APCAS Meeting

Approved Minutes for 9/28/2006

Members: J. Biddle, C. Duncan, P. Meyers, M. Morton, J. O'Gorman, D. Parker, R. Penno, L. Simmons, R. Wells, M. Patterson (Faculty Board liaison)

ACTIONS

1) Approved Minutes of 4/24/06 meeting.

1) ECAS assigned a Senate number(DOC 06-09) to Habits of Inquiry and Reflection (HIR) and identified APCAS as the point committee. A subcommittee of APCAS (C. Duncan and D. Darrow as co-chairs with J. O’Gorman and R, Penno) will lead the campus discussions.

--The charge of the committee comes from the Provost’s letter of sponsorship: “…generate broad campus discussion and endorsement of the document’s mission statement, educational aims, and core learning outcomes.”

--The focus of the discussions will be confined to pp. 1-8 of HIR.

--The timeline is a subcommittee report to APCAS before November 30, 2006.

--The process and procedures for phase two of the Provost’s charge will be determined by APCAS.

2) The Committee on General Education and Competencies is a standing subcommittee of the APCAS. In addition to the 10 responsibilities that focus on the particulars of the program, responsibilities #11 and #12 address the broader issues of "strengthening the General Education Program" through a combination of evaluation, oversight, and support. Although various components of the General Education program have had a variety of assessments, there hasn't been a comprehensive review/evaluation of the competencies program. APCAS is giving a two-fold charge to the General Education Committee for 06-07. First of all, to present to APCAS by November 30, 2006 an overview of the current status of competences addressing the following issues: internal assessment procedures, effectiveness/efficiency questions, competencies as the bridge between basic skills and general education, and a list of key (“right”) questions to guide the second phase of the review. APCAS will review the objectives of the competencies program to determine if they are appropriate given UD’s Vision and Strategic Plan.

Submitted by

James Biddle, Chair