Minutes from Social Sciences Task
Force Meeting of March 6, 2009
The Social Science Task Force met Friday, March 6, 2009 from 1:00 PM to 2:00
PM at Rio Grande Campus in Room 111. The following faculty members were in
attendance: Geoff Andron,
1. The agenda for the meeting was approved.
1. Approve agenda.
2. Approve minutes from last meeting which can be
found at: http://www.austincc.edu/SOCSCI/Minutes/meet_02_06_09.htm.
3. Discuss
the progress being made in re-instating the Peruvian study abroad program.
4. Discuss the results of
last fall’s THECB/SACS pre- and post tests for ANTH 2301, ECON 2302, and GEOG
1301. In light of these results, we will discuss and take action on proposals
on ways to improve student performance in these courses.
5. Discuss
and take action on adopting questions for next academic year’s THECB/SACS pre-
and post tests.
6. Discuss
and take action on adding textbooks to the approved lists:
A) for ANTH 2301, add Michael
Park’s “Biological Anthropology” http://catalogs.mhhe.com/mhhe/viewProductDetails.do?isbn=0073530972) & “Annual Editions Physical Anthropology”
presented by Tiffany Rawlings (http://catalogs.mhhe.com/mhhe/viewProductDetails.do?isbn=0073397814),
Classic and “Contemporary
Readings in Physical Anthropology” by M.K. Sandford & Eileen Jackson
presented by Sherry Heiden and/or Mary Chipley (http://www.cengage.com/cengage/instructor.do?codeid=6132&sortby=copy&type=all_radio&courseid=AL03&product_isbn=9780495510147&disciplinenumber=15&codeFlag=false)
B) for
GEOG 1302 add "Contemporary Human Geography" 1st Edition by James
Rubenstein presented by Don Jonsson (http://www.pearsonhighered.com/educator/academic/product/0,3110,0321590031,00.html)
C) for ECON 2301 and ECON
2302 Core Macroecomics(http://www.worthpublishers.com/newcatalog.aspx?search=stone&isbn=1429215380) and Core Microeconomics (http://www.worthpublishers.com/newcatalog.aspx?search=stone&isbn=1429215372 )by Gerald Stone presented by Richard Croxdale
7. Adjourn.
2. Jim mentioned that each Social Science Task Force member should review the minutes and report any inaccuracies to rdayton@austincc.edu. Also please make sure to that you are listed as attending each meeting if you were there. Voting adjunct task force members that attend task force meetings are paid a small stipend of $20.00 per hour at the end of the academic year. The attendance sign- up sheet at the meeting is used to process stipends. The minutes from the February 6th, 2009 meeting were approved (http://www.austincc.edu/SOCSCI/Minutes/meet_02_06_09.htm).
3. Agenda item #3 was presented by James Sondgeroth and Carol Hayman regarding the status of the re-instatement of the Peruvian study abroad program. Jim Sondgeroth explained that the Peruvian program still had not been approved for reinstatement. Frank Flauto looked at the changes that were made to the program and then suggested further changes each time. Carol mentioned that Frank showed up at the recruiting meeting that she held for her potential students. Carol said that Frank Flauto said he would write a letter to Mike Midgley stating that he approved the Peruvian program but that didn’t happen. Carol met with Gaye Lynn Scott and she said she would try and get a final word on whether or not the program would be approved. Gaye Lynn recommended more syllabi changes so Carol made the changes and emailed them to Gaye Lynn to forward to Frank. The dean wrote an email to Frank saying she is satisfied with the academic quality of ANTH 2389 and supports the re-instatement of the Peruvian study abroad program. Carol hasn’t heard anything back from Frank. Jim Sondgeroth explained that he and Carol were told that Kinslow would not approve the Peruvian program without also having Frank Flauto’s approval. Carol explained that time is of the essence and that she already has one student who has paid in advance and is registered for her course. Michael Petrowsky suggested two things that would be helpful to Carol. He suggested a motion that the task force be in support of her and that they convey their concern regarding the lack of progress in the program’s reinstatement. Secondly, Petrowsky recommended that we should all do our best to help Carol distribute fliers and other advertisements for her program. Mary Beth mentioned that she was approached by the International Program’s office about visiting her Geography classes to mention the study abroad program to her students. All programs were mentioned as being available yet there was no mention of the Peruvian Program. Karen Bell mentioned that if the program didn’t happen this summer it would threaten current agreements with the university. The task force agreed to send the following statement to the President, Vice President, Dean and then to the International Student office.
The Social Science Task Force is not satisfied that the director of the international programs has not approved the Peruvian progam. Discussion with Frank Flauto has been fruitful, and all objections to the program have been met. The lack of non approval seems to be counter to the directive of President Kinslow in his letter dated January 31st and to threaten the viability of the entire program and threatens the existing agreements with other universities. The Social Science Task Force directs the department chair to send this communication to the President, Vice President, Dean and Director of International Programs office.
The task force requests that this statement be sent immediately. This motion was approved.
Michael Petrowsky urged all faculty to support Carol Hayman’s Peruvian program and announce the program opportunity to the students in their classes. Carol agreed to send a copy of the Peruvian program flier and any supporting persuasive documents through the social science list serve so that the task force can help distribute the information. The task force approved another motion that Jim Sondgeroth would call Frank Flauto on Monday and find out the status of the reinstatement. This motion was approved.
4. Discuss
the results of last fall’s THECB/SACS pre- and post tests for ANTH 2301, ECON
2302, and GEOG 1301. In light of these results, we will discuss and take action
on proposals on ways to improve student performance in these courses. Jim Sondgeroth explained that the task force
used the same questions as were used last year in each of the disciplines.
a. In
Physical Anthropology the pretests class average was 5.8 out of 10 and the post
tests class average was 7.3 out of 10. Jim explained that these figures showed
a pretty good improvement on the scores with about a 26% improvement. Jim
explained that this was much better than last year’s results. Mary Beth
explained that some people may have already had Cultural Anthropology or Archaeology
and have learned these concepts. The task force agreed with the results of the
pre and post tests and they were satisfied with the results. The Anthropology
department met its goal of a 20% improvement. (To see results and questions
please CLICK HERE!)
b. In
Microeconomics the pretest class average was 1.2 out of 4 and the post test
class average was 2.2 out of 4. The increase was about a 50% improvement and
exceeded the department’s goal of 20% improvement in test scores. Al Slivinske
mentioned that he was not happy with the wording on several of the
Microeconomics questions and that changing the wording could increase future
test results. The Economics department decided to increase the number of
questions offered to 10 and to change the wording on several of the
Microeconomics questions. (To see results and questions please CLICK HERE!)
c.
In Physical Geography the pretests class average
was 6.0 out of 10 and 7.2 out of 10 which is exactly a 20% improvement in score
averages. The Geography department was happy with the increase due to the fact
that it met the department’s goal of a 20% increase in test scores. Jim
Sondgeroth recommended that due to the high scores the department should
consider increasing the difficulty of some of the questions so that the post
tests would more accurately reflect the material covered in class and not
previous knowledge. The Geography department was happy with the 20% improvement
but asked that they questions be more challenging. (To see results and
questions please CLICK HERE!)
5. Discuss and take action on adopting questions for next academic year’s THECB/SACS pre- and post tests. Don Jonsson is creating the questions for Cultural Geography. Alec Slivinske and Marianna Sidoryanskaya will be creating the questions for Macroeconomics. Lizzie Pintar will be creating the questions for Cultural Anthropology. Jim reminded the task force that the new questions for THECB/SACS pre and post tests would need to be presented at our next task force meeting for approval.
Jim mentioned that Geoffrey Andron will be completing the program review for Economics by the April 15th deadline. Mr. Andron will be presenting his results at our next meeting for approval by the task force.
6. Discuss and take action on adding textbooks to the approved lists:
A) for ANTH 2301, add Michael Park’s “Biological Anthropology” http://catalogs.mhhe.com/mhhe/viewProductDetails.do?isbn=0073530972) & “Annual Editions Physical Anthropology” presented by Tiffany Rawlings (http://catalogs.mhhe.com/mhhe/viewProductDetails.do?isbn=0073397814). Tiffany discussed the merits of the textbook by Park and that it had virtually the same material as the Jurmain textbook but was $20.00 cheaper. Tiffany explained that the Annual Editions textbook contained articles that she felt would be a great asset in the classroom. Mary Chipley made a motion to approve these two textbooks and the task force approved.
B) “Classic and Contemporary Readings in Physical Anthropology” by M.K Sandford & Eileen Jackson presented by Sherry Heiden and/or Mary Chipley (http://www.cengage.com/cengage/instructor.do?codeid=6132&sortby=copy&type=all_radio&courseid=AL03&product_isbn=9780495510147&disciplinenumber=15&codeFlag=false). Sherry Heiden presented this text and explained that it also had cheaper E-book versions that students could purchase online either in the books entirety or by chapter. A motion was made to approve the new textbook and the motion was approved by the task force.
B) for GEOG 1302 add "Contemporary Human Geography" 1st Edition by James Rubenstein presented by Don Jonsson (http://www.pearsonhighered.com/educator/academic/product/0,3110,0321590031,00.html). Don Jonsson presented the new Rubenstein textbook which is basically an update of Rubenstein’s Cultural Landscape. Mary Beth agreed that anything by Rubenstein would presumably be great and that she liked that the text had GIS maps. A motion was made to approve adding the Rubenstein textbook and the motion was approved.
C) for ECON 2301 and ECON 2302 Core Macroecomics(http://www.worthpublishers.com/newcatalog.aspx?search=stone&isbn=1429215380)
and Core Microeconomics (http://www.worthpublishers.com/newcatalog.aspx?search=stone&isbn=1429215372
)by Gerald Stone presented by Richard Croxdale.
Richard Croxdale presented the Gerald Stone textbook. He explained that he has
just recently found out the price of the Arnold textbook that he has been using
in his classes and is searching for a cheaper option. The Core Economics
textbooks were half the price of the Arnold textbooks and were just as good. A
motion was made to approve the new textbook and the motion was approved.
7. A motion was made to adjourn at 2:00p.m. The motion was approved.