The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

EDUCATIONAL POLICY COMMITTEE
Minutes
April 3, 2008

Attending: S. Birrell, H. Dettmer (Chair), M. Gilbert, K. Hall (committee staff), R. Honey, R. Ketterer, J. Kimberley (student member), J. Menninger, D. Redlawsk, and A. Segre

Excused Absence: Philip Kutzko, M. Niño-Murcia

1. Minor revisions were suggested to the minutes from March 27.
2. H. Dettmer updated the committee on the Arts Entrepreneurship Certificate. The Division of Performing Arts has revised the certificate to clarify its intended audience; 9 semester hours of courses in dance, music, or theatre have been added. EPC had met on December 6  with Professor Alan MacVey, Director of the Division of Performing Arts, and had approved the certificate.  EPC agreed that the revised certificate could move forward to the Faculty Assembly without an additional review from EPC.
3. EPC discussed exceptions to the CLAS residence requirement. Courses offered by the Departments of Biochemistry, Microbiology, Economics, Elementary Education, and Science Education are offered by the Colleges of Medicine, Business, and Education and consequently do not count for the CLAS residence requirement. If a student, however, earns a major from one of these departments, the credit hours of the courses in the department of that major are counted toward the CLAS residence requirement. These exceptions are permitted since CLAS confers the undergraduate degrees from these areas. No other majors qualify. After discussion, EPC decided that the exceptions stated above should remain in place. Without the exceptions, transfer students could be penalized. Since these departments have close ties and affiliations with disciplines and traditions within the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, these exceptions are appropriate.
4. EPC examined the residence status of a number of courses within the GE Program offered by other colleges that are not accepted for the CLAS residence requirement. Since these courses undergo a five-year review and must be initially approved by the CLAS General Education Committee and by EPC, EPC decided that all courses within the GE Program should be counted for CLAS residence. The decision was unanimous in a voice vote and the proposal will be brought to Faculty Assembly in the fall.
5. EPC reviewed the restructured GE Program draft to date. There was a call for more social sciences and QFR choices. The discussion will be relayed to the General Education Advisory Committee.

Respectfully submitted,
EPC Secretary
Robert Ketterer