*MIN Administrative Committee on Transfer of Credit 2/25/94 University System of Georgia February 25, 1994 Continuing Education Conference Room Macon College Minutes Members Present: Dr. Harry S. Carter, (Chair) Dr. Hugh Bailey Dr. Wayne E. Bell Dr. Ernest W. Benson Dr. Edward D. Jackson Dr. Barry D. Goldstein Mr. Larry A. Peevy Dr. Edwin A. Thompson Dr. Robert T. Trammell Members Absent: Dr. Joan M. Elifson Dr. William F. Prokasy Dr. Michael E. Thomas Also Present: Dr. Mike Donahue, Armstrong State College Dr. David McGill (representing Dr. Michael Thomas) Dr. William Megathlin, Armstrong State College Dr. David M. Morgan, Central Office Dr. Dennis Murphy, Armstrong State College Dr. James Whitney (representing Dr. William Prokasy) The meeting was called to order at 10:10 a.m. by Chairman Carter. He introduced guests in attendance and expressed appreciation to Macon College for hosting the meeting. Without objection he moved the agenda item submitted by Armstrong State College to the beginning of the meeting. Dr. William Megathlin described the desire of the institution and that of the Academic Committee on Criminal Justice for an Introduction to Criminal Justice course to be allowed in Area III of the Core Curriculum. He indicated that this issue had come before the Administrative Committee on Transfer of Credit several times, and each time it had been rejected on the basis that it was a course for a specific profession and it was not a broad-based social science course. Drs. Donahue and Murphy each made short presentations about the Introduction to Criminal Justice course offered at Armstrong State College. It was stated that such a course was very useful to students in their becoming productive members of society, and the course was based on foundations just as broad as criminal justice. Administrative Committee on Transfer of Credit Copies of course syllabi and other material were distributed to members. There followed a brief period of discussion, after which the Committee followed the order of its printed agenda. Next the minutes of the November 30, 1993 meeting were amended. Dr. Thompson should have been shown as present. The next to the last paragraph on page two should have indicated that there was disagreement among representatives of the Academic Committees on Biological Sciences and Health Professions as to whether a ten hour sequence in Anatomy and Physiology could be taught at the freshman level with no prerequisites which would also address many of the topics currently covered in a biology sequence. The minutes were then approved as amended. Old Business The Committee then approved with minor editorial changes the recommendation of the Academic Committee on Psychology that a list of courses allowable in Area IV of the Core Curriculum. The Psychology section of the Academic Discipline Guidelines will now read: 1. Psychology courses which may be taught at the 100-200 level are: A. An introductory, survey course in general psychology (e.g., General Psychology, Introduction to Psychology, Principles of Psychology, Survey of Psychology.) B. A course covering basic constructs in personal adjustment (e.g., Psychology of Personal Adjustment.) C. An introductory survey of classes of abnormal behavior, including basic coverage of assessment and treatment issues (e.g., Introduction to Abnormal Psychology, Introduction to Abnormal Behavior.) D. An introductory course in the applications of psychology to the workplace (e.g., Introduction to Applied Psychology, Introduction to Industrial Psychology.) E. An introductory course in the development of behavior (e.g., Developmental Psychology, Life-span Developmental Psychology, Growth and Development, Child Psychology, Human Development.) F. An introductory course covering the basic principles of individual behavior in a social context (e.g., Introduction to Social Psychology.) G. An introductory course in research methodology in the behavioral science (e.g., Research Methods in Psychology, quantitative Methods in the Behavioral Sciences, Methodology and Technological Foundations of Behavior.) This course must have a Statistics or Mathematics pre- requisite requirement to count as an Area IV requirement). 2. In area III, only a broad survey course (IA above) may be applied. 3. All courses listed above may be applied to Area IV. 4. No more than fifteen hours of psychology can be used to satisfy Area IV core curriculum requirements. The Committee then reviewed a staff report on the offering of religion courses in the Core Curriculum. It was reported that several institutions are currently offering religion courses in both Areas I and III of the Core Curriculum. Because religion courses are not contained in the Academic Discipline Guidelines, the Committee approved the naming of an interdisciplinary subcommittee to review whether religion courses should be allowed in the Core and, if so, in which Area(s). Following the November 30, 1993 meeting of the Committee, at which it approved the offering of Anatomy and Physiology in Area II, Chancellor Propst requested the input of the Administrative Committee on Academic Affairs. Dr. Morgan reported that the Academic Affairs Committee on January 28 voted that Anatomy and Physiology should not be offered in Area II. He also stated that Acting Chancellor Downs had concurred with the recommendation of Acting Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Elifson that the issue should be returned to the Transfer of Credit Committee to determine whether it might be possible to develop an Anatomy and Physiology sequence that would satisfy the needs of both biologists and health professionals. Following this report, the Transfer of Credit Committee approved the creation of a subcommittee to review this issue in more depth. The subcommittee, which will contain representatives from the Academic Committees on Biological Sciences and Health Professions, will be asked to look objectively at the possibility of creating this new sequence. The subcommittee will also be asked to look at how other states handle this issue. New Business The Committee next discussed the June 7, 1993 Report of the Workgroup on Undergraduate Education. The Workgroup, which was one of seven such groups charged by the University System Strategic Planning Committee, identified "several key issues facing undergraduate education in Georgia, establishe[d] a context in which those issues can be addressed, and outline[d] a vision of what could be." Of particular interest to the Committee was the report's proposal for a new competency based approach to general education and a restructuring of the committee structure of the University System. Members applauded the Workgroup for facing tough questions and developing an excellent written report. Concerns voiced by members included the need to keep students' ability to transfer within the System as a vital ingredient in any reform movement. Members also expressed their understanding that many System institutions would like to develop their own Core Curriculum, but that the unique ability of students in Georgia to transfer in a seamless manner should not be overlooked. Several members expressed concern that it would be very difficult for higher education to move away from a credit-based system. Following the discussion, members requested their Chair to write to the Chancellor requesting that all presidents and chief academic officers receive a copy of this document and further requesting that actions not be taken to implement the recommendations of this report without giving the Transfer of Credit and others the opportunity to respond. Reports and Recommendations from Academic Committees The Committee reviewed a 1992 recommendation from the Academic Committee on Biological Sciences that Physical Anthropology not be accepted in Area II. Dr. Morgan indicated that the Committee had already taken the action being recommended, based on the recommendations of other academic committees. The Committee approved the recommendation of the Academic Committee on Computer Science and Systems Analysis that the third course of Area IV for both Computer Science and Systems Analysis be changed to "Introduction to File Processing and File Structures." The rationale for the change from "File Processing" was that File Structures needs to be included and the course should be "language independent" whereas COBOL is predominant now. (A copy of the complete recommendation is attached.) Institutional Requests The Committee discussed the presentation it had heard from Armstrong State College representatives earlier in the meeting. It determined that an interdisciplinary subcommittee should be formed to study this issue. Membership will include representatives from the Transfer of Credit Committee, several social science committees and the Criminal Justice Committee. The Committee approved the request of the University of Georgia that Math 102 College Algebra in its College of Arts and Sciences be deleted as a course which would satisfy the math requirement for B.F.A. students. The University stressed in its request that students transferring in will continue to receive Area II transfer credit for College Algebra and will not be required to take more total hours for their degrees than do native students. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 11:30 a.m.