MINUTES – FACULTY MEETING      HIGHLINE COMMUNITY COLLEGE

   May 1, 2002

 Present:  Jean Harris, Han Lim, Rebecca Sliger, Bob Bonner, Glen Avantaggio, Tracy Brigham, Geoff Turck, Maggie Brown, Gwen Spencer, Sharon Hashimoto, John Pfeffer

 Presiding:  Glen Avantaggio, Vice President

 Agenda:  AS Degree – writing requirement

Probation Policy

 The AS degree and a writing requirement proposal, that of mandating that a 2.0 be the minimum grade allowed in order for students to progress to four year institutions, was discussed by faculty senate members.  Not all four year institutions within the state require a 2.0 in writing 101 for admission though some do require a 2.0 in order to graduate.  And, different departments have different requirements, such as engineering at the University of Washington. 

 The University of Washington looks at students wanting admission from a holistic  perspective.  Faculty Senate members discussed the example of an ESL student who does well in math and science but has difficulty with writing English being jeopardized by a 2.0 grade requirement in Writing 101 when they apply for admission to the University of Washington. 

Members also discussed  the issue of whether or not we want the University of Washington to be our standard for how we set our grade policies?  The group affirmed the purpose of both the AA and AS degrees, that of facilitating students becoming not only admitted to four year institutions but also succeeding there and graduating from them. 

Gwen Spencer volunteered to find out how many students with AS degrees received grades below 2.0 in writing 101.

Sharon Hashimoto reported that the Writing Department supports a 2.0 in Writing 101 as a prerequisite for a Journalism course.

Before continuing further with this issue, senate members  will further clarify the precise issue to be voted on.

 The agenda item on Probation will be discussed further at the next meeting when  the sub-committee will continue to discuss their findings with senate members.

 Judy Johnson-Wise, Secretary