General Education Committee
Minutes of Wednesday, March 3, 1999
Members present: Gene Bartoo, Mike Biderman, Betsy Darken, Jim Hiestand,
Nick Honerkamp, Felicia Sturzer, Bruce Wallace
Visitors: Jim Cunningham (Engineering), Brenda Davis (Director of Records)
The committee convened at 3:00 p.m.
A. Proposals
1. Engineering 211: Pollution Controls (Cat D non lab)
Some committee members questioned whether or not this course satisfied the
first two guidelines of Category D. In particular, does this course
provide a broad view of scientific achievements and focus on theories and
discoveries fundamental to the current scientific representation of
reality? Professor Cunningham responded that the course deals with broad
scientific issues, such as ecosystems and natural cycles. With regard to
guideline #5, analyzing "the advantages and limitations of empirical
approaches to understanding and influencing the world around us", a
committee member pointed out that the limitations were not addressed in the
response to the guideline, although they were in the syllabus. Dr.
Cunningham said that value questions, for instance questions which require
judgments about the relative importance of conflicting goals, are often
raised in the course.
ENGR 211 CERTIFIED, 4-2-1
2. Anthropology 208: Cultural Anthropology (Cat B: Nonwestern)
A question was raised about how "nonwestern" the course is. Professor
Honerkamp responded that he spends about 75% of the class on nonwestern
cultures. Western culture is used primarily for making comparisons.
ANTHRO 208 CERTIFIED , 6-0-0 (Professor Honerkamp recused himself from
the vote.)
3. Chemistry Department proposal to integrate oral communication
This proposal was tabled until the next meeting to accommodate an invited
guest, Brenda Davis.
B. Special Rules for General Education
The committee continued its discussion of recommendations from the
Implementation Committees regarding special cases and unusual situations,
and took the following actions.
Approved: completion of English 122 alone constitutes satisfactory
completion of the Rhetoric and Composition requirement. Rationale: some
students place directly into 122. (Vote: 6-0-1)
Approved: All students who transfer to UTC in the 1999-2000 academic year
may adopt the 1998-1999 catalog instead of the 1999-2000 catalog. They
retain the option of adopting the UTC catalog of the year they first
started college. Rationale: Usually, transfer students adopt the UTC
catalog of their year of entry to UTC. However, in 1999-2000, upper level
general education courses will not yet be in place. In addition, many
students planning to transfer to UTC in 1999-2000 have been referring to
the old general education requirements in making their course selections.
(Vote: 6-0-1)
Postponed: Permitting current students who are required to switch to a new
catalog due to licensure requirements, etc., to continue to use the old
general education program. Rationale: According to Brenda Davis, being
required to switch to a new catalog is a relatively rare event. Professor
Bartoo was not aware of any new state licensure requirements for teachers
looming on the horizon. The committee decided to postpone consideration of
this matter until there is reason to do so. (Vote: 6-0-1)
Approved: Students are required to complete the Rhetoric & Composition
requirement within the first 42 **attempted** hours of college level work.
Transfer students are required to complete the Rhetoric & Composition
requirement within the first 30 attempted hours of UTC college level work.
Rationale: this is a clarification of a similar statement in the Green
Book, plus a similar stipulation for transfer students. It is similar to
policies of the past. (Vote: 7-0-0)
Approved: Students are required to complete the Mathematics requirement
within the first 60 attempted hours of college level work. [Note: this
does not apply to the Statistics requirement.] Rationale: There is a
track record of students postponing their mathematics as long as possible,
to the point of delaying graduation or petitioning for an exception.
Students also delay taking the mathematics placement test, and are
surprised to find that they must take one or two developmental courses in
addition to a college level math course. In addition, for those students
who take the placement test on arrival at UTC and then postpone taking
their math courses, the placement results probably become less and less
reliable. (Vote: 7-0-0)
The remainder of the list of recommendations will be considered at our next
meeting, at 3 p.m. on March 24 in the Hiwassee Room. The chair noted that
our recommendations will be presented to Faculty Council for their
consideration, once we complete the entire list.
The meeting adjourned at 4:35 p.m.
Mathematics Department, UT-Chattanooga
615 McCallie Ave, Chattanooga, TN 37403
phone:615-755-4580;fax: 615-755-4586; email: [log in to unmask]
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