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APC met with the Registrar, Ms. Bivens, to gain her feedback on this action item from last time. She said it would increase the workload for her office but the benefit to students would outweigh this extra work.
The item passed unanimously.
There was more discussion on this item. Whereas the Registrar did not have suggestions for improving the previous item, for this one she told APC that she would prefer to see courses canceled at least two weeks before the semester begins, and she would also like it to be clear whose job it is contact students. APC attempted to reflect those concerns in the proposal. Chair Rye suggested a friendly amendment that included Area Coordinators to the list of individuals contacted when a course is canceled. Another friendly amendment, by Chair Andries, made it the Registrar's duty to inform students of canceled courses rather the advisor's.
Time was extended for 2 minutes to complete the vote.
The item passed unanimously.
Chair Andries explained that he was asked to hold on to this item; that is why its number is so much earlier than other items Senate has reviewed recently. The item replaces HIS 103 with a course on African American History, HIS 108, in the Liberal Studies Core. Professor Erin Gilliam added that the course will make KSU's curriculum consistent with other HBCUs, and she stressed that the department is not doing away with Western Civilization; students will still have the option to take that course.
The item passed unanimously.
WYS Interim Chair Dr. Cynthia Shelton explained the WYS program changes, which entailed updates on final projects, foreign languages, orientation, seminars, and preceptorials. She told the group that come fall KSU will have French, Portuguese, Chinese, and German as foreign language options. These courses will be open to every student. The instructors will obtain through variety of means: Fulbrights, grants, and a partnership with Georgetown College. Dr. Shelton discussed the program's new curriculum ladders and noted that Honors will entail only first and second year courses; students will then matriculate on to their majors.
A motion to add 5 minutes passed unanimously.