Steps28Nov07

Next CCT meeting will be 2-3.30 on Weds 28th (place TBA).

Based on responses (and non-responses) to emails, it's clear we all have a lot on our plates. Given our individual priorities/commitments, it seems that it'll have to take the time it takes to formulate, discuss, implement CCT plans. But can we have a day-long meeting in January where work progressively through various items for which plans are at various stages of development, then bring in Eunny at the end of the day? Part of this day would, I envisage, be devoted to curriculum review facilitated by David Martin. If we agree on setting aside a full day, I propose Friday Jan. 25th., because I'd like to have the rest of the break undistracted to try to catch up with overdue grant work and meet deadlines.

Jan. 25th. is the day of the CIT Teaching for Transformation conference, for which I have proposed a session on my CCT course: Processes of Research and Engagement: A course that weaves together "head, heart, hands, and human connections" If that session is included in the program, the rest of you are welcome to come, but you might also use that 1.5 hours to do the inevitable last-minute preparations for the semester.

This said, there are some matters that it'd be good to discuss and resolve in our Weds 28th meeting, or the following one on Tuesday 11th. 1-3pm (provisional). In addition to check-ins and updates on any of the steps and action items (see http://cct.wikispaces.com/Steps and http://www.cct.umb.edu/AdminChecklist.html),

1. Ratify tweaked AQUAD plans?

2. CCT admissions:  Are we all clear/comfortable/committed re: admitting MA students who will be with us after Nina's current appointment ends in '09?

3. Track A collaboration: minimalist proposal = wording in the Graduate bulletin under the non-licensure track (see p. 133).

"Students whose specific area of interest emphasizes Critical and Creative Thinking (CCT) or reflective practice can ask to be assigned a second advisor from the CCT Program.  See the Bulletin entry for the CCT Program or the Program website, www.cct.umb.edu, for details about the course offerings and activities of the Program. "

This wording could be tweaked if the departmental discussion of the non-licensure track makes other areas of specialization explicit. It would be helpful, however, to get some wording in the next bulletin even if changes in the  non-licensure track have not taken final shape when the bulletin gets revised (which should be quite soon). It would also be helpful to get agreement from Track A faculty to serve as a non-contentious model to inject in discussions about track A scheduled for the next C&I Departmental meeting. I've emailed the Track A faculty to see if they can join our meeting from 2.30-3 -- it's late notice, but stay tuned.

4. Formalizing a Politics foundation option. Dating from the time we were trying to collaborate with Diane Paul, we've had an informal "Substitution Option: Students who choose a specialty area of Science in Society or Environment, Science, and Society may petition to substitute PolSci 348, Science and Public Policy or CCT 649, Science, Technology and Public Policy for Psych 650." Before I run CCT649 in the spring, can we formalize (and submit for governance approval) that students can take 2 of 3 foundation courses, Phil 501, Psych 550/CrCrTh651, and CCT649, Science, Technology and Public Policy?

5. Proposed budget for use of the $1710 earmarked for CCT from funds distributed from CCDE for CCT courses (to be submitted to Eunny once we agree)

Guest speakers in classes, 4 x $50 Stipend for non-faculty synthesis readers, 2 x $75 MAGE dues, $100 Subscription for CCT wiki "private label" (so each student can have their own free wiki to build a portfolio during their CCT career), $500* Refreshments for advisory group/alum network meeting, $50 Honorarium for speaker(s) for public event in spring, $300 Refreshments for public event(s) in spring, $200 Publicity for public event in spring, $200 Facilities charges for New England Workshop on Science & Social Change, any unspent amounts from above (as deposit for 08-09 NewSSC workshop). * Full cost is $1000, but I've asked Eunny whether the Department wants to split the cost.

6. Introduction to Curriculum Review process and homework before we meet (in January?).

7. Day-long meeting? List of plans in the works to discuss/ratify at that meeting.

8. Other agenda items.