ANNUAL REPORT OF THE GENERAL COLLEGE COMMITTEE DATE: 30 April 1986 TOs Dr. Kenneth Wilson, Chair of the Faculty FROM: Dr. Donald W. Neal, Chair of the General College Committee Membership of the committee: Ex-Officio: Dre Donald Bailey, Dean of the General College Dr. Elmer Meyer, Vice Chancellor for Student Life Mrs. Myra Cain, Representative of the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Dre Kenneth Wilson, Chair of the Faculty Faculty: Dr. Margaret Capen, Business Dr. Robert Christian, Biology, Vice Chair Dre Frances Daugherty, Art Dr. Bertie Fearing, English, Secretary Dr. Donald Neal, Geology, Chair Dr. Gregory Ross, Philosophy Dre Ione Ryan, Counseling Center Student: Mse Kimberly McRoy Committee meetings and faculty members absent: 21 August 1985 (Daugherty, Ross) 24 September 1985 (Capen, Ross) 8 October 1985 (Capen, Daugherty, Christian) 26 November 1985 (Ross) 18 February 1986 25 March 1986 (Christian) 15 April 1986 (Capen, Fearing, Ross) Dates of reports to the Faculty Senate: None Specific instructions given to the committee by the Faculty Senate other than those found in the committees charge: There were no specific instructions given by the Senate, however, the committee was requested by the Chair of the Faculty to respond to the items listed below. 1) A recommendation by the "On-line" Liaison Committee (letter of 1 March 1985) that students be allowed to declare a major sooner than is now permitted. 2) A request by Dr. Kenneth Wilson, Chair of the Faculty, (memorandum of 4 December 1985) for the General College Committee to consider and make a recommendation to the Curriculum Committee concerning a proposal for granting genemalceducation Credit for Area -Studtes ‘sand Interdisciplinary courses. Vi. A brief statement of committee organization, subcommittees, research activities, etc. At the 26 November meeting, a subcommittee (Margaret Capen, Robert Christian, Frances Daugherty) was formed to consider matters of curriculum reform. All other items brought before the committee were deliberated upon by the entire committee without prior consideration by a subcommittee. List of committee accomplishments including recommendations made to agencies other than the Faculty Senate. Item: A recommendation by the "On-line Liaison Committee that students be allowed to declare a major sooner than is now permitted. Action: The General College Committee decided not to recommend any Change in existing requirements. Item: Proposed changes in general education requirements passed by the General College Committee in April of 1985 were sent to the Curriculum Committee for further consideration. Action: Ail proposed changes in general education requirements were passes by the Curriculum Committee and the Faculty Senate except the reduction of the Social Science requirement from 13 to 12 semester HOULS « Itém: Proposal for granting general education credit for Area Studies and Interdisciplinary courses was considered. Action: The General College Committee aconsidered the proposal and offered suggestions for implementation. A report(attached) was forwarded to the Curriculum Committee. Citation of the resolution numbers of Senate resolutions that originated with the committee. None Proposals and/or business to be carried over to next year. A. A review of the general educationa curriculum begun this year will be continued. Be The committee has interest in and will continue to monitor the development of a Freshman Orientation course by the Student Recruitment and Retention Committee. C. The topic of writing across the curriculum was addressed by the committee this years A position paper(attached) was generated, discussed and forwarded to the Writing Center Steering Committee. The General College Committee will continue to address the issue of writing in general education courses. Evaluation of the committee. The committee functioned well. The structure and personnel were adequate for the required duties. Suggestions for improving the effectiveness of the committee. The committee was concerned by the haphazard manner in which items were referred to the committee. A clarification of the charge of the committee is suggested.