Curriculum Committee
Annual Report for 2020-21
Committee Members:
Adair, Arthur, Speech Communication & Theatre Arts
Fox-Herron, Doreen, Registrar
Hemraj-Benny, Tirandai, Chemistry
Lizzul, Isabella, Health, Physical Education & Dance – Secretary
Murley, Jean, English
Pecorino, Philip A., Social Sciences
Tawde, Mangala, Biological Sciences & Geology
Wallach, Patrick, Mathematics & Computer Sciences – Chairperson
Yuster, Richard, Engineering Technology
Student Representatives:
Vacant
Liaisons:
Michael Pullin, Office of Academic Affairs, President's Liaison
Richard Yuster, Engineering Technology, COC Liaison
Acknowledgements:
The Committee wishes to thank President Christine Mangino and the President’s Liaison, Michael Pullin, Associate Dean for Academics, for the multiple ways in which they have supported the work of the Committee on Curriculum during this particularly challenging year. Gratitude is also due to Sandra Palmer, Dean of Faculty, Arthur Corradetti, Dean for Institutional Effectiveness, and Emiko Sanchez, Registrar. Special additional gratitude goes Michael Pullin for his consultation and thoroughness in all matters including the creation of the Protocol for all Academic Matters Submitted to the Committee on Curriculum.
Many faculty leaders’ guidance is also appreciated, including from Philip Pecorino, Chair of the Faculty Executive Committee, the Academic Senate Steering Committee (Steven Dahlke, Chair, Jannette Urciuoli, Vice-Chair, and Zivah Perel Katz, Secretary), and the Academic Senate Parliamentarian, Leslie Francis. The help and attention of all of the Department Chairs and the many faculty members who worked on curricular items is also much appreciated. Gratitude goes to Director of Web Services, David Moretti, for his extensive help in keeping our web pages current and ADA compliant.
The Chair of the Committee thanks the Committee members listed above, for their dedication and hard work during this unusual academic year, including their useful review, critiques, and constructive recommendations in considering over 75 curricular items. In particular, the committee members, as well as some other faculty, were very accommodating and understanding of the challenges and limitations of working entirely with online meetings. Many thanks to Isabella Lizzul, who has done an excellent job taking over as the secretary of the Committee on Curriculum this year. Thanks also goes to Philip Pecorino for his work in the creation and guidance of the CS-CIS Matter Working Group and the Subcommittee of Committee on Curriculum on Computer Courses and Programs. Doreen Fox-Herron was especially useful in providing the Registrar’s point of view with curricular matters. And gratitude is due to Richard Yuster, for his careful, considerate eye and years of QCC experience.
Special thanks to departing member Jean Murley for her four years of service and a welcome to Kendra Mason, Academy Advisement, for the next academic year.
Patrick Wallach
Chair, Committee on Curriculum
Meetings:
The Committee on Curriculum met on Tuesday afternoons, from 2:00 to 4:00 P.M. online using Blackboard Collaborate. The committee met 16 times during the 2020-2021 academic year. Meetings in 2020 took place on September 15 and 22; October 20 and 27; November 17 and 24; and December 1 and 15. Meetings in 2021 took place on February 16 and 23; March 16 and 23; April 6, 20 and 27; and May 4.
Actions of the Committee
The committee took the following curricular actions during the 2020-2021 academic year:
43 course revisions
14 program revisions
14 new courses + 2 experimental courses
3 new programs
1 department name change
1 creation of new subcommittee
1 general education outcome
1 protocol for all academic submissions
Course Revisions (43 course revisions)
43 course revisions are listed below by department. The date of committee approval is indicated in parentheses. Further information can be found in the Committee on Curriculum minutes for that date and the monthly report sent to the following Academic Senate meeting.
Department of Art & Design
ARTH-225 History of Graphic Design (10/20/2020)
Business Department
BU-301 Business Law (3/16/2021)
English Department
ENGL-99 (changed from BE-102) Developing Competence in College Reading, Writing, and Study Skills (12/1/2020)
Engineering Technology Department
ET-704 Networking Fundamentals I (4/20/2021)
ET-705 Networking Fundamentals II (4/20/2021)
ET-725 Computer Network Security (4/20/2021)
ET-502 Introduction to Computer Programming (4/20/2021)
ET-575 Introduction to C++ Programming Design and Implementation (4/20/2021)
Department of Mathematics & Computer Science
MA-451 Differential Equations (10/20/2020)
MA-461 Linear Algebra (10/20/2020)
Music Department
MP-101 Introduction to the Recording Studio and MIDI (4/27/2021)
MP-102 Digital Music Sequencing (4/27/2021)
MUS-101 Introduction to Music (2C1) (4/27/2021)
MUS-121 Music Theory I (4/27/2021)
MUS-122 Music Theory II (4/27/2021)
MUS-123 Sight Reading and Ear Training I (4/27/2021)
MUS-124 Sight Reading and Ear Training II (4/27/2021)
MUS-132 Class Instruction in Piano II (4/27/2021)
MUS-168, 169, 268, 269 Individual Instruction in Music Performance: Saxophone I, II, III, IV (4/27/2021)
MUS-178, 179, 278, 279 Individual Instruction in Music Performance: Piano I, II, III, IV (4/27/2021)
MUS-180, 181, 280, 281 Individual Instruction in Music Performance: Percussion I, II, III, IV
(4/27/2021)
MUS-184, 185, 284, 285 Individual Instruction in Music Performance: Voice I, II, III, IV (4/27/2021)
MUS-221 Music Theory III (4/27/2021)
MUS-222 Music Theory IV (4/27/2021)
MUS-225 Jazz Theory and Improvisation I (4/27/2021)
MUS-226 Jazz Theory and Improvisation II (4/27/2021)
Nursing Department
NU-102 Safe and Effective Nursing Care Level II (11/24/2020)
Physics Department
PH-414 Analytical Mechanics (10/20/2020)
PH-415 Electricity and Magnetism (10/20/2020)
PH-416 Thermodynamics (10/20/2020)
PH-900 Research Projects (10/20/2020)
Program Revisions (14 program revisions)
Fourteen program revisions are listed below by department. The date of committee approval is indicated in parentheses. Some details are given below; further information can be found in the Committee on Curriculum minutes for that date and the monthly report sent to the following Academic Senate meeting.
Department of Biological Sciences & Geology
Medical Assistant A.A.S. Program (4/27/2021)
Rationale:
HE-102 Health, Behavior, & Society is a fundamental course that focuses on the relationship between health and human behavior by exploring the psychological, biological, and socio-cultural perspectives of health. This course will be useful for Medical Assistants when they work in health care and interact with patients. This is particularly useful for Medical Assistant students at QCC who will be working with diverse populations in the future.
Engineering Technology Department
A.A.S., Electronic Engineering Technology (4/27/2021)
Rationale:
The need for understanding cybersecurity is pervasive. The addition of this elective in cybersecurity security policies rounds out student backgrounds in the field of Electronic Engineering Technology.
A.A.S., Computer Engineering Technology (4/27/2021)
Rationale:
This collection of electives is needed to keep the degree current. They are all important areas within the field of Computer Engineering Technology. These electives will allow students to choose to focus in one of these current topics.
A.A.S., Telecommunications Technology (4/27/2021)
Rationale:
The need for understanding cybersecurity is pervasive. The addition of this elective in cybersecurity security policies rounds out student backgrounds in the field of Telecommunications Technology.
A.A.S., Internet and Information Technology (4/27/2021)
Rationale:
These additional electives courses in cybersecurity and cloud technology are required to keep this technology degree current. ET-728 Web Technology: XML is being removed from the list of electives since it is no longer current. The program description is updated to reflect these changes.
Music Department
Music – Associate in Science (A.S.) Degree (4/27/2021)
A.A.S. Music Production (4/27/2021)
Rationale for both:
These program changes are intended to streamline the advisement process (including Degree Works) for majors when addressing electives, and clarify the language in the course notes, some of which were changed in the catalog but did not go through the Senate approval process. Other changes are to more clearly define which Music Theory courses are intended for the A.S. Music degree, and remove those which the department is intending to gear more towards A.A.S. Music Production students. Course revisions and syllabi will be included to support these changes.
Nursing Department
Nursing A.A.S. (11/24/2020)
A.A.S. in Nursing (QCC) leading to the B.S. in Nursing (Hunter-Bellevue School of Nursing) (11/24/2020)
A.A.S. in Nursing (QCC) leading to the B.S. in Nursing (York College) (11/24/2020)
A.A.S. in Nursing (QCC) leading to the B.S. in Nursing (CUNY School of Professional Studies) (11/24/2020)
Rationale for all:
Some incoming nursing students may have significant technical/clinical experience from work experience. Those students will be permitted to complete NU-110 and NU-111 in place of NU-101.
Department of Social Sciences
Liberal Arts and Sciences – Associate in Arts (A.A.) Degree (11/17/2020)
Rationale:
The course number for CRIM-102 was changed to CRIM-205. The same change must be made in the LA-AA degree concentrations that recommend or require CRIM-102.
Department of Speech Communication and Theatre Arts
A.A. in Liberal Arts and Sciences, Communication Studies Concentration (9/22/2020)
Rationale:
The Speech Department proposes to add two new elective courses to the A.A. in Liberal Arts and Sciences concentration in Communication Studies: SP-215, Phonetics and SP-216, Intro to Language Science and Linguistics. These two courses are required introductory courses in all the Speech and Language Pathology four-year degree programs. Many of our communication students plan to become Speech and Language pathologists; therefore, SP-215 and SP-216 will help QCC students to fulfill the academic requirements when transferring to senior colleges and applying for a BS in Speech and Language Pathology.
Theatre (Concentrations: Acting, Technical Theatre) (3/23/2021)
Rationale:
These changes are to conform to National Association of Schools of Theatre (NAST) accreditation standards and concerns and align our curriculum to enable better articulation with sister CUNY, and other 4-year colleges, thus permitting students to graduate with no additional time or repetition of courses, and improve student preparedness for B.A. and B.F.A. programs.
New Courses (14 new courses and 2 experimental course)
Fourteen new courses and two new experimental courses are listed below by department. The date of committee approval is indicated in parentheses. Further information can be found in the Committee on Curriculum minutes for that date and the monthly report sent to the following Academic Senate meeting.
Engineering Technology Department
ET-726 Advanced Network Security (4/6/2021)
ET-754 Security Policies and Procedures (4/6/2021)
ET-760 Ethical Hacking and Penetration Testing (4/6/2021)
ET-757 Cloud Technology Developing (4/27/2021)
ET-758 Cloud Technology Operations (4/27/2021)
English Department
ENGL-90 Integrated Reading and Writing for Advanced ESL Students (9/15/2020)
Department of Mathematics & Computer Science
CS-102 Spreadsheet Programming with MS Excel (10/20/2020)
CS-103 Relational databases with SQL (10/20/2020)
Nursing Department
NU-110 Technical / Clinical Work Credit (11/24/2020)
NU-111 Fundamental Pathway to Nursing (11/24/2020)
Department of Social Sciences
EDUC-240 Middle Childhood and Adolescent Learning and Development (2/16/2021)
Department of Speech Communication and Theatre Arts
SP-215 Phonetics (9/22/2020)
SP-216 Introduction to Language Science and Linguistics (9/22/2020)
TH-901 Independent Study in Theatre (3/23/2021)
Experimental Courses
Department of Mathematics & Computer Science
MA-136 Introductory Statistics (10/27/2020)
MA-136ALP Introductory Statistics - Corequisite Course (10/27/2020)
New Programs (3 New Programs)
Three new programs are listed below by department. The date of committee approval is indicated in parentheses. Further information can be found in the Committee on Curriculum minutes for that date and the monthly report sent to the following Academic Senate meeting.
Business Department
New Online Program for the A.S. in Business Administration (9/22/2020)
Department of Health, Physical Education and Dance
A.S. Degree in Movement Science (11/24/2020)
Department of Physics
A.S. in Physics (previously approved on 5/19/2020, approved 10/20/2020)
Department Name Change
At the April 20, 2021 meeting, the committee approved the name change of the Department of Speech Communication & Theatre Arts to Department of Communication, Theatre, & Media Production.
Creation of New Subcommittee
On April 6, 2021, the committee voted to create the Subcommittee of Committee on Curriculum on Computer Courses and Programs, which started meeting in April 2021.
Charges :
Review all computer courses and programs offered by Academic Departments
Recommend how an AS degree in Computer Science for transfer would be constructed, assist academic department(s) in the proposing of such
Recommend any consolidations, eliminations or additions of courses to the Offices and Departments involved
Recommend any cross listings of credit bearing courses
Recommend courses that might be added
Recommend how Continuing Education and Workforce Development activities, classes and programs should be related to and lead to credit bearing offerings
Recommend how we move forward with the Academic Master Plan to better organize both present and future offerings of courses, certificates, badges, degrees and other academic entities
Membership:
Two faculty each from the Business, Engineering Technology and Math and Computer Science Departments, one member of the Committee on Curriculum and one member of the Office of Academic Affairs and Dean of Continuing Education and Workforce Development
Current Members:
Philip Pecorino, Committee on Curriculum
Michael Pullin, Office of Academic Affairs
Hui-Yin Hsu, Dean of Continuing Education and Workforce Development
Wendy Ford, Business Department
Anthony Kolios, Business Department
Belle Birchfield, Engineering Technology Department
Steve Trowbridge, Engineering Technology Department
Daniel Garbin, Mathematics and Computer Science Department
Esma Yildirim, Mathematics and Computer Science Department
General Education Outcome
The Scientific Reasoning General Education Outcome: "Apply scientific methods and reasoning to investigate issues or problems in the natural and social sciences in order to draw conclusions" was approved at the March 16, 2021 meeting.
Protocol for all Academic Matters Submitted to the Committee on Curriculum
On November 24, 2020, the committee voted to approve the Protocol for all Academic Matters Submitted to the Committee on Curriculum contained below. The committee started following this protocol in the Spring of 2021. Among the more significant changes are the requirement that submissions be received at least one week in advance of the committee meeting so the agenda may be sent to department chairs at that time. There are also many details concerning how issues with proposals may be resolved before consideration by the committee.
1) Academic matters are to be submitted to the Academic Senate Committee on Curriculum by an email to the Chair of the Committee. All curriculum changes must be submitted on the correct forms. The forms must be filled out completely and correctly. Curriculum changes will be considered by the committee on a first-come, first-served basis. Items submitted less than one week before the next Curriculum Committee meeting will not be considered until the following meeting.
The agenda for the Committee on Curriculum meetings will be created one week in advance and be emailed to all the academic department chairs. If any chair believes that an academic matter being proposed may affect their own department, they should immediately contact the department chair who made the proposal to determine if there is an issue and then resolve it (more below).
2) Before being submitted to the Committee on Curriculum, Academic Matters must be discussed with the Administration to get their comments and suggestions. This is especially important for major changes to the curriculum, such as new degree programs or concentrations. Associate Dean Michael Pullin is the current representative to the Committee from Academic Affairs. Please direct all inquiries to him.
3) Academic matters must be voted on and approved by the Departments involved before being submitted to the Committee on Curriculum.
4) If an academic matter might conceivably be of concern to another department, the Chair of the Department proposing the item must consult with the Chairs of all departments that might be affected prior to submitting the matter to the Curriculum Committee. If Chairs are unsure about potential cross departmental concerns, they should contact the OAA and the Committee on Curriculum Chair to discuss which departments must be consulted.
The Chairs involved should make every effort to resolve any cross departmental concerns before the academic matter is submitted to the Curriculum Committee. Concerns must be addressed and resolved as quickly as possible to ensure smooth and efficient decisions by the Committee on Curriculum. Once all issues and conflicts have been resolved, the Chairs must communicate their support of the proposed change to the Committee Chair by email.
In the case that the Office of Academic Affairs or the Committee believes that a proposed change may affect another department, they may require the proposing Chair to contact the Chair(s) of the potentially affected department(s) to resolve any conflicts.
In the event that a resolution cannot be reached, the Committee on Curriculum may take any one of several possible actions including but not limited to: (1) A special subcommittee might be formed to handle the matter, (2) A mediator might be assigned to bring about a resolution, or (3) the Committee on Curriculum Chair might schedule all department chairs in question (and other relevant faculty) to present their cases at (a regular meeting/a special meeting/other). In all cases, the matter will eventually be decided upon by a vote of the Committee.
5) After Committee on Curriculum has approved an academic matter, it will be sent to the Academic Senate Steering Committee to be placed on an upcoming Academic Senate Agenda.
