" . . . The Committee shall be recommended to the Senate by the Executive Committee. The chair will serve for a two three-year term and will be evaluated annually by members of the Committee on Teaching, Learning and Assessment. The chair of the committee shall be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Forum on Teaching and Learning.

Mission Statement

The mission of the Social Science general education area is two fold: 1 - to provide students with a basic understanding of humans and their behavior within their environments; 2 - to assist students in their efforts to contribute to society in their particular professions and as responsible citizens of their various communities.

Student Learning Outcomes

A student completing a social science general education course should be able to accomplish 3 of the following 5 learning outcomes:

A. Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph, Comprehensive final examinations are to be given only during the designated examination period of each term. These periods are scheduled by the University and not by the individual instructor. Comprehensive final examinations shall not be given during the week preceding the designated examination period for each term. Make-up examinations and/or non-comprehensive exams previously scheduled on the syllabus may be given. However, at least five calendar days must separate a terminal course exam and a comprehensive final exam. Courses exempt from this policy include graduate courses, online courses, courses that meet only once a week, 1-2 credit hour courses, courses that use performances as a final assessment, and courses that use a laboratory experience as a final assessment.

B. General Requirements for Baccalaureate Degrees

1. Weber State University offers the following baccalaureate degrees: Bachelor of Arts (B.A.); Bachelor of Science (B.S.); Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.); Bachelor of Music (BM), Bachelor of Music Education (BME), and Bachelor of Integrated Studies (B.I.S.). Not all baccalaureate degree types are offered in all majors.

2. A minimum of 120 semester credit hours must be completed.

3. A minimum of 40 semester credit hours of upper-division work must be completed. Departments with a significant number of lower-division sequential classes required for completion of a major may petition the University Curriculum & General Education Committee to reduce the required number of upper-division semester credit hours to no fewer than 33.

Up to three two years of satisfactory full-time service at other accredited institutions of higher education may normally be counted as part of the probationary period at Weber State University. In exceptional cases, more than three two years credit may be granted. In any event, credit for two years or fewer of service at other institutions shall be negotiated between the appointee and the dean provost, upon recommendation of and in consultation with the department chair and approval by the provost. the dean, and shall be written as part of the initial contract issued by Weber State University. If more than three two years credit is to be awarded, the provost must also consider the recommendation of the college Ranking Tenure Evaluation Committee. Years of credit for service at other institutions and the time line for formal reviews shall be included in the initial contract of employment issued by Weber State University.

III. APPOINTMENT CRITERIA

A. Instructor Specialist

Substantial competence in the profession, the ability to communicate training and subject matter to others and professional licensing (when appropriate) to perform or supervise in the particular field shall be considered requisite for appointment to this rank. A baccalaureate degree may be required. The hiring department determines the degree requirements.

B. Instructor

The same basic requirements of the instructor specialist are necessary except that the baccalaureate The master’s degree shall be the minimum degree for appointment to this rank. Where the master’s degree is the terminal degree, a baccalaureate degree will be accepted upon approval of the faculty of the discipline, the chair, the dean, the provost and the college Ranking Tenure Evaluation Committee. In those areas where it is clearly established that a baccalaureate degree is not offered, a requisite degree and experience as determined by the department faculty, the college Ranking Tenure Evaluation Committee and the appropriate dean and approved by the Appointment, Promotion, Academic Freedom and Tenure Committee, Faculty Senate and the provost may be substituted for the baccalaureate degree.

D. Criteria for Granting Tenure

The University Curriculum and General Education Committee recommends that the Faculty Senate extend the current moratorium on General Education, Scientific Inquiry, and Diversity course proposals with the following modifications: 1) The moratorium shall continue for breadth General Education, Scientific Inquiry, and Diversity course proposals but shall be lifted at the end of Spring Semester 2006 for core General Education course proposals. 2) The moratorium for any breadth General Education, Scientific Inquiry, or Diversity course proposal shall extend until Faculty Senate passes new guidelines related to the proposed course, or until the end of Spring Semester 2007, whichever shall occur first."