Curriculum Committee ("CC") Minutes for 24 January 1996

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Attending:  Arora, Fleming, Fujimura, Kerr, Michaylov, Ogden, Ozguner,
            Rupert, Supowit, Weide, Yeack

* Discussion of proposed CIS 221/222 changes

  Bruce summarized the main changes as involving the programming language
  (C++) and a new prerequisite to 221 (addition of CIS 201 or EG 167
  or equivalent).  Previous input from faculty in CIS and EE/CptrE option
  suggested C++ was an overwhelming preference.  The prerequisite change
  is the result of surveys showing that about 2/3 of 221 students now
  come in with approximately the equivalent of CIS 201 or EG 167 in terms
  of programming background.  The other course content changes are
  significant in terms of the level of integration of the sequence, but are
  not so significant in terms of what we are trying to teach in 221/222/321
  as a whole and therefore should not (negatively) impact higher-level courses
  except in the change of programming language.  We hope students will
  actually be better prepared for their later courses as a result of these
  changes, but there is of course no evidence for that yet :-).

  CC voted to recommend the proposed changes to the faculty at the next
  faculty meeting.  Bruce and Bill will work to make sure the official
  course change request paperwork is completed with respect to the questions
  about changes in teaching aid support and necessary budget adjustments.
  
  Tim and Bruce will be back in Spring to propose changes to CIS 321
  to finish an integrated one-year sequence.  After that they will deal
  with changes to CIS 560 and 680, the rest of the "software spine"
  courses.  (The schedule below assumes the changes to 321 will be
  approved in Spring.)
  
  CC discussed several issues regarding the 221/222 proposal:
    - A proposed phase-in schedule is as follows.  This is compatible
      with Stu's scheduling plans for Su 96 and Au 96, and is arranged
      to allow students who don't take the new 221 and new 222 to
      continue to have a chance at the old 321 through Su 97.
    
	Su 96	221 pilot (1 section; Tim) + old 221
	
	Au 96	new 221 (all sections)
		222 pilot (1 section; Tim) + old 222.01 + old 222.02
		
	Wi 97	new 222 (all sections)
	
	Sp 97	321 pilot (1 section; Tim?) + old 321
	
	Su 97	321 pilot (1 section; Elley? Mary Beth?) + old 321
	
	Au 97	new 321 (all sections)
    
    - The proposed changes will have some implications for the number
      of sections of 221 that will need to be scheduled.  Currently
      about half of the students in CIS 222 have not taken CIS 221, but
      under the proposed plan there would be essentially no way of
      bypassing 221.  There might also be a somewhat greater demand for
      CIS 201.  This will call for flexibility in terms of scheduling
      decisions, for next year especially, while we are assessing the
      demand fluctuations.
    - The proposed changes will have some IICF implications.  Students
      in 221 will have regular accounts to use HP workstations, and these
      accounts will have to have some continuity over 221/222/321.
      Bruce will submit a request for IICF staff to figure out how to
      handle this, once the proposal is approved by the faculty.
    - We need to determine how to modify placement testing, AP credit
      guidelines, and transfer credit guidelines.  Tim is working on
      new placement test questions.  Perhaps this effort could be expanded to
      try to address some transfer credit problems, too.  But basically
      the transfer situation is that a student with a previous programming
      course will enter 221; a student with substantial previous programming
      courses elsewhere will bypass 221/222/321 altogether.  It should be very
      difficult to enter the 221/222/321 sequence in the middle, since
      it is essentially to be seen as a single one-year course.
    - We need to communicate the proposed schedule and changes to
      prospective 221/222/321 students soon.  Bruce will work with
      Cheryl to put together an information sheet to be distributed
      to appropriate advisors, etc., once the proposal is approved by
      the faculty.

  
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Next meeting: 31 January 1996, 3:30 PM, in DL 698.


Respectfully submitted,

	Bruce W. Weide, CC Chair