Meeting Minutes: Committee on Educator Preparation
Academic Advisory Committee on Educator Preparation (EPAAC)
Meeting Minutes, May 14, 2001
The meeting* was called to order by Dr. Les Crawford, Co-Chair, and the following announcements were made:
Dr. Leon Hurley retiring this summer from GSU.
Dr. Jerrey Buller was leaving the state and accepting a deanship in Virginia.
Dr. Les Crawford was leaving the deanship to return to faculty, Fall 2001.
Dr. Joan Lord was retiring at the end of June.
Dr. Ron Colarusso was appointed Dean of Education at GSU, effective the May 14, 2001.
The minutes from the February 9, 2001, sent electronically, were accepted and approved by the membership.
OLD BUSINESS
Bylaws
The bylaws item was moved to the first item under Old Business in order to be able to begin operating the Advisory Committee using the Bylaws. The bylaws had been circulated electronically to the membership prior to the meeting and had been first discussed at the Spring 2000 meeting.
Crawford called on Dr. Bernie Patterson, chair of the Bylaws Committee, to report for the committee. Paterson asked for a count of members present. It revealed that of the 45 members, 32 were in attendance, which constituted sufficient numbers for a quorum. Patterson reviewed the history of the development of the bylaws and the development over the past two years. Discussions centered on the name of the group (EPAAC or AACEP) and the inclusion of the two-year institutions in decisions that centered exclusively at the junior, senior, and graduate level. Patterson made the motion and Dr. John Black seconded to accept the bylaws with the title of the group amended to read Educator Preparation Academic Advisory Committee.
Dr. Curtis Martin made the motion with Dr. Bob Michaels' second to amend the second sentence in the first section of Article I in the Bylaws to read as follows: "The primary purpose of this committee is to assist each Board of Regents institution that prepares educators to meet and exceed the Board of Regents "Principles for the Preparation of Educators for the Schools" and to work toward further continued improvements over time." Crawford called for a vote and the group voted unanimously to accept the bylaws as amended.
In a later action at the meeting, Patterson proposed, and it was seconded, that the bylaws be further amended to read: Points of order not specifically addressed in the bylaws will adhere to the current edition of Roberts' Rules of Order. This amendment will replace the current Article VIII and the current Article VIII will become Article IX. The body will vote in one month electronically on this motion.
Board of Regents Principles
The next item of business was the refinements to the BOR principles. Crawford directed the members to page 5 in the April 19,2001 document dealing with "What the University Assures". He stated that items (b) and (c) were concerns addressed by the dean/directors of education at the meeting with Dr. Jan Kettlewell, BOR, at the Southern Center for International Studies earlier in the spring. They had asked they be brought before the membership for discussion.
Dr. Mike Padilla expressed the opinion that consideration be given to allow for flexibility in the number of hours required at the upper divisions level middle school concentrations. Padilla made the motion and Dr. Tom Harrison seconded that the statement read "at least six of the nine"
The discussion centered on the concern for high standards and the progress made to date in the state in strengthening content preparation with the tension of providing appropriate course work for these students. The central issue revolved around the number of prerequisite hours at the freshman/sophomore level in order to enroll in upper division courses. Several members noted that the appropriate level of decision making on this issue is at the institution and should reside with the "functional unit." Discussion of faculty credentials, hiring practices, and the possibility of joint appointments ensued. While the concern seemed to be greatest in the area of science, due to the multiple divisions and the necessity for a broad understanding in each area by middle level educators, other areas were of concern at various institutions. The point was made that middle level educators need breadth not depth in science content. Dr. Mary Kay Corbitt shared the plan developed at Valdosta where teams of A&S and COE faculty crafted 12 hours of interdisciplinary science courses at the 3000 level for middle school math candidates. Dr. Kettlewell noted that Dr. F.D. Toth had expressed that the PSC would require all 12 hours be taught by A&S for candidates to receive certification. Harrison reminded the membership that this had not been approved as yet by PSC.
Crawford issued a call for the vote. There were 13 yes, 12 no, and 8 abstentions. The point was made that this was certainly not a decisive vote and that there was no clear winner on this issue although the motion did pass.
The second issue dealt with the faculty prescribed to teach these courses. Should the refinement read Arts and Science faculty, faculty adequately prepared in the content, SACS qualified, etc. Padilla made the motion and Black seconded that the principle read "faculty in Arts and Sciences or the faculty adequately prepared in the academic content". It was noted that this is one more blow for autonomy. This statement implies that institutions would not ensure that faculty are prepared in the content unless they are mandated to do so through these principles. Padilla made the motion to amend the motion to read "Six of the twelve semester hours in each must be at the junior and senior level and all 12 semester hours must be in academic content field. Dr. Linda Noble made the motion to amend the amendment to read "All 12 of the semester hours must be in the academic content field and at least six of the twelve must be at the junior and senior level. Padilla accepted the friendly amendment. The motion carried unanimously.
In referring to item (c) on page 5, Dr. Kettlewell explained that there is no credit hour cap for double majors. Each individual campus policy on double majors will apply. The chief academic officers will act on this at the June meeting. A minor is as defined on your campus. However, members reminded the assembled that the term minor was clearly defined in BOR regulations.
Dr. Hugh Hudson, referenced New Principle #5, pages 8-9, and requested that the meaning of the statement be clearer as to who (institution or institute) grants the leadership degree. There was a clear consensus from the memberships that while this institute would be housed in one of the research institutions, the institution was clearly the grantor of the degree.
Black made the motion and Harrison seconded to accept refinements as amended. The document will be modified not showing the amendments made at this meeting. Motion carried unanimously
Praxis/Regents Test Report
Dr. Kirk Myers presented the Praxis I/Regent's Comparison Study & Early Childhood Enrollments Report. Myers indicated that preliminary information he had collected might be interpreted to mean that that there was possibility that the Praxis I was more difficult than the Regents Test. Thus, this questioned the need for both for Education students. Discussion followed. It was noted that it is important to have an accurate and comprehensive analysis of the data. An extensive study is required before a recommendation can be presented to the BOR. It was recommended that the PSC/BOR work together to gather and analyze this data. Patterson made the motion that a study group be appointed to direct this project. Michaels seconded. Motion carried unanimously. The following committee was appointed: Tom Harrison, Chair; Kirt Myers, Sue Wilson, and Linda Noble (An additional name is missing from the minutes.).
EDEC Articulation Agreement
Dr. Mary Ellen Cosgrove presented the Armstrong Atlantic State University and Savannah Technical College Course Transfer Agreement. Issues centered on accreditation and the degree status (AAS or AAT). The agreement between the two institutions is for transfer of course credit not transfer of the complete program. Kettlewell noted that a subcommittee has been formed and is meeting for the first time today after this meeting. The subcommittee will study the issue and decide if this should be brought before the whole body or looked at on an institution-by-institution basis.
Praxis Committee Report
Dr. Ron Colarusso presented the Praxis Committee Report. The committee had visited with Toth and Dr. Fran Watkins regarding issues raised by the membership at the last meeting (See attachment).Discussion followed. Specific items of interest that were raised from the report were: (1) The cost of Plato, a program replacing Learning Plus. How comparable is it to Learning Plus; (2) The need for PSC to bring the two-year institutions into the loop regarding Plato early in the process; (3) Correction of information that had previously been given to deans/directors of education. No contractual agreement exists between PSC and ETS; (4) Items on Praxis requiring negative reasoning are biased against minorities; (5) Need for more comprehensive data on the Praxis tests to be provided to the institutions; and (6) institutions should be designated "high priority" not "at risk". Curtis Martin made the motion and John Black seconded to accept the report and action plan submitted by the committee.
Kissing the Pig
Patterson thanked the group for their support in Baldwin County Boys and Girls fundraiser. At the last meeting the group donated close to $100 towards this cause. Patterson's total collection came close to $6,000 with Vice President Anne Gormly, GC&SU, adding an additional $4,000 for a grand total close to $10,000. Patterson presented evidence of his success to the group with a 'lovely' photograph of him kissing the pig. (Sorry, we weren't able to attach this to the minutes.)
NEW BUSINESS
Elections
Harrison made the motion and Padilla seconded that a committee composed of the current troika be charged with the task of developing the slate of officers as specified in the newly accepted By-Laws. Les Crawford, Larry Peterson, and John Black will submit a slate of officers for electronic voting to the group. Motion carried.
Teach for Georgia
Harrison, one of the higher education appointees to PSC, brought before the group the concern that individuals in the Teach for Georgia program were not being held to the same high standards as those candidates being prepared in the BOR institutions. The concern centered around the issuance of provisional certification without a passing score on the Praxis II exam. The group entered into a lively discussion of this issue. Harrison and Hurley, the other higher education representative on the PSC, listened attentively and will take all viewpoints into consideration when they vote at the next PSC meeting on this issue. There was strong support that academic rigor be maintained prior to provisional certification, as suggestion by the Board of Regents Principles. Praxis II should be retained in order to obtain provisional certification.
The meeting was adjourned.
*The minutes were re-ordered to provide better coherence and any need for further reference.