IS Minutes 032299

Program Change from K-8 to K-6

Discussion: The state department will be changing the Multi-Subjects K-8 program to K-6 (the date for this change has yet to be decided). We have two options; a standalone K-4 endorsement or a K-6 endorsement. Having a K-6 endorsement is more beneficial to our students and will not require the program to be reviewed by in-house committees, i.e., Curriculum Committee, etc. This will enable us to have one 16-week student teaching placement and will make it easier on Cindy to find placements for our students. This may also provide us the opportunity of changing the Wednesday evening seminar class to a one day a month seminar that could be more hands on.

5-9 Specializations

Discussion: Discussion followed on the proposed courses for the math and science endorsements. Ideas submitted include:

C Instead of taking Biology 112, have students take Biology 211 and 212.

C Instead of taking Chemistry 111, have students take Chemistry 103 and 104.

C Some math programs require students to take a Business Math course. Do we need one? This is something that will be revisited at a later date.

C The idea of adding a higher level Computer Science course was mentioned.

Students will have to take the Praxis II exam for whichever endorsement they decide to add. If the changes above are made, it was suggested that the additional instructional strategies courses in math and science be changed to two hour courses instead of three.

Joe informed Gary that he has asked Dr. Dutta and Eldon for extra money this summer so faculty members can be reimbursed for designing the new courses needed. He will let Gary know if he hears anything.

Admission Requirements

Discussion: The new NCATE standards are focusing more on the quality and performance of graduates. The Education Division has discussed ways of documenting this performance for NCATE review. They are:

C Raising the GPA for admission to program from 2.5 to 2.75.

C Raising the GPA for admission to student teaching from 2.5 to 3.0.

C Not accepting below a C in all course work required for the program.

Discussion followed and it was the general consensus of the group that the admission should be changed from 2.5 to 2.75 for admission to both program and student teaching. The group also agreed with the idea that a grade of C should be accepted for all course work required for the degree.

Course Offerings

Discussion: Joe noted that enrollment in the Education Division has increased 20% from last fall. This increase also means an increase in instructional strategies courses. In order to keep enrollment in all instructional strategies courses between 15 and 20, two sections of each course are needed.

Program Summaries

Discussion: Joe distributed a copy of the program summary and comments from the fall 98 graduates. If you have any questions, please see him.