Curriculum Committee: Meeting 5

• Thursday, January 24, 2002; 2:00 - 3:30 PM
• Auditorium

External Review

``It appears that the IfA has not examined its undergraduate curriculum for many years. We believe that the faculty could benefit substantially by increasing its contribution to the intellectual program of the university through a modernization and expansion of its undergraduate course offerings. Such an expansion should include serious consideration of establishing an astronomy/astrophysics major in close collaboration with the Physics Department. Liberal Arts course options could include offering more sections of introductory astronomy, active learning, laboratory courses, and establishing additional advanced special topics offerings.''

        External Review Committee
        Report to UH President
        December 2001

New Courses: Questions

• Who will take the course?

• What are the prerequisites for this course?

• Can this course serve as a prerequisite for any other course?

• How does this course fit into the core requirements?

• Can this course fulfill Focus requirements?
  (these involve Contemporary Ethical Issues; Hawaiian, Asian, and Pacific Issues; Oral Communication; Writing)

New Courses: Ground Rules

• New courses go through a trial period of 3 years, and will be reevaluated after that time.

  This rule is designed to help maintain the focus and logical consistency of the entire curriculum.

• At least two instructors must be identified for each course, and both must agree to teach the course during the trial period.

  This rule is designed to insure that instructors are available for both new and existing courses. Interested faculty should send E-mail to Gareth Wynn-Williams declaring their willingness to teach a proposed course.

Proposed Curriculum

The proposed curriculum was briefly discussed. A motion to defer the proposed labs, origins, and archaeoastronomy courses while proceeding with other changes was defeated. The committee will meet again (!) at the same time on January 31 to continue consideration of the curriculum.

Last modified: January 29, 2002
http://www.ifa.hawaii.edu/~barnes/currcomm/meet05/index.html