society minor was approved.

4. Department of Languages

The change in number and prerequisite for SPA 201 was approved.

C. College of Engineering

1. Department of Chemical Engineering

The change in prerequisite for CHE 425* was approved pending receipt of clarification by the department.

2. Department of Electrical Engineering

a. The change in title and description for ELE 401* was approved.

b. The change in description for ELE 423 was approved.

c. The change in title and description for ELE 447* was approved.

d. The change in description for ELE 457* was approved.

D. College of the Environment and Life Sciences

1. Department of Plant Sciences

Consideration of the change in name of major in Urban Horticulture and Turfgrass Management was postponed pending receipt of a rationale for the proposal.

2. Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences

a. The change in prerequisite for NFS 227, 337, 375, 395, 443*, 444*, 451 and 452 was approved.

b. The removal of the cross-listing of NFS from MIC 422 (or NFS 422) and the transfer of the description to MIC was approved.

c. The change in laboratory hours for NFS 227 was approved.

d. The change in title for NFS 326 and 451, 452 was approved.

e. The change in description for NFS 394 and 395 was approved.

E. Procedure for consideration of temporary courses between the last CAC meeting in the spring and the first CAC meeting in the fall.

The CAC agreed to follow its practice of considering and approving X courses by mail during the summer as long as there were no objections. If objections were raised, consideration of the temporary course(s) would be postponed until the first CAC meeting in the fall.

F. College of Business Administration

The change in curriculum for the freshman year was approved as long as students had at least 6 credits of free electives in their programs.

G. Method of Instruction

Ms. McMahon raised concerns about the implementation of lecture/laboratory hours requirements which had created a problem for departments with the transfer to People Soft.

It was agreed that if the hours commitment was met, there would be no problem, but if the method of instruction was changed to lecture, the departments would be asked to change the method of instruction officially.

*May require action by the Graduate Council.

Respectfully submitted,

 

Sheila Black Grubman