Attendance: Drs. Cooper, Duckworth, Hahn, Karle, Kellner, Rarey, Ritz, Romrell, Stevens Students- Liz Lee Staff-, Marie Coleman (recording)

Dr. Rarey asked Drs. Kellner and Ritz to give an update on Performance Based Examinations (PBE’s) – Attachment (.PDF)

• Drs. Kellner and Ritz discussed the document section by section seeking comments/revisions.
• Discussion as follows:
  1. Recommendation to change the title, “Following the format of the course syllabus.”
  2. Section A should include educational philosophy.
  3. Following the Format of the Course Report:
     1. Section C is the goal of PBE to identify exceptional students?; Dr. Rarey stated that it should be used as a criterion reference.
     2. Section D Is this applicable? Is there a process for student feedback?
     3. Section E Are there any methods of evaluation for students?
     4. Section G Discussed the Appropriateness.

Dr. Romrell stated that it should not be difficult for the PBE Oversight Committee to produce the report. Dr. Kellner noted it would be helpful to have everything in one place. Dr. Rarey stated it would be helpful to see the data as it came in. Dr. Rarey asked what the next step should be. Dr. Rarey suggested that the appropriate infrastructure for PBE should be brought to the attention of the PBE Oversight Committee. Dr. Romrell suggested that the revisions discussed be made and submit the final document. Dr. Rarey made a motion to accept the PBE guidelines to collect information. The motion was unanimously accepted. Completed until next year.

Dr. Rarey reviewed the minutes from the Evaluation Criteria Subcommittee. Dr. Rarey referred the Evaluation Subcommittee to page 3 last paragraph concerning grade distribution and turning courses into S/U if they have more than 17-34% A’s. Dr. Rarey stated that this percentage was based on the top percentage of students inducted into the AOA.

• Discussion as follows:
  1. The course director could go before the Evaluation Subcommittee to request that the number of A’s be increased.
  2. Dr. Steven’s asked if this would be on a year by year basis. Dr. Rarey stated that yes it would be. Dr. Kellner stated that it would not be retroactive. Dr. Rarey said that this would start next year with the class of 2010.
  3. Dr. Duckworth asked if an instructor could choose to have the course be graded as a S/U class. Dr. Romrell stated that yes based on certain procedure one could choose to have their class listed as a S/U course. Dr. Romrell stated that Harvard tried a similar procedure and after many of the students failed, Harvard reverted back to the normal grading system. Dr. Kellner stated that grading drives the course. Dr. Rarey stated that it is difficult to highlight exemplary students if everyone is getting an A. Dr. Hahn asks if given enough time would the outcome be different. Dr. Romrell agreed that it would be necessary to motivate students and if given enough time that may be possible; that students would like recognition for their efforts. Ms. Karle asked if this would make the course seem unimportant. Dr. Cooper stated that the more S/U courses you have the less data you will have. Dr. Rarey answered that the S/U courses are not utilized. The subject exams are what set the students apart.

Dr. Rarey asked Ms. Karle for her synopsis of the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Health and Disease, Spring 2005, course syllabus. Attachment at the Program Evaluation website.

• Ms. Karle stated that she looked at the template and used it to compare the syllabus to the reviewer’s statements. Reviewers were consistent. However, there was no distinct section devoted to feedback. In sections there were references to peer evaluation and some faculty feedback. Ms. Karle is unaware as to how one would receive feedback. Ms. Karle did not see the educational philosophy in the first paragraph. Dr. Rarey stated that the feedback should be emphasized. Ms. Karle said that more formal feedback should be requested. Dr. Kellner agreed saying that everything that is required should be in the syllabus and that all syllabi should be the same. Ms. Karle also stated that the competencies were not easily linked. Dr. Rarey suggests that the syllabus be reorganized.
• Ms. Karle stated that a good job was done on the written report and it shows based on the rankings the reviewers gave. The report was very thorough concerning student’s rankings. However, some of the students evaluated courses that they did not attend.
• Dr. Rarey asked if there was any need for the Course Director to come before the committee. Ms. Karle answered no.

Other discussion:

• Dr. Duckworth wanted to know if they could see each of the reports online. Ms. Karle stated that all committee members have access to scores and comments. Ms. Karle will send a link to all committee members to the site where they can obtain the information.
• Dr. Rarey said that Ms. Karle would continue her report at the next meeting.

Meeting adjourned 1:00 p.m.