Academic Senate Committee on WID/WAC 9/16/2020

The Academic Senate Committee on WID/WAC met on 9/16/20, 12:00 pm

Committee Members in Attendance:

Attendees:

1. Jeff Hall (Committee Chairperson, History)
2. Arthur Corradetti, Dean for Institutional Effectiveness (Liaison to OAA)
3. Robert Donley (WID/WAC)
4. Elise Denbo (WID/WAC)
5. Sanjay Koul (Biological Sciences and Geology)
6. Carla McIntosh (Academy Advisement)
7. Linda Meltzer (Business)
8. Rommel Robertson (Social Sciences)
9. Ian Schanning (Physics)
10. Stefan Spezio (Director, CTAS)
11. Julian Stark (guest, Academic Freedom Committee)
12. Christi Saindon (Committee Secretary, Speech Communication & Theatre Arts)

Liaisons in Attendance:

Arthur Corradetti, Dean for Institutional Effectiveness (Liaison to Office of Academic Affairs)

Business:

The meeting was called to order at 12:03 p.m.

Date: September 16, 2020 (Wednesday)

Location: Virtual Meeting via Zoom

Start Time: 12:03 p.m.

 Meeting Minutes

1. Introductions
2. Approval of minutes of May 6, 2020 meeting.
   1. With edit: Speed to Speech
   2. Passed with unanimous approval
3. Approval of agenda.
   1. Passed with unanimous approval
4. Communication from guest Dr. Julian Stark (Chair, Committee on Academic Freedom).
   1. Susan Jacobowitz, Jeff, and Julian have spoken about training; all English courses are WI.
   2. Background: Julian was assigned a WI course in 2018; had been trained several years earlier.
      1. Email from David Humphries requesting for submission of syllabus for review
      2. Syllabus did not pass requirements

• WID/WAC program website says “e.g. 30%” which implies 30% is not required

1. Need to firm up guidelines to make this clear for faculty teaching this course.

1. Now with recertification, which was never discussed, it wouldn’t hurt the entire faculty to remind them of the requirements.
   1. Send an email to all faculty reminding of requirements each semester?
2. How can we attract people to teach WI courses?
3. Concern: Repeated calls for the syllabi and request for recertification, but this change in policy discourages people.
   1. What does recertification actually mean? Is there a time limit or expiration date?
   2. If a person is decertified, what does that mean?

• Messages from committee says “submission is voluntary” but it seems mandatory for certification…?

1. Discussion:
   1. This was a discussion issue during the past year of the committee as well.
   2. Is it mandatory or voluntary?
      1.  
      2. Department chairs can decide who teaches WI or not.
      3. Does the committee have the authority to enforce?
         1. Goal should be to standardize the work; recertification should ensure that standard is being met.

• We need to clarify if 30% is the minimum; also, to what extent is teaching WI courses factored into tenure.

1. Three years ago, there had been no review of the WI courses; it was in the charter of the committee that we review them.
   1. No discussion of what would happen if people weren’t meeting the requirements; this issue was up in the air.
2. The Senate would probably have to be the decider as to whether a person would be decertified.
   1. That was part of the discussion, as was the adjustment of the 30%.
3. The language causes confusion; “significant” or “30%”?

1. We need to language to clarify:
   1. Percentage?
   2. Recertification/Decertification?
      1. So, you’re certified and then reviewed after X number of years.
         1. Certification for course, but not faculty?
         2. 10 pages of revised writing is required.
      2. Paragraph that’s recommended for all WI syllabi; most issues of recertification could have been resolved if faculty had used that paragraph.
         1. Lays out the goals and requirements of WI courses, so the students see what they’re on the hook for.
         2. Put the paragraph on the WID/WAC committee website.
      3. Recommend: Remind faculty to put the paragraph in their syllabi in advance of the semester start!

• Defines how the class is WI course, so does not infringe on academic freedom.
  1. Part of the “assessment” process.

1. Is 30% too much of a percentage?
   1. Needs of some departments are different.
   2. 10 pages of revised writing should be paramount!
   3. Is a percentage required?
      1. 20-30% with disciplinary discretion.
   4. High and Low stakes writing distinction
      1. Any clarifications there?
      2. None that we know of. Need to look at the handbook to verify.
   5. Should we recommend to Senate that faculty complete recertification?
      1. Yes
   6. Reach out to department chairs to add a reminder for their faculty.
   7. How does one identify that they want to teach a WI?
      1. Dependent upon department practices
   8. What does one need to submit in order to meet (re)certification?
      1. Is it dependent upon number of years since certification or since teaching a WI?
         1. Respecting the faculty time and the integrity of the WI program.
         2. Looking at people who hadn’t been trained recently.
            1. We’ve not made it through that list of more than 5+ years since training.
               1. Currently 27 names who have either not been approved or who did not submit documents for recertification.
               2. Artie: Faculty who were recertified received a letter from the Provost, and department chairs have received a list of their faculty who didn’t participate.
                  1. Committee can follow-up but if refused, the committee has done all they can.
                  2. 1/3 of faculty identified as eligible for recertification have been recertified by the committee.
                  3. “Changes to the charge” might be appropriate; then to Bylaws Committee and to the Senate for a vote---put everything on the table for guidelines and process.
               3. Should we reach out again to faculty?
                  1. Continue with the backlog and focus on that.
                  2. Communicate with chairs to see if this is causing scheduling or degree completion issues.
               4. Considerations, in brief:
                  1. Send an email to all faculty reminding requirements each semester
                  2. Send email to all faculty reminding to include WI paragraph each semester

• We need to recommend language
  1. Percentage?
     1. 20-30% with disciplinary discretion
  2. Recertification/Decertification issue?

1. High and Low stakes writing distinction
   1. Any clarifications there?
2. What does one need to submit in order to meet certification?
   1. Is it dependent upon number of years since certification or since teaching a WI?
3. Discussion of recertification work for Fall 2020.
   1. See above discussion notes with Julian Stark.
4. Norming session
   1. Postpone until we have more solid procedure for recertification process
   2. Discussion of current recertifications:
      1. Donald Tricarico, Sociology
         1. Fulfills current standards
            1. Votes to pass for recertification: Ian, Stefan, Sanjay Rommel, Linda, Carla, Christi
            2. Votes via email to Jeff/Christi: Jeff, Bob, Elise, Artie
         2. Robert Kueper: We need to count votes for recertification; send email to Jeff and Christi.
            1. Discussion:
               1. Missing language about revision.
               2. Needs to identify as a WI course.
            2. Discussion seems to imply that this syllabus does not pass as written but can incorporate simple language to fit the requirements.

• Jeff will notify Artie of people who pass.

7. Old business
   1. n/a
8. New business
   1. Announcements:
      1. Bob & Elise: WI training may need to be restructured.
         1. Number of participants may be lowered based on a variety of issues.
         2. Notify chairs (?) that if people need to take the WI certification training, they register early to complete it.
      2. Next meeting:
         1. How can we make good use of our time for creating the list of recommendations to the Bylaws Committee?
            1. Google Doc
            2. Stefan will create—thanks!
         2. Adjournment
            1. The meeting was adjourned at 1:40 p.m.

 

 

 

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

Christi Saindon
Committee on WID/WAC, Secretary

Minutes typed on September 17, 2020