EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE AGENDA Septe

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
AGENDA
September 8, 2011

1. Approval of the minutes from the September 8, 2011 meeting

2. Environmental Issues Committee – Hal Crimmel

Sustainability Tracking and Rating System

3. Curriculum Committee – Erika Daines

Chemistry Course Proposals -Organic Chemistry I - CHEM 2310, Organic Chemistry I Lab - CHEM 2315, Organic Chemistry II - CHEM 2320, Organic Chemistry II Lab - CHEM 2325, Biochemistry I Lab - CHEM 3075

Chemistry Program Proposals - Chemistry Major, Teaching Major, Physical Science Composite Teaching Major, Chemistry Departmental Honors, Chemistry Teaching Minor, Chemical Technician (AAS and Institutional Certificate), Chemistry Minor, and BIS Emphasis

4. Other Items

MINUTES
September 8, 2011

PRESENT
Julie Buck, Patti Cost, Shelly Costley, Colleen Garside, Ed Hahn, Stephen Hill, Colin Inglefield, Ann Millner, Michelle More, Brian Rague, Michael Vaughan, Kay Brown, Secretary

GUESTS
Hal Crimmel, Erika Daines.

MINUTES
Shelly Costley: Moved to approve the minutes from the September 1, 2011 Executive Committee meeting.
Second: Ed Hahn
Outcome: The minutes were approved.

ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES – Hal Crimmel reporting

In 2010, WSU Facilities Management enrolled the university in STARS (Sustainability Tracking and Rating System), a well-respected, widely used program that helps universities measure progress toward the goal of sustainability across three functional areas: academics, student life, and operations/facilities. Achieving certain benchmarks & milestones leads to the awarding of STARS points, which are in turn used to assign bronze, silver, gold or platinum status to participating universities.

One of the academic benchmarks requires establishing a curriculum-focused definition of sustainability for our institution, and then identifying our course offerings that are sustainability-focused or sustainability related.

Members of the Faculty Senate Environmental Issues Committee will identify relevant courses from the existing Environmental Studies Major and Minor that meet the definitions for sustainability-focused and sustainability-related courses.

Discussion

How common is the STARS program at other universities? Very common.

Is this one more thing faculty will have to be concerned with? It is optional. Faculty interested in creating sustainability focused courses have the option to participate in the program.
A grant is being written to obtain RSPG funding for a sustainability workshop for faculty to gain more information on the program.

Weber State is working toward a bronze rating.

MOTION
Brian Rague: Moved to forward the report from the Environmental Issues Committee on the STARS program to the Faculty Senate for information.
Second: Colin Inglefield.
Outcome: The motion passed unanimously.

CURRICULUM COMMITTEE – Erika Daines

Chemistry Course Proposals -Organic Chemistry I - CHEM 2310, Organic Chemistry I Lab - CHEM 2315, Organic Chemistry II - CHEM 2320, Organic Chemistry II Lab - CHEM 2325, Biochemistry I Lab - CHEM 3075

Chemistry Program Proposals - Chemistry Major, Teaching Major, Physical Science Composite Teaching Major, Chemistry Departmental Honors, Chemistry Teaching Minor, Chemical Technician (AAS and Institutional Certificate), Chemistry Minor, and BIS Emphasis

Discussion

"Grade Requirements: A minimum passing grade of "D-" will be accepted in any course used toward the minor." This is a departmental grade policy. The minimum grade requirement is also consistent with University policy. The Chemistry Department does require an average GPA of 2.0.
The Curriculum Committee is requesting guidance on the Diversity requirement, i.e. parameters, with assessment, without assessment. Diversity is not Gen Ed. There is no review process in place for the Diversity requirement.

MOTION
Stephen Hill: Moved to forward the above curriculum to the Faculty Senate.
Second: Shelly Costley
Outcome: The motion passed unanimously.

ADMISSIONS, STANDARDS & STUDENT AFFAIRS – Kathy Herndon, Chair.

ASSA Committee Charges

Bruce Bowen sent an email asking about some possible charges for the ASSA Committee. Bruce Bowen will be contacted for clarification and if needed invited to a future Executive Committee meeting.

ACADEMIC CALENDAR

Projected Timetable for Academic Calendar

Survey Sent Out - August 15 (two additional reminders)
Survey Due - September 26
Survey Analyzed - By October 6
Academic Calendar presented to Executive Committee - October 13
Academic Calendar presented to the Faculty Senate

ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 3:15 p.m.