UCAPC Subcommittee Reports

Study and Assess Writing Across the Curriculum (SAWAC): Written Report of the Committee

Carol Loranger, Chair of SAWAC, presented the committee report to UCAPC.

As background, it was noted that Jim Sayer, President of the University Faculty, charged the UCAPC (at its October 3, 2002 meeting) and, therefore, the subsequent SAWAC committee so established by UCAPC, to conduct an in-depth assessment of WAC, including, after a full six years of its implementation, a study and assessment of the effectiveness and impact of the program. The assessment was to include:

1. An examination of the program's impact vis-à-vis the program's stated goals;
2. An assessment of the mechanics of the program: are six writing-intensive GE courses appropriate (too little; too much; just right); are two writing-intensive courses in the major appropriate; is the separation of the course grade from the writing grade something that should be reconsidered?
3. A request to have each department chair and dean offer his/her specific analysis of WAC, including:

(a) the perceived impact that WAC in GE has had upon the writing skills of majors in his/her department; and
(b) the perceived impact that WAC in the major has had upon the writing skills of majors in his/her department.

The study was to be done critically and objectively.  That is, if WAC is the greatest thing since night baseball, then such should be substantiated to the satisfaction of the general faculty.  If, on the other hand, WAC has some severe problems, then those problems should be identified clearly, with specific suggestions offered for remediation
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The UCAPC members commended SAWAC Committee for their devotion to many hours, weeks, and months of steady and painstaking work in providing a comprehensive study and assessment of WAC. After much discussion, the UCAPC members believed that the report was ready for submission to the Faculty Senate, but made several minor suggestions for the SAWAC committee to consider in expanding upon its recommendations.

The SAWAC final report incorporating UCAPC's suggestions is available as follows:

SAWAC REPORT

An extensive Appendix (not included in the above link) consists of:

Charge to SAWAC
Report of External Review Committee
WI Syllabus Assessment Rubric
WAC Letters to Deans
WAC Letters to Chairs
WAC Letters to WI Faculty
Request for Deans'/Chairs' Assessment
List of WAC Workshops
WAC Newsletters
A Brief Guide for Faculty (booklet)

Copies of the final report and all materials in the Appendix will be made available in the Faculty Office (138 Fawcett) and in the Office of the Dean of each college/school by April 29.

Again, UCAPC extended many thanks to: Carol Loranger (COLA, for undertaking the task of chairing the SAWAC) and all SAWAC members, including Carol Morgan Bennet (COLA), Rudy Fichtenbaum (COBA), Leo Finkelstein (CECS), Jeanne Fraker (UC), Carol Holdcraft (CONH), Christopher Leapley (SG), Joe Law (WAC), Richard Mercer (COSM), Kenneth Schatmeyer (CEHS), and James Steinberg (LC).

CONH

Approved Inventories: NUR 450, NUR 441, NUR 451, NUR 442, NUR 452, NUR 443, NUR 453, NUR 444, NUR 454

COSM

Approved Modifications: ANT 426, ANT 445, BIO 210, BIO 211, BIO 212, BIO 256, BIO 406, BIO 470, STT 426, STT 461, STT 462, STT 466, STT 467, STT 469

CEHS: Approved program changes (subject to the committee's request for verification of credit hour requirements)

Athletic Training Without Teaching (some minor changes from previous February 10/24 approval)

Athletic Training Without Teaching

Early Childhood Education (some minor changes from previous February 10/24 approval)

Early Childhood Education

Middle Childhood Education (some minor changes from previous February 10/24 approval)

Middle Childhood Education

CONH: Approved new program for

Baccalaureate Entry Accelerates Career Opportunities (BEACON) Program

After much discussion concerning student entry requirements and funding, as well as, requests for presenting the program as a new program rather than a change to an existing program, and specifying G.P.A. entry requirements, the committee approved the proposal subject to such changes. The CONH subsequently made such changes and the approved program is available at:

BEACON Program

Next UCAPC Meeting

Per the UCAPC Minutes and announcement of March 17, the last meeting of UCAPC for this academic year is May 19. Colleges submitting curriculum and policy proposals for review by the committee need to submit the original and 18 copies NO LATER THAN 12:00 Noon., May 9 for consideration at the May 19 meeting.

Curriculum and policy proposals received after May 9 (no exceptions) will be forwarded to next year's UCAPC for consideration in September or October 2003.