March 31, 2008
Minutes
Attending: Mary Anne Gaffney (Chair), Barbara Thornbury, Catherine Schifter, Bruce Conrad, Orin Chein, Concetta Stewart, Anthony Defusco, Michelle O’Connor, Patti Vorndran, Jermaine Williams and Karen M. Turner (scribe).
The meeting convened at 2:10p
The minutes from March 3rd and March 17th were accepted with minor changes.
CATES Update – Mary Anne announced there will be a four-hour open meeting on Friday April 18th from 10a – 2p – in the Student Center for faculty to provide input to the CATES Committee. The new form to be called The Student Feedback Form – will be available online for review before April 18th. All comments addressing major flaws/concerns must be received by April 25th. The SFFs will be used for the first time this fall and re-evaluated after its use. Also an implementation committee will be formed to address how the instrument should be used as part of the teaching assessment process. Members of the EPPC were asked to attend the April 18th feedback session.
Seminar Courses – Michelle explained she wants EPPC to act as the Curriculum Committee for the Seminar Courses. There is currently a Freshman Seminar course. New courses are being proposed – Sophomore and Transfer seminars. Michelle introduced Jermaine Williams and Patti Vorndran
First Year Seminar – Jermaine has worked with the Teaching Learning Center to bring this course into focus. There had not been consistency. The focus will now be on student goals, values and beliefs; it will no longer be a skills-based course emphasizing skills such as time management, etc. As an example, time management will still be addressed, but the emphasis will be on how it meets student goals. The purpose of the first year seminar is to help students transition from high school to college. The 11-week seminar is not required. About 10% of students take it. The instructors are administrators in student services and student affairs. Some schools and colleges such as SCT and CST offer their own Freshmen Seminar courses. Jermaine explained that on-going assessment is key and that student focus groups have been and will be held. There is a common syllabus. Concetta asked about Best Practices and questioned how our program fits into what others institutions are doing. Michelle explained that some of our students need a course where they meet other students and they can get “their feet on the ground.” She said parents want to hear that this kind of course is offered. Concetta suggested that every student should take this kind of course based on the expressed themes of adjustment and retention. There was a discussion about getting students to participate when such programs aren’t mandated. There are 20-25 sections each fall. It’s difficult to get students to take the seminar in the second semester since few freshmen begin Temple in the spring.
Transfer Seminar – This is a proposed seminar. Patti said this is an unmet need because transfer students face transition issues. Currently there’s online orientation for transfers and nothing for transfers during Welcome Week. Patti has started a transfer student newsletter which focuses on professional development – resume writing, interviews with experts in various fields of interest. Two student surveys – spring ’07 and fall ’07 - revealed that 64% of those transfers responding (709) said they would consider taking a transfer course if offered for credit.
Sophomore Seminar – This is a proposed seminar. Implementing a sophomore seminar is important because sophomores tends to be a forgotten population and because of first and second year retention issues. The sophomore course would be offered in the fall and spring. It’s proposed there will be general and specific sophomore seminars. Concetta asked if students who needed this support could be targeted. Michelle said there are plans to contact students who fit the profile of students in need.
Patti explained that both the sophomore and transfer seminars are needed. There may be overlap but it’s important to have a transfer cohort since their needs are unique.
There was a discussion about proposed two-credit sophomore and transfer seminars that would meet at least two hours a week. Orin said such a course for credit might be a problem for some majors.
There was a general discussion about retention issues and who is responsible for retention at Temple. It was also expressed that the university needs a retention strategy. Michelle said such a plan might come out of the strategic planning process.
Michelle said it’s being suggested that the freshmen seminar be called First Year Experience. The provost would like a university seminar series for juniors and seniors taught by faculty.
Next meeting – April 14th
There will be a vote on the sophomore and transfer seminars.
Meeting adjourned 3:30p
Submitted,
Karen M. Turner
