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University of Minnesota Morris Digital Well University of Minnesota Morris Digital Well Social Science Division Division Minutes 10-1-2012 Social Science Division meeting minutes 10/01/2012 Social Science Division Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.morris.umn.edu/socialscience Social	Science	Division	Meeting	October	1,	2012	5:30	p.m.	Imholte	Hall	109		Faculty	in	Attendance:	Chair	Leslie	Meek,	Oscar	Baldelomar,	Nick	Benesh,	Cyrus	Bina,	Kent	Blansett,	Ed	Brands,	Sheri	Breen,	Steve	Burks,	Mike	Cheyne,	Donna	Chollett,	Rebecca	Dean,	Jennifer	Deane,	Clayton	Forester,	Solomon	Gashaw,	Farah	Gilanshah,	Roland	Guyotte,	Hiro	Imai,	Brooks	Jessup,	Tom	Johnson,	Seung‐Ho	Joo,	Arne	Kildegaard,	Paul	Kivi,	Nick	Leonard,	Tim	Lindberg,	Ben	Narvaez,	Bibhudutta	Panda,	Jeff	Ratliff‐Crain,	Roger	Rose,	Jennifer	Rothchild,	Cheryl	Stewart,	Dennis	Stewart,	Sheng	Xiao,	Xia	Zhang		Student	Representatives	in	Attendance:	Ann	Austin,	Zach	Johnson,	Elizabeth	Pappenfus,	Miles	Wangensteen		Excused	Absences:	Steve	Gross,	Heather	Peters,	Elaine	Nelson,	Kevin	Stefanek		Guest:		Tisha	Turk		I.	Announcements		Chair	Meek	called	the	meeting	to	order	at	5:30	p.m.		Jennifer	Deane	announced	the	Master	Advisors’	intent	to	host	an	event	focusing	on	helping	undecided	majors	choose	a	direction.		“Speed	dating”	format,	pizza	served.		Wed,	October	10th	at	5:00	in	Oyate.		Any	faculty	who	want	to	come	and	talk	about	their	major	are	welcome.		Further,	all	are	encouraged	to	send	undecided	major	advisees	to	the	event.		Once	the	changes	are	in	PCAS	(by	Wed.),	Terri	will	mail	them	out	to	Discipline	Coordinators	to	make	sure	they	are	correct.		She	needs	to	hear	back	from	you	on	Thursday	or	Friday,	since	she	has	to	send	them	to	Darla	by	4:30	on	Friday.		Single	semester	leave	forms	are	being	redone	and	should	be	ready	by	Thursday.		If	you	have	been	working	on	one,	the	questions	will	be	much	the	same;	the	form	will	just	be	more	user‐friendly.		Deadline	is	October	29th	for	the	Dean’s	Office,	so	forms	need	to	be	given	to	Leslie	by	Oct.	25th	so	she	can	read	and	sign	them.		Deadline	for	Imagine	Funds	is	Oct.	25th.		Deadline	for	Sabbatical	Leave	Requests	is	Nov.	5th	for	the	Dean’s	Office.		Leslie	needs	them	by	Nov.	1st	so	she	can	read	and	sign	them.		Deadline	for	EDP	Grants	is	Nov.	16th	in	the	Dean’s	Office.		Leslie	needs	to	see	them	by	Nov.	14th	so	she	can	read	and	sign	them.		Brooks	Jessup	moved	to	approve	the	September	10th	minutes,	Roland	Guyotte	seconded.		Minutes	were	approved	by	unanimous	vote.		II.	History	PCAS	Changes		Speaking	to	the	History	Discipline	changes,	Jennifer	Deane	explained	that	the	change	was	a	philosophical	change	rather	than	a	practical	one;	the	new	language	better	reflects	the	nature	of	the	requirement,	and	will	help	students	to	understand	what	is	expected.			Additionally,	for	the	minor,	there	is	a	new	number	for	the	methods	course.		Jeff	Ratliff	Crain	suggested	that	the	history	discipline	group	courses	into	categories	to	help	students	keep	track	on	APAS.		Chair	Meek	said	that	that	has	already	been	suggested,	and	that	Terri	has	sent	an	email	about	it.		Deane	added	that	so	far	the	discipline	hasn’t	encountered	any	difficulties,	and	isn’t	sure	whether	it	wants	to	go	that	route	or	not.				Cyrus	Bina	moved	to	approve	the	changes,	Paul	Kivi	seconded.		A	unanimous	vote	approved	the	history	changes.		III.	LAHS	Changes		Ratliff‐Crain	explained	that	because	there	is	more	and	more	demand	for	writing	grants,	etc.	in	the	field,	LAHS	is	adding	a	research	methods	requirement.		Soc	3103	and	Psy	2001	are	new	required	courses.		There	is	the	expectation	that	students	will	be	taking	Soc	3103,	but	if	they’re	double	majoring/minoring	in	psychology,	the	requirement	is	fulfilled	by	Psy	2001	(a	required	course	for	Psy	majors	and	minors).		Being	a	psychology	major	or	minor	is	a	new	prereq	for	Psy	2001.				Other	changes	are	mostly	cleanup	intended	to	preserve	the	theme/intent	of	LAHS.		Ratliff‐Crain	moved	to	approve,	Guyotte	seconded.		A	unanimous	vote	approved	the	LAHS	changes.		IV.	Management	Changes		Steve	Burks	announced	a	friendly	amendment	to	a	Management	course		–	the	addition	of	prereqs	to	Mgmt	3123.		Jennifer	Rothchild	moved	to	approve	the	first	change,	Tim	Lindberg	seconded.		A	unanimous	vote	approved.		The	second	change,	Steve	Burks	explained,	was	to	add	public	speaking	to	the	major	requirements.		Guyotte	asked	if	the	discipline	would	be	rigid	about	requiring	the	course	for	everyone,	as	some	students	come	into	college	with	good	rhetorical	skills.		Burks	replied	that	exceptions	could	be	provided	on	a	case‐by‐case	basis.		Roger	Rose	moved	to	approve	the	second	change,	Seung‐Ho	Joo	seconded.		A	unanimous	vote	approved	the	change.		The	third	proposed	change	was	a	business	language	requirement	sub	plan.		In	the	past,	Burks	explained,	someone	coming	into	the	major	who	already	has	language	competency	(i.e.	an	international	student	who	knows	English	in	addition	to	their	native	language)	has	been	waived	form	the	language	requirement.		Now,	the	discipline	has	created	a	parallel	requirement:	students	have	to	take	8	credits	in	another	language.				Bina:	This	has	been	proposed	because	of	increasing	globalization,	and	because	being	able	to	effectively	communicate	is	important.		The	change	would	thus	be	relevant.		Burks:	We	approached	the	English	discipline	to	see	which	courses	would	be	relevant.		Tisha	Turk:	2000	level	classes	in	the	English	aren’t	language	classes;	they’re	literature	or	writing,	which	aren’t	appropriate	for	goals	of	management	major.		We	picked	the	least	awful	options	for	proposals,	although	they	still	don’t	seem	to	fulfill	management’s	hopes.		Several	English	faculty	who	have	dealt	with	ESL	students	also	want	to	mention	that	it	would	be	a	ton	of	extra	work	for	them.		In	the	past,	professors	have	had	to	essentially	teach	extra	seminars	during	their	office	hours	to	help	ESL	students	keep	up.		Those	students	need/want	language	instruction,	but	that’s	not	what	happens	in	these	classes.		Guyotte:	Does	English	still	offer	the	modern	language	class?		Turk:	It’s	now	called	Grammar	and	Language,	and	is	very	much	in	demand.		Deane	asked	Burks	which	specific	skills	he	was	hoping	non‐native	skills	will	gain	from	this	change.		Bina:	Reading	comprehension.		Burks:	Tisha	says	these	aren’t	courses	about	language,	they’re	courses	about	writing,	which	is	great	in	our	opinion.		Deane:	I’m	wondering	if	you’re	looking	for	students	to	gain	the	straightforward	clarity	of	communication	specifically	related	to	business.	Don’t	see	how	literature	would	do	that.		Guyotte:	Native	speakers	of	English	have	to	take	intermediate	Spanish	or	German.		It	seems	like	the	equivalent	would	be	an	intermediate	ESL	course.		Turk:	that’s	what	the	Humanities	Division	would	like:	to	have	an	instructor	who	could	teach	ESL	beyond	the	beginning	level.	Tim	Lindberg:	How	does	this	relate	to	someone	who	comes	to	UMM	and	test	out	of	the	language?		Burks:	Right	now,	anyone	who	has	native	competence	has	the	language	requirement	waived.		What	we	propose	is	to	create	a	parallel	requirement.		Ben	Narvaez:	To	be	able	to	enroll	here,	do	students	have	to	have	passed	out	of	the	2000	level	English	requirement?		Otherwise	it	wouldn’t	be	very	hard	to	be	a	student	here.		Seung‐Ho	Joo:	We	don’t	have	the	breadth	in	foreign	languages	offered	here.		If	they	have	to	take	another	language,	that	would	strain	our	resources	and	spread	the	students	thin.		It’s	a	lot	of	extra	work	for	students,	too.		I	have	a	strong	reservation	about	the	first	requirement.		Narvaez:	The	first	requirement	is	to	give	them	a	choice.		Burks:	If	some	students	pass	out	of	the	second	language,	they’re	waived	entirely.		Ratliff‐Crain:	You	identified	several	courses	that	get	at	skills	you’re	looking	for.		That	seems	the	preferential	route.		Burks:	What	we	meant	by	part	two	was	course	work	taught	in	English,	not	English	courses.		We’re	not	limited	ourselves	to	English	discipline	courses,	although	we	do	think	some	students	will	want	to	take	them.		Narvaez:	Is	that	really	any	different,	because	students	have	to	take	a	course	in	English	to	graduate?		Does	it	matter	if	it’s	1000	or	2000	level?		Bina:	We	decided	that	2000	level	is	the	more	mature	level.		A	student	has	to	have	the	analytical	skill	to	succeed	at	that	level,	if	not	the	English	language	skills.		Jennifer	Rothchild:	If	we	vote	for	this,	are	we	basically	saying	we’re	not	going	to	worry	about	those	two	issues	(humanities	issues,	etc.)?		I’m	concerned	that	we’re	voting	for	things	we’re	not	able	to	problem	solve.		Will	we	just	figure	it	out	later?		Rebecca	Dean:	It	seems	that	you	wouldn’t	have	to	have	any	particular	class;	any	class	on	the	2000	level	will	require	a	certain	amount	of	mastery	of	the	English	language.		But	to	graduate,	don’t	students	have	to	have	taken	a	certain	amount	of	credits	at	a	2000	level?		Guyotte	moved	to	table	the	proposition.		There	was	no	second.		Kivi:	In	a	perfect	world,	we’d	have	a	2000	level	ESL	course	available	to	these	students.		I	don’t	know	how	far	from	this	we	are,	but	that’s	how	I’m	hearing	things.		Burks:	We	would	certainly	support	resources	going	into	such	a	change.		I	will	say	that	in	terms	of	the	extra	workload	of	having	ESL	students	in	2000	level	courses,	we’ve	had	50	of	them	per	year	coming	into	our	courses	for	the	past	several	years;	we	realize	this	is	an	issue.		Deane:	We’re	sympathetic	to	the	aims	of	your	discipline;	we	agree	that	language	training	is	vital.		My	only	concern	is	if	there	should	be	this	kind	of	focus.		ESL	support	to	make	Humanities	function	better	is	more	urgent	than	this.		If	I	were	to	vote	no,	that	would	be	why.		Arne	Kildegaard:	We’re	talking	about	a	flow	of	students	that	is	quite	monitored.		5	students	per	year	would	be	attempting	to	accumulate	credits	in	this	way.		This	is	not	a	raging	number	of	students	coming	through.		If	this	happens,	it’s	likely	that	administration	will	approve	additional	resources	in	the	ESL	area.		Elizabeth	Pappenfus:	From	a	student’s	perspective:	we	have	the	burden	as	well	to	help	out	our	fellow	students.		We	can	see	that	ESL	students	struggle	more	in	the	classes.		Roger	Rose:	It’s	a	trickle	of	students	now,	but	this	population	will	likely	expand.		Are	we	still	talking	about	a	plateau,	or	could	we	be	looking	at	15	students	in	the	future?		Sheng	Xiao:	What	is	our	focus	here?		My	understanding	is	that	the	only	requirement	is	that	non‐native	students	were	not	required	before	to	take	any	foreign	language	courses,	so	if	they	were	to	take	8	extra	credits	in	a	foreign	language,	the	problem	would	be	solved.		Burks:	We’ve	pretty	much	reached	our	steady	state	from	Shanghai.		140‐150	are	here,	and	that	number	should	be	stable	going	forward.		This	breaks	down	to	1	or	2	students	per	course.		There’s	no	prospect	for	a	sudden	flood.		Zach	Johnson:	I	know	this	isn’t	just	an	issue	within	the	Social	Science	Division:	it	does	affect	the	students	overall,	but	there	are	different	programs	and	resources	around	campus	that	do	help.		Stellar	is	one	such	program.		A	lot	of	other	colleges	are	currently	facing	the	same	issue.		This	is	really	something	that	needs	to	be	addressed	by	the	whole	campus.		Lindberg:	there	are	2	different	problems	here:	that	students	need	ESL,	and	this	proposal,	which	seems	to	say	that	it’s	not	fair	because	American	students	who	speak	English	have	to	take	extra	languages	but	ESL	students	don’t	have	to.		I	don’t	see	the	purpose	of	this	change	then.		Ratliff‐Crain:	It’s	unfortunate	that	this	language	ends	up	being	so	ambiguous.		I’m	stuck	on	“language‐rich.”		Bina:	This	proposal	is	speaking	to	the	heart	of	the	liberal	arts	college	aim.	Burks:	If	people	don’t	feel	comfortable	voting	immediately,	we	can	take	a	straw	poll	and	get	an	idea	about	where	to	go	from	here.		Kildegaard:	There	is	a	serious	language	issue	at	UMM.		We	know	that	it’s	a	lot	of	work.		The	idea	here	is	that	students	would	benefit	from	someone	taking	their	writing	seriously.		We	try	to	do	that,	but	we’re	facing	15‐20	ESL	students	per	class.		Students	need	it,	though.		Chair	Meek	then	called	for	a	straw	poll.		11	voted	in	favor	of	the	proposal,	11	voted	against,	and	6	abstained.		Burks	said	that	the	proposal	would	be	withdrawn	for	the	time	being,	but	that	it	should	be	revisited	in	the	future.		The	meeting	was	adjourned	at	6:32	p.m.			Minutes	respectfully	submitted	by	Holly	Gruntner,	Morris	Student	Administrative	Fellow	

Social Science Division meeting minutes 10/01/2012

https://digitalcommons.morris.umn.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1038&context=socialscience

Social Science Division meeting minutes 10/01/2012

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