The School of Humanities and Graduate Studies

Faculty Meeting Minutes - Minutes for the meeting of January 17, 2006

Lincoln University School of Humanities
Meeting held January 17, 2006

Minutes

Attendance: Dr. J.K. Van Dover, Prof. Susan Chikwem, Dr. Marilyn Button, Dr. Jeff Hoogeveen, Dr. Benson Prigg, Dr. Kaukab Siddique, Ms. Cynthia Whitesel, Dr. Safro Kwame, Dr. Melvin Leaman, Dr. Gwinyai Muzorewa, Dr. Abbes Maazaoui, Dr. Maria Poza, Dr. William B. Garcia, Dr. Alvin Amos, Prof. Jeff Chapp and Prof. Andrew Sonpon.

Dean’s Updates:

Middle States Self Study: The key point for the Middle States Self Study will be assessment. We must be able to show that students are learning and fulfilling the stated objectives of our courses.

Grim Gym: Dean Willis announced that the Grim Gym would soon be torn down and that modular units will be built in its place to house the occupants of University Hall and Ware Center while these buildings are being renovated. Those involved should be preparing to move. Faculty should e-mail the dean with suggestions and requirements concerning how the move will be carried out.

Travel and Classroom Management Forms: Faculty were reminded that these forms must be filled out any time they are not able to teach a class. The chair must be informed how and by whom the class will be covered.

Curriculum Revisions: Once the new core is approved, we must make sure that the core plus the major requirements do not total more than 124 credits. Revisions of major requirements should be done by the end of February.

Library:  The library will be undergoing extensive renovations, which will include the installation about 60 new computers.

Core Curriculum:

The need for a faculty coordinator and committee for the freshman seminar was emphasized. Specifics on the curriculum for the course will be worked out by the committee. Dr. Van Dover mentioned that if the new core is to be implemented this fall, as President Nelson has requested, we will need to work quickly to get the new freshman seminar approved.

Questions were raised concerning the literature component of the Humanities requirement, whether it would still be World Literature. Dr. Button said that the department is working to redesign the World Lit course, since only one course will now be required instead of two, and that new courses such as Islamic Literature and Women’s Literature are being designed so that students will have a choice of courses with a World Lit focus that will fulfill the requirement.

Math: If a second math course is going to be “designated by the major” we need to develop or choose a math course that will be appropriate for Humanities majors.

President Nelson’s Remarks:

President Nelson came in to speak to faculty on the need to revive Lincoln’s former academic glory. He appealed to faculty to work together with commitment and fervor on the new curriculum and the development of the designated centers of excellence. He said that we need to be forward looking so we can provide not just what our students need now, but anticipate what they will need tomorrow after they graduate. He also said that we need to utilize our new facilities by developing more summer programs and continuing education programs.

Tutoring Program:

Dr. Maazaoui summarized results from the Fall semester tutoring sessions – there were a total of 74 student visits to the center. He outlined the duties of the faculty supervisors and stressed the need to have a separate sign in sheet for each tutor.  He will be looking at the grades of students who came for tutoring.  Part II of our retention plan will be to pair weak students with strong students.  Part III will be to develop a plan for challenging our stronger students.

Assessment of Learning:

We need to gather data so that existing programs can be effectively modified.  We also need to set specific objectives in our courses so that learning can be properly assessed. This will be very important for the Middle States Self Study.

Faculty Awards:  

A committee was nominated to review applications for faculty awards:
      Dr. Hoogeveen, Dr. Nigro and Dr. Maazaoui

Humanities School Day:

Dean Willis suggested that we move away from having the usual awards ceremony since the university already has the honors convocation. It was agreed that it is necessary to recognize our better students, but that it should be done in a different way from the honors convocation. Dean Willis suggested honoring the 3 students with the highest GPAs in each program. Dr. Van Dover suggested that each department nominate students based on performance and effort, not necessarily GPAs.  Criteria will be set for  making these nominations.

Dean Willis appealed to faculty to come out and support this event. She said that last year attendance by both students and faculty was poor.

 

Recorded by Susan Chikwem