October 16, 2024 | Annie Del Principe Literature Committee Meeting – October 9, 2024 The meeting started at 2:02 pm. Attendance: Jane Weiss Elroy Esdaille Monica Filmon Lesley Broder Rob Cowan Sara Rutkowski Joseph Sedita ************ Literature Gen ED Assessment –Jane solicited feedback from the committee about Gen Ed assessment, which is receiving credit for pathways assessment. The general consensus was that we need to have some form of uniformity. ********* –Jane also brought up the idea of formulating assessments for learning outcome that can be measured across literature courses. –Students in Liberal Arts, if they took 3 literature courses, are qualified to be in the Literature program. However, the English Department did not file anything that pertain to the learning outcomes for those courses, so we need to fix that. — Jane is in the process of designing ways to assess whether students towards the end of their literature program can demonstrate achieving the learning goals, whatever we design them to be. We should look at the students’ writing and check to see where they are. We need to be able to identify those students who have taken three literature courses. — The idea is to pilot it this semester: Find out who we need to speak to. Identify students who have taken two or more literature courses and those that are in their third Literature course. We need to find out from teachers, what assignments they are giving and we should come up with a uniform way to assess them. ********* The following question was posed: Why do we want to assess students after a certain number of courses, when what Middle States assesses is the Degree Program. The response was by 2025 when the Self-study would be considered, by that time the Creative Writing and Literature courses concentration would be separated. We need to also acknowledge that the program goal is not the course goal. This, looking at students who take more than two literature classes can help us to examine both the course and programs goals. ********* Another question was posed. “How do we do assessments, if we are not doing analogous assessments”? 1. The response to this question was that we can work that out like we do in composition courses, where we can apply rubrics that uniformly work for different assignments. 2. There are some terms that are covered in mostly every literature course. We can use this to help design assessments that would accomplish uniformity. Learning outcomes information –The point was made that our learning outcomes are modelled on The Brooklyn College’s design. Jane’s 2021 English 2021 Concentration SLOs Recognize literary genres, devices, periods and cultural contexts Know and apply the terminology of literary studies Identify meaningful details in literary texts, interpret the texts, and communicate their interpretations precisely and persuasively Participate in scholarly discussion of literature in several formats Draft English Concentration Student Learning Outcomes Demonstrate knowledge of literary tropes, genres, periods and terminology, applying a variety of critical lenses to literary works through close reading Express ideas orally and in writing cogently, persuasively, and in conformity with conventions and citations styles of the discipline. Conduct research using literary resources, including collections, databases, and archives, to utilize primary and secondary sources in support of arguments Create original examples of creative writing using the currently accepted conventions of Standard English, while superseding them to achieve innovative modes of expression. Learn to read, comment and respond to constructive criticism in the workshop context –There are five draft suggestions. The first three pertain to literary studies and the last two incorporate creative writing. — We will need to have it ready for Middle States; they need evidence of continuity. — Evaluating what we do and tweak it over time is the best way to go. — What we do is also subject to change over time. The changes are subjected to pathways and what their requirements are at the time. It was agreed that we will continue to work on the five drafted English Concentrated Student Learning Outcomes, doing due diligence to each. Curriculum Committee update on Literature –Rob and Sara informed us that a bunch of proposals were remanded and were tweaked and sent back for approval. –They completed much work on proposals and standardized assessments purposes. –In terms of learning outcomes, we need to create some consistency in the courses, making sure that they have some relevance to pathways. The point was made that Pathways are now ten years old and they might be subjected to change. Thus, we need to be mindful of that and be prepared to change if the need arises. The question was asked about what we should do with “Old courses” that no longer run—should they be revamped, deleted or are there some other courses of action that we might consider. The response was that all of these are possibilities, but we need to do a complete examination of the course and then make the necessary recommendations. It was mentioned that we should be aware that KBCC have the ability to reactivate a course if needed. Also, it was stated that we should be aware that the issue of making changes at KBCC, even a temporary one, is that the update takes forever. ********* Active Membership: Some notes from the last Literature Committee meeting regarding the conversation on “Active membership” was shared on the Zoom screen: The information reads as follows: –Exactly what constitutes “Active membership was not agreed upon, and it was agreed that it should be discussed further by the committee in future meetings. — Active membership is still something that is unclear in terms of how to figure it out, for some people are not on campus and others who are on campus might be teaching or otherwise engaged, when meetings are called. Decision on “Active Membership” It was decided that the nine people who signed up for the Literature Committee this semester should be considered active members. The option is to also be open to other joining in the future. The current members of the Literature Committee who signed up this semester are: Jane Weiss Karen Niles Monica Filmon Lesley Broder Elroy Esdaille Rob Cowan Sara Rutkowski Joseph Sedita Frank Percacio Area Coordinator/ Director and Jane Stepping Down from the position Jane has decided to step down as the are coordinator effective the end of this semester. There will be an election held next month to fill that role. The date and time for the election has not yet been set. It has been decided that any member of the Literature Committee can run for that post. The question was brough up about having an assistant coordinator, but it was agreed that 1. We do not have the numbers for that, and 2. We shall reconsider the matter in the future, should the need arise. The Election/ Selection The election must be transparent—and results should not be hidden [Vote counts should be known]. An email vote, google or another method is suggested. It was decided that we need someone independent of the committee to oversee the election. The idea is to have the director of another program oversee the election. They would set the date, time and method and procedure for the election next month and inform the Literature Committee members by email. The committee has decided to ask Greg and/or Carl to oversee the election for us, subject to Annie’s approval. If Greg and Carl are unable to do, they should let Annie and Jane know, so that another independent source can be contacted and secured for this purpose. Selection process: The administrator of the elections should contact the members of the Literature committee by email or otherwise and ask if they are interested. When this is done, that is the candidates are known, then all the members would know who is seeking the position, so they can careful weight their options and vote accordingly. The Term of the Area Coordinator/Director It was decided that the Area Coordinator shall serve a three-year term, and he or she can serve to consecutive terms providing he or she is elected for a second term. After the second term, the area coordinator should not serve a third consecutive term. He or she can be up to run for the post after being away for one term (3 years), after his or her second term. ********* The elected Area Coordinator/ Director will receive reassignment time, but he or she should feel free to distribute assignments to other members of the committee to lighten the load, if he or she wishes to. It was also brough up that someone else should receive some reassignment time if the workload is too much and the Area Coordinator/ Director requires help. This was said to be a suggestion and not anything mandatory. The Literature Committee Chair The literature Committee has decided that its chairperson can either be the Area Coordinator/ Director or someone else. Currently this position does not receive reassign time. The Literature Committee has decided to hold an election for that post, but not until next year. It was decided that to avoid any confusion this position will be elected next semester. The meeting was called to close at 3:13 pm.