Meeting Minutes: Committee on Sociology, Anthropology & Social Work
Minutes of the Academic Advisory
Committee on Sociology, Anthropology and Social Work
Lake Lanier Islands
November 6, 1997
Al McCormick, Chair, called the meeting to order at 4:05 p.m.
Dr. Jackie Michael, representative from the Chancellor's office,
was welcomed.
The attendance sheet was circulated.
The agenda was approved.
Committee Reports:
Nominations Subcommittee: Ralph Peters (Past Chair, and Chair of the Nominations Subcommittee) nominated Barbara Karcher as Chair-Elect, and Janie Wolf-Smith as at-large member on the Executive Committee. They were elected by acclamation.
Anthropology Subcommittee: No report.
Assessment Subcommittee: Hassan Elnajjar asked for volunteers to serve on the subcommittee.
Computer Usage and Technology Subcommittee: No report.
Professional and Faculty Development Subcommittee: Barbara Karcher reported on the grant proposal to be submitted to the Chancellor's office, an earlier version of which had been submitted last spring with the approval of the Executive Committee, but not funded. (High school teachers are to be invited as well as college faculty.) Ernestine Thompson moved to approve submitting the grant proposal in the name of the entire committee. The motion was unanimously approved.
Social Work Subcommittee and Two-Year College Concerns Subcommittee: The question of numbering of social work courses was addressed. Community colleges offer 100 and 200 level courses which may be offered at the upper division level at four year institutions, resulting in transfer of credit problems. Some colleges are more rigid than others in refusing to allow students to receive credit in such situations.
K-12 Sociology Subcommittee: Jo Sloan reported on the lesson plan contest sponsored for teachers by the Georgia Sociological Association's K-12 Sociology Committee, which received only a few responses. The subcommittee is considering where to go next with this.
Barbara Karcher served as the Cross-Disciplinary Team Leader for a group of representatives from the Psychology, Geography and History Regents' Advisory Committees, whose charge was to review the proposed revision of the Quality Core Curriculum. Feedback was given as to the probability that the QCC's guidelines for related courses were likely to facilitate a smooth transition between high school and college. The Department of Education's web page is supposed to have the new QCC available now.
Barbara also reported that the American Sociological Association is now developing recommended guidelines for the high school sociology course. An Advanced Placement course in sociology for the high schools is also under serious consideration.
Old Business:
At our meeting in Macon, we approved Area F's for Anthropology,
Social Work and Sociology in the semester general education
program.
Regarding course numbers and descriptions:
All anthropology courses are to be "ANTH."
The central office insisted on changes in the descriptions for anthropology, which they saw as too limited. A discussion ensued about the desire to follow the wishes of the anthropologists, very few of whom were present. Roger Branch was to have Richard Persico call Al about how best to respond to the request for further material in the descriptions. Roger moved that we give Al the power to add to the descriptions, respecting academic freedom andattempting to be no more prescriptive than we are with sociology. Anthropologists will give input for clarifying language.
Hassan Elnajjar moved that we call ANTH 1103 not social anthropology, but cultural anthropology. The motion was unanimously approved.
Regarding the social problems course description, the central office asked if we did intend it to state American Social Problems. All agreed the description is correct, but that global social problems are necessarily included in the course as described.
In Area E, the social science area, Social Problems had to be renumbered to an 1100 level course. Marriage and Family is not allowed in area E, only in Area F (various majors can use it) Only generic courses can be listed in Area E. In Area E, only Introduction to Anthropology (1102) is allowed as the overview course. The Executive Committee will look at the Social Problems course and consider whether it should be renamed Social Issues, a suggestion made by Jo Sloan.
Ernestine Thompson asked about the Social Work prefix. Al recommended following UGA's system.
Ralph Peters reported on the results of our work to agree on cutoff scores for CLEP and AP courses. Dr. Muyskens reported in Macon that the attempt to agree on these had become too cumbersome, so there is still no consensus.
New Business:
At last week's meeting of Executive Committees in Macon with Dr. Muyskens, a sheet of initiatives under consideration by the central office was distributed. Program review is a major concern, and a broad policy is being developed now. Systematic program review will be required at all institutions, looking into such issues as viability, external sources of support, assessment.
The Regents' Academic Advisory Committees may shift in focus, for example, they may become a major source of faculty development activities. The Academic Advisory Committee Website, housed in the University System's home page, was announced, and a copy of directions to reach the site was provided to each representative. More efficient and effective communication is hoped for as a result of this project.
The minutes of this meeting are to be sent by e-mail to Al McCormick, and he will forward the document to the central office. Minutes must be sent to the central office within three weeks of the meeting; recommendations must be sent in on a separate sheet. It was agreed that there were no separate recommendations directed to the chief academic officers at this time.
Dr. Michael was again welcomed and asked to comment from the point of view of the central office. She stated that as a social worker, she felt at home on our committee and was happy to have the opportunity to participate. The central office wishes to develop a closer relationship with the Academic Committees. Dorothy Zinsmeister is one of two faculty associates now at the central office, and her project relates to the Academic Committees. Two faculty representatives will serve each year to give faculty a voice at the central office. Regents funds may be available for faculty development, well-known speaker.
The call for grant proposals for faculty development will be continuing, so we were encouraged to think of topics for faculty development. The concern was expressed that home institutions are frequently not supportive of travel money for Regents Committee meetings.
There being no more business, the meeting adjourned at 5:17 p.m.
Regents' Academic Advisory Committee on Sociology, Anthropology, and Social
Work
Annual Meeting, November 6, 1997
Lake Lanier Islands Hilton
4:00 P.M.
SUMMARY OF SEMESTER CONVERSION ACTIONS
-
Criminology was added to the approved Area Fs of both Social Work and Sociology at the 1996 annual meeting held in Carrollton. All institutions should be aware of this before developing their social work/sociology curricula.
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All anthropology courses should have the ANTH prefix, rather than the prefixes distributed earlier. Common course numbers remain the same.
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The common course descriptions for anthropology submitted by the Regents' Academic Advisory Committee were deemed insufficient by the Council on General Education. The Advisory Committee's Subcommittee on Anthropology is developing new course descriptions. These will be circulated among institutional representatives for approval, then will be resubmitted to the Council on General Education.
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The title of ANTH 1103 Introduction to Social Anthropology was changed to ANTH 1103 Introduction to Cultural Anthropology. This change better fits the customary entitling of this course.
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After an inquiry from the Council on General Education, it was decided that the course title and course description of SOCI 1160 Introduction to Social Problems should remain unchanged.
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The only anthropology courses permitted in Area E are ANTH 1102 Introduction to Anthropology and ANTH 1103 Introduction to Cultural Anthropology. The following courses are not appropriate for Areas A-E: ANTH 1104 Introduction to Archaeology, ANTH 1105 Introduction to Physical Anthropology, and ANTH 1106 Introduction to Cultural Diversity.
ATTENDANCE
Jackie Boles, Georgia State University
Roger Branch, Georgia Southern UniversityJack Hasling, Valdosta State University
Ernestine Thompson, Augusta State University
Kelvin Demmitt, Clayton College and State University
Jerry Fly, Georgia College and State University
Barbara Karcher, Kennesaw State University
Linda August, North Georgia College and State University
N. Jane McCandless, State University of West Georgia
Faith Willis, Coastal Georgia Community College
Hassan Elnajjar, Dalton College
Ralph Peters, Floyd College
Jane Wolf-Smith, Gainesville College
Jo Sloan, Gordon College
Al McCormick, Macon State College
Judy Lucas, Middle Georgia College
1997-1998 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Chair: Albert E. McCormick, Macon State College (amccormi@cennet.mc.peachnet.edu)
Chair-Elect: Barbara Karcher, Kennesaw State University (bkarcher@ksumail.kennesaw.edu)
At-Large: Jane Wolf-Smith, Gainesville College (jwsmith@hermes.gc.peachnet.edu)
Regents' Academic Advisory Committee
on Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work
Changes/Corrections In Institutional Representation
1997-1998
-
Georgia Institute of Technology:
Steven Vallas Telephone: Fax: steven.vallas@hts.gatech.edu -
Albany State University:
Eugene Sherman Telephone: (912) 430-4896 Fax: (912) 430-6490 esherman@alsnet -
Augusta State University:
Ernestine Thompson Telephone: (706) 737-1735 Fax: (706) 737-1773 ethompso@aug.edu -
Fort Valley State University:
Terri Earl-Kulkosky Telephone: (912) 825-6232 Fax: (912) 825-6161 kulkoskt@mail.fvsc.edu - State University of West Georgia:
N. Jane McCandless Telephone: (770) 836-6505 Fax: (770) 836-6791 jmccandl@westga.edu
SEMESTER CONVERSION UPDATE (as of December, 1997)
Approved Area F, Anthropology:
Area F consists of 18 hours of lower-division (100-and 200-level) courses related to the study of Anthropology and of courses prerequisite to higher level major courses:
Required: Introduction to Anthropology or Introduction to Cultural Anthropology
Institutional Electives: biology, computer science/skills, economics, foreign
language,
geography, geology, history, cultural anthropology, sociology, political science,
physical
anthropology/archaeology, linguistics, mathematics, philosophy, psychology,
statistics
Approved Area F, Social Work
Area F consists of 18 hours of lower-division (100-and 200-level) courses related to the discipline and/or are prerequisite to higher level major courses in the Social Work Major:
Introductory or survey courses (100/200) level from the following areas:
anthropology, marriage and the family, human biology and anatomy, cultural
anthropology, human growth and development, cultural diversity/multiculturalism,**
social welfare, social problems, computer science/skills, foreign language,
social work,
gerontology, criminal justice, psychology, sociology economics, urban studies,
criminology
**includes courses in race, ethnicity, gender, social class
Approved Area F, Sociology
Area F consists of 18 hours of lower-division (100- and 100-level) courses related to the discipline of the program of study and courses which are prerequisite to higher level major courses in the Sociology major:
Required: Introduction to Sociology
Institutional Electives: anthropology, marriage and the family, computer science/skills, mathematics, political science, history, social welfare/work, social problems, foreign language, diversity/multiculturalism, statistics, philosophy, linguistics, logic, psychology, economics, geography, criminology
Approved Common Course Numbers and Course Descriptions, Anthropology*:
ANTH 1102 Introduction to Anthropology
A survey of general anthropology, the comparative study of humankind as a whole,
including its major subdisciplines: cultural anthropology, archaeology, linguistics,
and physical anthropology.
ANTH 1103 Introduction to Cultural Anthropology
An introduction to the comparative study of human culture around the world.
Topics include family life, economic organization, religion, and change.
ANTH 1104 Introduction to Archaeology
A survey of the archaeological study of human culture through the analysis
of its material remains. Topics include methods and ethics as well as an
overview of archaeological findings.
ANTH 1105 Introduction to Physical Anthropology
A survey of the physical aspects of humanity. Topics include human population,
genetics, race, and evolution.
ANTH 1106 Introduction to Cultural Diversity
A survey of selected cultures from around the world exploring their similarities
and differences.
*Note: Course descriptions may be further extended by the local institution.
Approved Common Course Numbers and Course Descriptions, Sociology*:
SOCI 1101 Introduction to Sociology
A survey of the discipline of sociology. Topics will include sociological theory,
methods, and selected substantive areas.
SOCI 1160 Introduction to Social Problems
A theoretical and empirical analysis of selected major social problems confronting
American society.
SOCI 2293 Introduction to Marriage and the Family
An introduction to the structure, processes, problems, and adjustments of contemporary marriage and family life.
*Note: Course descriptions may be further extended by the local institution.
Approved Courses, Area E:
Sociology: SOCI 1101 Introduction to Sociology
SOCI 1160 Introduction to Social Problems
Note: Marriage and the Family is not approved for Area E.
Anthropology: ANTH 1102 Introduction to Anthropology
ANTH 1103 Introduction to Cultural Anthropology
Note: The Areas A-E statuses of the following anthropology courses currently are unclear :
ANTH 1104 Introduction to Archaeology
ANTH 1105 Introduction to Physical Anthropology
ANTH 1106 Introduction to Cultural Diversity