Seminar Policy (7.14) AGC – September 2016

Presentation Outline Team Members Stated Reason for the Policy History Issues/Concerns Proposed Changes Questions/Table Discussion

Team Katie Daniels Brent Spitler John Dersch Susan Williams Bill Faber Christopher Johnston (new)

Stated Reason for the Policy (Seminar Course Definition 7.14) To ensure the quality of the College curricula and the means to offer courses in special topics.

Current Policy Curriculum— A seminar course focuses on a topic that is not included and/or studied in depth in the discipline’s regular course offerings. In a seminar course, a group of students work with a faculty member to study this special topic. A seminar course topic is not intended to become a regular course in a curriculum. The purpose is to provide a unique opportunity for a group of students and a faculty member to explore a special or new topic. The topics of seminar courses in a discipline will typically not be routinely repeated. Policy on Numbering of Seminar Courses: Seminar courses are designated by the following numbers: 291 (one credit hour seminar), 292 (two credit hour seminar), 293 (three credit hour seminar), 294 (four credit hour seminar). The particular topic of the Seminar must be included in the Seminar title.

Current Policy, cont. Student— Policy on Limits for Students: Students may not use more than twelve (12) credits of a combination of Seminar and Independent Study courses toward the fulfillment of the requirements for any associate’s degree. Further, no more than two (2) credits of the twelve may be in Independent Study courses. Students also should be aware that Seminar and Independent Study courses may not be accepted by a transfer college.

History Original Policy: Approved by AGC in January 2012 Policy language identifies the definition a Seminar course Identifies course numbering schema and naming convention for Seminar courses Identifies maximum credit hours to be used toward an associate's degree for Seminar and Independent study courses

Issues/Concerns Issues/Concerns Addresses Independent Study and Seminar courses Lists frequency of times a student can take both Seminar and Independent Study course Specific course numbers are indicated in the policy Language needs to be updated to reflect updated curriculum process and language

Solution Remove specific information about course numbering Remove information about Independent Studies Remove information about how many times a students can take/receive credit for an independent study Update language to appropriately reflect current standards and processes Propose a new policy on repeating courses for credit which addresses all course formats

Proposed Policy Statement Seminar courses employ instructional methods that work best among a small group of learners, such as, but not limited to, intensive discussion, reading primary literature, individual or group presentations, and/or learning special laboratory-based skills.  Seminar courses are variable credit offerings. The credit hour allocation for each seminar topic is established by the instructor in the seminar topic proposal. Given the nature of seminars, the minimum class size is one student and the maximum class size is 15 students. Professors may grant permission for class size to be increased above the 15 student limit.   A seminar focuses on a specific area of enrichment and/or curricular interest and need that is not regularly offered by a department. Seminar proposals are submitted by the instructor to the Department Head and Associate Dean for approval.  After a specific seminar has run three times, it is benchmarked and reviewed in tandem by the faculty member, department head and associate dean in order to evaluate if it should be developed as a regular course offering or remain as a seminar. Seminars that are not developed as a new course may continue to be offered as a seminar, and are subject to evaluation on the same schedule.

Proposed Policy Statement, etc. Definitions Seminar Course- Course listed in PeopleSoft and the catalog Seminar - The specific area of enrichment and/or curricular interest as defined by the faculty member

Feedback from Department By October 3rd, 2016 Send directly to kdaniels@grcc.edu Thank you!