Curriculum Action Notice

From:

Academic Affairs Committee

Date:

November 2, 2000

This is a bulletin from the Academic Affairs Committee concerning proposed curriculum actions. Within the next 10 days, please forward any comments or concerns to the AAC Chair, Lynn Pifer. Belknap Hall 05, x4384,  lpifer@mnsfld.edu.

The following is a proposed change in the IM2000 General Education Proposal.

PROPOSAL: Include Ma 117 and Ma 304 in the proposed IM 2000 general education program.

RATIONALE:

• These courses meet the criteria of the Purpose and Student Learning Outcomes Statements for the block. (See the posting on the General Education Bulletin Board for support of this position.)
  
• According to the criteria adopted by the Implementation Committee any course "Currently listed as a Gen Ed course OR . . . (other criteria)" was to be included in the new general education program. Since both Ma 117 and Ma 304 are included in the current general education program, the Implementation Committee violated its own criteria when they excluded these courses.
  
• Concerns have been expressed that there are not enough mathematics courses available to meet the needs of incoming students who are weak in mathematical skills. Mathematics and Culture is an excellent course for such students.
  
• Ma 117 has always, with one exception, been offered as a writing emphasis course. The decision to offer future sections of this course as a W-course is in the hands of the individual professor offering the course. If the administration wants the Mathematics department to consider offering Ma 117 without the W designation, they indicated that they will be happy to consider that request.

Please see the document at http://geologyeducation.com/gemodel/messages/133.html and the responses to that posting for additional information.