Saint Mary's College General Education

Present: Chris Cobb, Janet Fore, Kitty Green, Joe Incandela, Michael Kramer, Charlie Peltier, Laurel Thomas

Guest: Jessica Ickes

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The minutes from November 4 were revised and approved.

Main focus of the meeting was on how we want to spend our time until the January Faculty Development Day

1. Refinement of Learning Outcomes (#1 on To-Do List) – We will work on this last—over break
   
2. Skills – No decision on a-c
   
   
   • (a) Refinement of other skills outcomes not yet vetted
     
   • (b) Decision on how to incorporate skills (cf. “a” above).
     
   • (c) Refine GenEd diagram’s colored arcs for skills
   
   
3. Critical Thinking Seminar refinement (#3 on To-Do List) – We’ve done most of what we can on the CTS.
   
4. Integration curricular options (#4 on To-Do List) – This is a high priority. We have not discussed this very much.
   
5. Inclusion of Women/gender study in the new curriculum – Patricia has a proposal for a sub/new group to work on this.
   
   Chris suggested that women’s issues/gender awareness to the curriculum is too narrow for a specific slot and locating it in the center is problematic. We could, in consultation with faculty, assign it to one slot in each arm. Stress the point that women’s voices should be heard everywhere.
   
   Develop the LO(s) for that (consult with WOST) then (consult with departments targeted). The LO(s) might be similar to the new LO in LO3 Intercultural Competence. What amount of a course would be needed to have addressed the LO(s)? It could be added to any slot or to a specific slot. Alternately, it could be added to LO3, but that is pretty full.
   
   Discussion about a ‘free floating” G (Gender Awareness) class or “assigned” to a slot. If assigned, the faculty must be more intentional. If “free floating” it really needs a “director” for recruiting courses If “free floating” would we run the risk of not having enough courses to be sure students would have enough offered in each arm, e.g., Science for the Citizen, esp Natural Science—We need to hear from Nancy and Don.
   
   
6. General Education across the majors (#6 on To-Do List) – In process: In regard to credit-heavy majors, Julie T has had a discussion in Art that may be a model that will be useful in discussions with other similar majors.
   
7. Compilation and final editing of all rules (#8 on To-Do List) –
   

What have we left out? Assuming that “Governance” and “Women” issues resolution are going elsewhere?

• We may need to define the implementation group and charge—separate group from the Governance group.
  
  
• Taking the program to the faculty rests with the President, once the program has gone to Academic Affairs Council.
  
  
• We will need to go to Faculty Assembly with the Governance Plan.
  
  
• How many of the operational details will need to be complete? Maybe it will ready for Board in February, perhaps to the Education Committee of the Board and then to the Board for approval in April. Academic Affairs comes in between Feb and April.

Integration may be the best topic for the next Gen Ed lunch. The next date for Gen Ed lunch is 11/23.

Possible dates for meetings were discussed to see who is out of town, etc.
Before the Gen Ed lunch: 11/11, 11/18 (some will be at the P-lunch), 11/25 possible.
During Break: December 21,22,29,30, January 4,5,6,7. Prepare for some all-day meetings.

Priority:
“Integration,” “ Women,” “ Across the major” would be better to do before end of the semester so we have access to other faculty.

Over break: Refinement of LO’s, Compilation of rules – perhaps a sub-group will give it a shot [week of 12/28] and discuss in the whole group the week of Jan 4.