A-Senate: Two courses rejected from global studies UP
Gen. Ed. committee justify rejection saying courses 'too global'
Amid debate and objections from the General Education Committee, two existing courses in the University Program Group IV-B designator were dismissed and sent back for review during Tuesday's Academic Senate meeting.
ART 287, Introduction to Non-Western Art, and MGT 365, International Business, were both proposed to be added to the Global Studies designator for university programs.
The General Education Committee initially rejected ART 287 during its Oct. 31, 2013 meeting. Committee members argued "art is only one part of culture and this course was too narrowly focused to provide the depth needed to meet the Group IV-B objections." Their solution was that it would fit better in Group I-B .
Gen. Ed. also rejected MGT 365 during its Feb. 6 meeting, arguing the Department of Management "should make their case to A-Senate for broadening the interpretation of the UP IV-B requirements, better define the word 'unit' and also make a case to consider the course as a UP Group IV-B course."
Both departments made their arguments during Tuesday's meeting. Scott De Brestian, an Art and Design faculty member, said Group IV-B is global studies and shouldn't be limited to one geographic location.
"I believe there's precedents to include ART 287," De Brestian said. "Group I-B focuses on classes on aesthetics. (ART 287) has never been about aesthetics."
Pat Williams, the chair for the General Education Committee, said the course seems too broadly focused. The general education committee is enforcing their interpretation of the guidelines for classes in Group IV-B, she said.
"There is some ambiguity in the wording," she said. "The course looks like it would treat the subject globally. There should be some kind of single unit."
College of Humanities and Social and Behavioral Sciences Dean Pamela Gates had an objection to the interpretation of the guidelines to Group IV-B qualifiers.
"I thought IV-B was treated globally," she said.
MGT 385 was rejected by A-Senators on similar standards. Brad Swanson, a Biology faculty member, said rejecting both would set a new precedent.
"If we decided the other one was too global, (MGT 385's) global economic studies, global business studies is too broad," Swanson said.
Mahmood Bahaee, chair of the Management Department, believes this course would help students understand international business.
"Aren't we denying our students the experience (of global studies?)" he said. "Isn't (global studies) what we want our students to achieve? We invited George Ronan, the former director of General Education, to our meeting. He encouraged the idea. They ignore the spirit of the course, the content of the course, when it comes to students learning."
College of Communication and Fine Arts Interim Dean Shelly Hinck said the language of the qualifiers for Group IV-B was mucking up the system.
"It's the interpretation verses the guidelines," she said.
Melinda Kreth, an English Language and Literature faculty member, agreed with Hinck and said the language of the guidelines was up to interpretation.
"I was a part of the committee," Kreth said. "We were asking ourselves what we meant. It was a difficult decision. It's not the case in all the courses."
