WAC Committee Meeting Minutes – 5/7/07
The meeting was called to order at 11:00 a.m.
The committee discussed a petition from a transfer student requesting a waiver for the W.I. requirement outside the major. The committee approved the waiver, based on the student’s completion of English Composition I and II at College of Lake County.
Alan Wallace asked committee members for their summer availability in order to schedule summer meetings. It was agreed that WAC decisions can be made over the summer by e-mail “meetings” of regularly attending members, or by the vote of quorum of three regularly attending committee members. Minutes of any summer meetings/decisions must be recorded.
Mark Snavely reported that Tracy Gartner’s course was approved as Writing Intensive, via email decision. Two additional courses will be submitted for WI approval in the near future.
Alan Wallace reported that he and Rick Matthews are working with Wayne Thompson on a scanable form for W.I. assessment. A “heads up” email will be sent out to the faculty, followed by distribution of the assessment form in hard copy and electronically. The assessment forms should be returned to the committee prior to graduation. The results will be posted online.
Mark Snavely has been working with Mike Kishline to develop the W.I. course renewal form. Any significant change to a W.I. course must be indicated on the renewal form. Mark will see about adding a request to the form for a rationale for proposed changes. The form should be up and running by September. Renewal of W.I. courses is required, at least for the first few years of implementation.
W.I. course proposals listing more than one instructor can be approved, provided each instructor is W.I. certified and that instructors use identical syllabi.
The accessibility of the W.I. course proposal/renewal forms was discussed. At present, the web pages are five layers deep. At the May faculty meeting, Mark Snavely will give a brief report on the progress of W.I., and will demonstrate for faculty how to find the W.I. blog, forms and updates.
The August W.I. workshop afternoon session (1-4 p.m.) will be led by Alan Wallace. Jean Preston will assist him with this session. Mark Snavely and Rick Matthews will conduct the morning session with Department Chairs. The WAC committee will have a 7:00 a.m. breakfast meeting meet with Marty Townsend on Thursday, August 30.
Alan Wallace expressed concern regarding W.I. course requirements in the School of Professional Studies (SPS) because of pending changes in management and curriculum in SPS.
W.I. approval is needed for the new Heritage I pilot sections to be taught in fall 07. Mark Snavely will remind the HOC about this requirement.
Alan Wallace requested that committee members think about future assessment of W.I. courses and also how to best recognize outstanding W.I. faculty and outstanding student writing developed in W.I. courses. The committee agreed that this recognition should come from the Divisions and the HOC.
Mark Snavely will send a memo to Division Chairs regarding pending W.I. deadlines, writing assessment issues, and faculty and student recognition.
The meeting was adjourned at 12:00 noon.
Respectfully submitted,
Jean Preston