The School of Humanities and Graduate Studies

Faculty Meeting Minutes - Minutes for the meeting of February 21, 2006

Lincoln University
School of Humanities & Graduate Studies
Minutes for the meeting of 21 February 2006

Presiding:            Dr. G. Willis, Dean
Attending:            Professors J  K Van Dover, Button, Hoogeveen, Bhuiyan, Nigro, Prigg, Sekoni, Siddique, Whitesel, Kwame, Leaman, Muzorewa, Maazaoui, Charle Poza, Garcia, Amos, Chapp, Sonpon, McKinley-Pride

Dr. Willis opened the meeting at 4:00.

• Approval of the minutes of the meetings of November 2005 and January 2006 was postponed to the March meeting.
• Dean’s Updates

1. The Middle States Self-Study has begun.
2. A preliminary analysis of the effects of the Humanities Tutoring Plan was distributed.
3. Department Chairs who have not submitted their Departmental Assessment Reports on Student Learning must do so immediately. Reports were due or February 17, 2006.
4. The draft of new policies relating to the submission of grant proposals was distributed to department chairs, who were asked to duplicate them for faculty.
5. New faculty cannot be assured of positions until contracts are written; no new faculty can enter classrooms until contracts are signed.
6. The administration is undertaking a study of class enrollments to insure that maximum enrollments are achieved
7. The administration is looking at ways to make “pre”registration function as registration
8. Department Chairs have been asked to insure that all major programs fit within the 120-124 credit limit.  Curriculum schemata are due on March 27, 2006.

• Action Items

1. Humanities Recommended Core Curriculum

Dean Willis distributed the “Draft for Input from School Faculties Core Curriculum Structure (41 credits).”  It was decided to make this item a discussion item.  There was much discussion.  The school voted 11 to 5 (with 2 abstentions) to recommend that the math requirement be 3 credits, not 6.  Students should be able to test out of Lifetime Sports.  History should be specified as a required element in the Social Sciences core.  The Humanities element should be clarified as:  Art or Music, Religion or Philosophy, and Literature.  First Year Experience may be centered in one department, but should be permitted to be offered in all.

ART103

Dr. Muzerewa, as chair of the School Curriculum Committee, presented the syllabus for ART103/Introduction to Media and Color.  Dr. Garcia’s motion to approve was seconded and was passed without opposition.

• Discussion Items

1. Drs. Button and Bhuiyan presented the syllabi for ENG333/Copy Editing, ENG334/Advanced News-Writing, ENG416/Advanced TV News and Convergent Media Production, ENG332/Layout and Design.  There was discussion about the need for ENG332, and the possibility that an existing art course might serve the function.  Dr. Serajul Bhuiyan and Prof. Chapp  will consult on the matter prior to the next Humanities Curriculum Meeting.
2. The Dean reminded faculty that they must insure student attendance at the Humanities Day Convocation on 16 March.
3. Dr. Button distributed a draft of the Writing Proficiency Exam brochure and requested feedback.  She will report to the general faculty in March..
4. Dr. Kwame drew attention to the a growing national debate on standardized testing of undergraduate education recommended by the federal government.
5. Dr. Garcia reminded faculty of the outstanding performances of Ms. Rita  McKinley Pride and Prof. Charles Pettaway  on February 21, 2006, at the Humanities Symposium.  The school applauded the performance.

The meeting was adjourned at 5:45.

Recorded by J.K. Van Dover, English Department