WAC Committee Minutes
Monday, February 20, 2006
Present: Rick Matthews, Leonard Schulze, Anne Shaw, Mark Snavely, David Steege, Alan Wallace
The committee discussed the question of how much of the course grade (as a minimum) a WI course should have. The committee agreed upon 30%.
The committee discussed concerns raised by the Business Department about changing the requirements for their major in the catalog for next year. The committee agreed that the only courses that will be designated WI for next year will be Heritage I and Heritage II. Departments should not be adding WI courses to the catalog for next year. However, if a department plans on using a senior thesis course (that is required) as a potential WI course for those students entering under next year’s catalog, they may want to change the number of credits for the existing course to four credits. Such courses will still have to go through the process of WI designation once the committee finalizes all the criteria.
What counts toward the 16 page minimum for WI courses? The example discussed was a draft of a seven page paper that would be turned in half way through the semester, revised, and then turned in again for a final grade. The committee agreed that drafts could count as long as they: 1.) provided an opportunity for serious feedback on the part of the faculty member (or peer feedback guided by the faculty member), AND 2.) were subject to significant revision.
The above example, while meeting the two criteria, is not ideal. The committee would encourage faculty who brought such assignments for consideration to think about revising them to better reflect process writing. The committee reaffirmed its commitment to process writing as a significant component of the Carthage WAC program.
The committee discussed the use of first-year courses in a major being used as WI. The committee decided that it will be necessary to work with departments to identify potential courses, and will encourage departments to distribute WI courses throughout the curriculum.
Matthews reported that he had spoken with Diane Keller about teaching a pilot WI course in ACE format during the later part of summer 2006. Anne Shaw is currently piloting a Heritage II course that reflects WI pedagogy. Matthews noted that he would like to work with the committee to create the course, knowing that not all of the criteria may be finalized. He noted that what he learns from teaching this course may help other ACE instructors create WI courses. That coupled with Anne Shaw’s experience teaching the ACE Heritage section should put the SPS program on firm footing as we move forward implementing the new curriculum.
The meeting adjourned at 1:07