October 12, 1995
Members Present
- Dr. David Boocker
- Dr. Ben Byler
- Ms. Jennifer Denton
- Ms. Pamela George
- Dr. Glenn James
- Mr. Jim Rose
- Dr. Noel Tolbert
- Ms. Rebecca Tolbert
- Dr. Matthew Zagumny
Guests
- Ms. Annette Coorts
- Dr. Nick Demas for Dr. John Mason
Members Absent
- Mr. Tony Marable
- Dr. John Mason
- Ms. Charlene Mullins
- Ms. Gail Stearman
- Mr. Robert Stone
- Dr. Don Weinrauch
Dr. Ben Byler served as chair at the meeting for Mr. Tony Marable.
Introduction of New Members
The new members were introduced to the committee. The new members are Ms. Pam George, Dr. Glenn James, Ms. Gail Stearman, Ms. Jennifer Denton, and Mr. Robert Stone.
Approval of the Agenda
Dr. Zagumny made the motion to approve the agenda and Dr. Boocker seconded the motion. The agenda was approved.
Approval of February 9 Minutes
Dr. Zagumny made the motion to approve the minutes and Dr. Tolbert seconded the motion. The minutes were approved.
Review of Committee Procedures
Committee procedures had been mailed to all new members. No questions were asked.
Request to Receive Credit for FLSP 104-105 and FLSP 201-202 Based on Three Years of Study at the University of Puerto Rico
Ms. Tolbert explained that a native Spanish speaking student from Puerto Rico wanted to transfer to Tech before completing her degree. The University will accept some of her coursework and she will also be meeting her residency requirement by completing the number of hours required here at Tech. The student also wants to become certified to teach in languages. The student will be completing upper division credit in Spanish. The student would like to be awarded credit instead of competency because she needs the credit hours toward her degree in lower division Spanish for teacher certification. The question was asked if the University could award credit and Ms. Tolbert stated that credit could be awarded by the University based on successful completion of the next level of upper-division Spanish courses. Dr. Zagumny made the motion to approve the request and Dr. Boocker seconded the motion. The request was approved. Dr. Tolbert abstained on the vote.
Bible Transfer Credit
Ms. Tolbert gave history on how Dr. Hoyle Lawson had awarded credit. Ms. Tolbert stated that his definition of what was accepted is the following excerpt from the current catalog: "A maximum of 12 semester hours of credit can be accepted if they are history and/or literature, but not doctrine. The Old Testament is history, literature, and poetry. In the New Testament -- Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, and Acts are history. Letters are doctrine. Example -- Life and teachings of Jesus is doctrine." This excerpt had not been in print, but the Graduation Office had used it up to 20 years. Through the course of history a less restrictive definition has been used. Ms. George stated for the past eight years that Basic Business had followed the definition as far as accepting history, literature, and poetry, but not doctrine for elective credit. The course descriptions are examined for clarification and perhaps a syllabus if needed. The current definition is restrictive by only accepting the first five books of the new testament as being history or literature. Basic Business is not asking for a change in the way the University has been evaluating, but a clarification of how to evaluate these courses. Dr. Zagumny asked Ms. George if Basic Business was including the entire Bible as history or literature in one of those two categories as a book instead of the restriction of the old testament and the first five chapters of the new testament. Dr. Zagumny made the motion to approve. Dr. Tolbert stated the committee should probably hear other arguments. Dr. Demas seconded the motion for discussion purposes. Discussion was held by the committee. Dr. Demas asked why do we limit to the Bible. Why don't we say any course that is taught in the theme of religion and that is taught basically in history, literature, or philosophy be acceptable. Dr. Demas made the motion to amend by specifying what we are really talking about is any credit in religion. Dr. Zagumny accepted the friendly amendment. Dr. Byler stated we have a motion to amend the main motion to insert the word religious history and/or literature may be accepted. The proposed catalog notation submitted by the Division of Basic Business will be changed to read as "Credit in Religious Studies" and the definition will read as follows: A maximum of 12 semester hours of religious history and/or literature may be accepted. No further discussion was conducted by the committee. The motion was approved.
Request for Exception to American History Requirement for ATI NET Students
Dr. Demas explained to the committee that the University had taken over a program at Brown's Ferry with TVA which had previously been administered by American Technical Institute (ATI). ATI's curriculum requirement for history is Western Civilization. The University's requirement is American History. We feel like that we should not unduly burden students by making them take an American History course when they have already taken the Western Civ course. We are not talking about doing this on a permanent basis. All new students who have not taken Western Civilization will take American History. This request is to exempt only those students who have already completed the Western Civilization. Dr. Demas made the motion to approve the following request:
Those students in the Nuclear Engineering Technology (NET) Program taught for the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) by Tennessee Technological University (TTU) and Chattanooga State Technical Community College (CSTCC) who had 30 or more semester hours under the American Technical Institute (ATI) program prior to April 1, 1995, and had already completed the History of Western Civilization should be allowed to substitute this history for the American History requirement.
Dr. Zagumny seconded the motion. This request is for board approval from the Tennessee Board of Regents. No further discussion was conducted by the committee. The motion was approved.
Academic Work Scholarship Renewal
Ms. Tolbert stated a question arose last summer of a student who was on academic work scholarship. The requirement for the Tennessee Board of Regents policy number 3:04:01:00 states the following:
Renewal of academic service scholarships after the initial academic year of the freshman shall require a minimum GPA of 2.5. All subsequent renewals shall require a minimum semester GPA of 2.5 for students of both universities and two-year institutions.
The question arose that if a student takes one or two class(es) in the summer and makes less than a 2.5 for those two courses does that students lose his/her academic service scholarship for the fall. The question was answered yes to the individual who asked. The Admissions and Credits Committee was asked to look at this situation. Is this the intent of the University, and if not would we request TBR to say for a student who is taking less than eight hours in a summer term for the cumulative grade point average to be used for renewal instead of the term average. Ms. Tolbert made the motion to approve adding the following statement to board policy number 3:04:01:00:
For students who attend a summer semester for eight hours or less, the cumulative GPA will be used for renewal.
Mr. Rose seconded the motion. Discussion was held by the committee. The motion was approved. The request to add the following statement will be forwarded to the Tennessee Board of Regents for approval. Further discussion was held by the committee to raise the GPA to 2.8 from 2.5 for students who are receiving an academic work scholarship. No action was taken at this time.
For students who are on suspension from TTU, do we question acceptance of credits for transfer while on suspension?
A question arose from a department chair regarding a student who was on suspension and had taken courses at another institution. The chair wanted to know if we accepted the transfer credit. The University has always accepted the credit. Is it a point the committee needs to discuss? Do we do it automatically? Can the University not take the credit? After further discussion, the consensus reached is the committee will not question acceptance of transfer credit while a student is on suspension.
Can fresh start students take CLEP tests?
This question came up because of students who have earned a number of college credits in the past and they come back wanting fresh start and wanting to take the CLEP tests in these four subject areas. When the fresh start policy was institituted, this was not discussed. How do we direct these students? Discussion was held by the committee. The motion was made that fresh start students can take CLEP tests. Dr. Zagumny made the motion. Dr. Tolbert seconded the motion. The motion was approved.
Such Other Matters
Further discussion was held by the committee regarding Bible credit. The definition for the catalog was changed to read:
A maximum of 12 semester hours of credit in religious history and/or literature, but not doctrine, may be accepted.
Dr. Zagumny made the motion to adjourn the meeting. The meeting was adjourned at 4:15.
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