Senate Document Number 3202S

Date of Senate Approval 02/14/02

Statement of Faculty Senate Action:

APC Document 30:  Change of LR 102 to a Term I offering

Effective Date: Fall 2002

Delete: On page 145 of the current catalog, under the section titled 102 Library Research:
Entire section

Add: On page 145 of the current catalog, under the section titled 102 Library Research:

102 Library Research (1)
Introduction to library resources, research strategies and scholarly research tools in a classroom, learning laboratory and library environment. Students learn primarily through guided hands-on exercises involving library use, the understanding of key concepts, and experience in retrieving and evaluating information. Instructional materials and one-on-one consultation with librarians complement and reinforce lab sessions. Learning outcome is measured through lab exercises and a final exam. Grading is S/U. Term I, fall and spring.

Impact:
The change in course format will not directly affect other programs of study, but may indirectly support other courses by attempting to equip students with higher levels of information retrieval and evaluation fluency and research skills competency.

Rationale:
The proposed catalog change describes two concurrent changes: 1) less reliance on students working through the self-paced text; and 2) shortening the course from the full semester to Term I. The proposed change in course format is motivated by the library's growing concern that some students prove to be less receptive to self-guided study than others, and as such may not be retaining valuable class content. The revision of the program from primarily one of self-study to a course with additional required laboratory exercises will offer more guided experience with research tools and create more student-instructor contact. By providing more guided hands-on research time and concrete experience, the library hopes to improve the level of information retrieval and evaluation fluency and research skills competency achieved. Shortening the course to Term I eliminates the long, counter-productive period between students beginning the course, completing required labs, and taking the final.