1. Minutes from November 12, 2015, were approved as written.
2. Postings
The following courses were discussed and approved by the UGC:
CMPE 349 – Introduction to Professional Practice (Change: Credits) – Approved, but for Fall 2016 because of possibility of effecting financial aid
CMPE Program Change (Program Change)
Computer Science (Program Change) – Approved for Fall 2016
HIST 449/649 – From Black Power to Black Lives Matter: The Black Freedom Struggle in the Post-Civil Rights Period (New) REVISED
SPAN 202 Intermediate Spanish II (Change: Description)
PHIL 320 – Topics in the History of Philosophy (Change: Prerequisite & Description)
PHIL 321 – History of Philosophy: Ancient (Change: Prerequisite)
PHIL 322 – History of Philosophy: Modern (Change: Prerequisite)
PHIL 327 – American Pragmatism (Change: Prerequisite)
PHIL 334 – Asian Philosophy (Change: Prerequisite)
PHIL 346 – Deductive Systems (Change: Title, Prerequisite & Description)
PHIL 350 – Ethical Theory (Change: Prerequisite)
PHIL 355 – Political Philosophy (Change: Prerequisite & Description)
PHIL 356 – Philosophy of Law (Change: Prerequisite)
PHIL 368 – Aesthetics (Change: Prerequisite)
PHIL 371 – Epistemology (Change: Prerequisite & Description)
PHIL 372 – Philosophy of Science (Change: Prerequisite & Description)
PHIL 373 – Metaphysics (Change: Prerequisite)
PHIL 380 – Philosophy of Mind (Change: Prerequisite & Description)
PHIL 394 – Philosophy of Biology (Change: Prerequisite)
PHIL 420 – Advanced Topics in 19th and 20th Century European Philosophy (Change: Recommended Course Preparation, Prerequisite & Description) – revised
PHIL 452 – Advanced Topics in Ethics (Change: Recommended Course Preparation & Description) – revised
PHIL 471 – Freedom, Determinism and Responsibility (Change: Formal Title, Recommended Course Preparation & Prerequisite) – revised
PHIL 472 – Advanced Topics in the Philosophy of Science (Change: Recommended Course Preparation, Prerequisite & Description) – revised
3. The following courses will be discussed at February 11, 2016 meeting
EDUC 412M – Introduction to Middle Level Teaching and Learning (New)
EDUC 430 – Integrated STEM Content and Pedagogy (New)
EDUC 454 – Phase I Internship Seminar for Middle School STEM Teachers (New)
EDUC 466 – School, Family, and Community Partnerships for Middle Grades STEM Success (New)
MCS 144 – Professional Communication and Development (New)
PSYC 444 – Psychology of Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity (New)
Writing Intensive Requirement Program Change (Program Change)
MUSC 252 – Music in Wartime (New) – revised
PHIL 481 – Ancient Philosophy (Change: Title, Recommended Course Preparation, Prerequisite & Description) – revised
4. Policy and Procedure Updates
Policy and Procedural Updates
The UGC discussed the Proposed Arbitrary and Capricious Grading Procedures. A suggestion was made to change any reference to, “faculty member” to instead read, “instructor” throughout the policy as not to leave out non-faculty who teach courses in the Shriver Center and/or IHUs. Other than this suggestion, the proposed policy received the support of the UGC to move forward in the vetting process.
The Proposed Honors Eligibility Requirements were also discussed and support was offered by the UGC to move forward in the vetting process.
As an informational item, the UGC was advised of the need to have a written Credit Hour Policy at UMBC for purposes of the Verification of Compliance Report that is required for the Middle States Review. Once a draft policy is available it will be shared with the UGC for review and comment.
5. Tabled Postings
The UGC discussed and the tabled the following courses on 12/3/15:
CMSC 426 – Principles of Network Security (Change: Prerequisite) Department needs to clarify the prerequisites.
NAVY 100 – Introduction to Naval Science (New)
PHIL 345 – Philosophy of Language (Change: Prerequisite, Repeatable & Description) – The UGC is unclear if grading changes are meant to include p/f or not.
PHIL 454 – Animals and the Environment: Moral Theory and its Application (Change: Course Number, Formal Title, Prerequisite & Description) – revised 454 – The UGC would like to know if the department is changing the transcript title too.
PHIL 399 – Topics in Philosophy (Change: Prerequisite & Description) – revised – The UGC needs to know how many credits can be taken and the department needs to include the number of times the class can be taken in catalogue description.
PHIL 399b – Topics in Philosophy (Change: Course Number, Prerequisite & Description) – revised – The UGC needs to know how many credits can be taken and the department needs to include the number of times the class can be taken in catalogue description.
PHIL 498 – Advanced Topics in Philosophy (Change: Recommended Course Preparation, Prerequisite & Description) – revised – The UGC needs to know how many credits can be taken and the department needs to include the number of times the class can be taken in catalogue description.
PHIL 499 – Advanced Topics in Philosophy (Change: Recommended Course Preparation, Prerequisite & Description) – revised – The UGC needs to know how many credits can be taken and the department needs to include the number of times the class can be taken in catalogue description.
The UGC is still waiting for departments to address the tabled postings listed belows:
MUSC 250 – Music in Wartime (New) – The UGC tabled the course because the requested course number is not available. The UGC also wanted to know how the quizzes will be integrated into the syllabus (ex. are they planned quizzes or pop quizzes). It was also requested that the department add a significant description to the final project and that they change the catalog description.
ART 461 – Advance Photographic Compositing (New) The UGC tabled the course because all 400 level courses need at least recommended or prerequisite listed. Also, from the syllabus is was not clear what the assignments in the class consist of or how they will be graded. The department has been requested to indicate which assignments are written, which are visual, and how they will be assessed.
ART462 – Entrepreneurial Practices in Photography (New) – The UGC tabled the course because it was not happy with the prerequisites or the determination that students must be juniors or seniors to take the class. Since some students use AP credits and come in with 45 credits, it is better for departments to mandate students take certain classes. Also, the Registrar’s Office can not use “300” or “400” level classes in any discipline as a prerequisite. The UGC suggested to the department that they build “junior or senior standing” into the schedule of classes and add a “reserve capacity,” thereby determining that a certain number (or all) seats must be reserved for juniors or seniors. This can be changed by the department, and thus does not have to come through the UGC. Finally, the UGC would like to know what the “team assignments” are and how will the instructor assess them?
VART Photography Concentration BA Program Change (Program Change) – The UGC tabled the two program changes because ART 461 and ART 462 were listed in both.
VART Photography Concentration BFA Program Change (Program Change)
ARCH 330: Archaeology of Bronze Age Greece (Change: Course Number, Formal Title, Transcript Title & Description) – The UGC tabled the course because the course number is not available for use. The department can use 309 or 311.
POLI 372 – Understanding Transitioning Nations: Study Abroad in Poland (New) – The UGC requested that the Department updated the course proposal and received support from the Study Aboard Program.
POLI 468 – Disaster Politics (New) – Revised – The UGC tabled the course because there is no breakdown of how the assignments are weighted. The department mentions a “heavy emphasis on discussion,” but provide no sense of how you will measure and assess that participation. The UGC would like for the department to add a section to the syllabus that explains the various components of the students’ grades and how they will be weighted and assessed. Also, it is our understanding that every 400-level POLI class should have a significant writing component, but you mention only a midterm and final. How will you incorporate the writing?
POLI 476 – State and Societal Transition in Post-Communist Europe: Study Abroad in Poland (New)