The meeting started at 3:10 pm.

Attendance:

Rob Cowan

Sara Rutkowski

Monica Filmon

Jane Weiss

Karen Niles

Frank Pacaccio

Enid Stubin

Elroy Esdaille

************

Approval of Minutes from last meeting-

— The minutes from the last Literature Committee meeting were unanimously approved.

Assessment Update

— It was reiterated that “Literary Studies” won’t be a concentration until Fall 2025.

a. A Vote on Drafted Students Learning outcomes to replace the existing ones were called for:

Current Learning outcomes SLOs

1. Know and apply the terminology of literary studies, recognize literary genres, devices, periods, and cultural contexts, and identify meaningful details in literary texts.

2. Communicate individual interpretations precisely and persuasively in written work and/or in scholarly discussions of literary texts.

Draft Literary Studies Concentration SLOs:

By the completion is Literary studies Concentration in Liberal arts, students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate knowledge of literary tropes, genres, periods, and terminology, applying a variety of critical lenses to literary works through close reading

2. Express ideas orally and in writing cogently, persuasively, and conformity with the conventions and citations styles of the discipline

3. Conduct research using library resources, including collections, databases, and archives, to utilize primary and secondary sources in support of arguments

**Adapting the drafted Learning outcomes SLOs was unanimously agreed to, allowing for some minor tweaks.

b. Responses to surveys:

–Some responses were given, but we might need more time to discuss the ramifications of them in future meetings.

Program Promotion Update

a. Plasma Screens:

For course offerings and concentration promotion, we are contemplating getting a plasma advertisement for each. Rob is currently working with Xiaoting to get this done. We need to send more information in this regard.

Website: In terms of a Liberal Arts Webpage: It is imperative that we update our Liberal Arts webpage and make necessary changes when the need arises.

Current work-in-progress design—Xiaoting sent Rob a possible design. Rob made sure to mentioned that it was “AI” generated. The members were asked for their opinions and they unanimously would prefer something else. Some of the comments were that the design looks to generic, the design seems not to capture what we are trying to do, and we need something more appealing to our students.

NYPL Digital – It was suggested that while we like working with Xiaoting, we should also shop around for ideas, so we should consider using NYPL Digital. We can consult the website—it is a public domain—that is it is free, and we can get information from there.

b. Virtual open house MAY 14:

–Next week on May 14, 2025, there will be a “Virtual Open House” by zoom with Rob and Eben.

–This information has been sent out to students. We look forward to what we can learn from the students to help us advance our programs.

— Rob will report about how the event went in the next Literate Committee Meeting.

Curriculum/ Pedagogical Update

–Ten (10) course of literature will be offered in the Fall 2025, which includes Introduction to Literature, World Literature, Roots of African American Literature and Caribbean Literature [This is the first time this course will be taught at KBCC.]

— It was suggested that we need to have an idea of the percentage of online literature classes as opposed to in-person literature classes. It was also `suggested that this information would help us make more informed decisions in the future. Rob said that Annie gave him that information, and he will check back with her and share it.

Regarding Courses on the books that do not run

— Sara shared that there are a variety of course on the books that do not run, such as Biblical & Classical Literature.

–There is a science fiction course on the books, that doesn’t run. The question was asked if this and other courses that are not being taught can be revamped to meet the needs and or appeal to our current students.

–The question was brought up that we can also consider designing a NY Literature class. A course in Comparative Religion was also mentioned.

–What to do with these fields, Biblical, Mythology, and Fantasy? It was suggested that combined all three into once course might come with complexities and challenges in terms of students’ enrollment and religious sensibilities. Each of these areas can constitute a course, but how do we proceed? It was decided that we tackle this question in future meetings.

–It was also mentioned that we don’t have to worry about disrespecting anyone’s religion once the course is taught strictly as a literature course and not as one that might make people feel that they are being coerced to be converted, or indoctrinated.

–Rob asked the question: who feels equipped to revamp any of these courses on the book that doesn’t run?

Sci fi– Frank and Rob

Mythology and Religion—Monica and Elroy

–We all have to keep in mind that if we revamp any course, they must be able to be transfer to other CUNY Colleges, like Brooklyn College. We can work towards what would be acceptable at Brooklyn College as a guide.

Reading Series Update

–Professor Royston Coppenger is an award-winning translator, director and writer. We are hoping to have him Fall 2025 to speak to us about his work: “A contemporary version of The Doll’s House.”

–In May 2026, we are hoping to have Hunter College poet Donna Masini come give a reading after her new book comes out.

Event on April 22, 2025

–Kimiko Hahn and Nicole Cooley reading and Raffle on April 22, 3:00-4;30 pm, v-219 was a huge success. They raffled four books each. The students love that and they seemed to enjoy the talks as well. About 40 people attended, there was a fun Q&A, and the students who won books, also had them signed by the respective authors.

–We are grateful to Eben for co-facilitating the event, and we thank Helen Nasser for procuring copies of both Hahn and Cooley’s books. We are also thankful to Christine Marchese, for helping to arrange it.

Shop Talk: Syllabus Sharing – Karen

–Karen’s syllabus was for an English 30, asynchronous class, for Spring 2025.

— Her syllabus included a calendar of assignments detailed for each week, with reading, key concepts, discussions, and when assignments were due.

— The syllabus demonstrated literary analysis of device and terms as they relate to the readings.

— She showed evidence of teaching literary devices such as themes, mood and tone, symbolism, descriptive and figurative language, flashbacks, literary analysis techniques, historical context, characterization, point of view, and metaphors.

— Karen stressed that textual analysis is expected and encouraged, and historical context was also examined.

–Her discussions carried 60% of the grade and the writing 40% of the grade.

— Karen weekly approach to instilling the key concept of each lesson resonated well with the group.

— Karen’s approach was applauded as interesting and in-keeping with the department policies and SLOs.

— While the other teachers were not sure if they would apply 60% for discussions, there was a discussion as to what balance we all find works best for us in employing a grade.

–Questions to Karen: How to teach a play in an online class, where there is no interaction. Answer: one way is to have the students watch a version of the play, along with them reading the accompanying reading material. She provides videos and also give necessary hand-outs.

Any Other Business

–End of semester Breakfast will be held on June 10, 2025 from 11 am onwards.

Meeting call to a close

The meeting was called to close at 4:27 pm.