September 18th, 2006

Present: Judith Anderson (Chair), Simon Brassell, Sandra Dolby, Hal Evans, Roger Levesque (Recorder), Rosemary Lloyd, and Patrick McNaughton

The meeting was convened at 4:16 pm.
Minutes from the previous week were discussed.

We were joined by Associate Dean Catherine Larson at 4:30. She updated us on the most recent version of the Bloomington General Education Proposal. She noted that people are generally satisfied with recent developments and that she felt comfortable moving forward.

Dean Larson was reassured by the appropriate resolution of two issues that had previously been potentially troublesome for the college. The current proposal recognizes that the college would be the principal conveyor of general education requirements. The proposal also recommends the establishment of a General Education Committee with a voting membership that reflects proportional representation from the Bloomington schools, a important issue given that the committee will be charged with implementing and assessing the General Education program, including the addition and deletion of courses.

We had a general discussion that focused on the proposal’s lack of important details. Although it was recognized that the proposal was an important step forward, we were concerned, for example, about the following: (1) the lack of mechanisms to ensure that the "Shared Goals" are taken seriously; (2) the lack of precise definitions for what constitutes "laboratory experiences;" (3) the need for grading practices designed to evaluate minimum competency; (4) the apparent over-exclusiveness (and in some instances, over-inclusiveness) of components that constitute "World Languages and Cultures;" and (5) the potential risk created by giving the General Education Committee considerable, unguided power, given that the proposal is moving forward based on an institutional memory and reassurances that may disappear once the Committee begins its tasks.

We considered whether we should endorse the proposal and decided that we would do so emphatically and enthusiastically. Dean Larson left the meeting at 5:21.

We discussed and proposed language for our letter to the BFC Agenda Committee supporting the new Gen. Ed. Proposal we had discussed with Dean Larson. [Friendly Amendment: We sent a letter later that evening.]

We returned to our discussion of the minutes and approved them.

We discussed and modified a revised policy that brings together the POLICY FOR THE EVALUATION OF CLASSROOM TEACHING FOR TENURE AND PROMOTION (May 6, 1998) and the REPORT ON TEACHING EVALUATION. We sent our draft to Dean David Zaret for comment.

The meeting was adjourned at 5:54.
Roger Levesque, Recorder

Questions or comments regarding the minutes and actions of the College Policy Committee may be addressed to its Chair, Judith Anderson (anders@indiana.edu – 855-3845). Past minutes and College Policy Statements can be found at the CPC web page: www.indiana.edu/~college/faculty/policy/policies.shtml.