THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT ASHEVILLE

FACULTY SENATE

Senate Document Number 4905S

Date of Senate Approval 04/07/05

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Statement of Faculty Senate Action:

APC Document 40:   Addition of IST 331; modification of hours in IST Special Topics

Effective Date:   Fall 2005

1. Add:   On pg. 138, add the following title and course description:

IST 331 Washington Experience (3)
A seminar-style, variable-topics course, taught in Washington, D.C. as part of the UNC in
Washington Student Internship Program. The course will explore the role of a national capital in the determination of public policy and national culture in a diverse democracy using Washington, DC as text. Enrollment limited to students currently participating in the UNC in Washington Program. Fall, spring and summer.

2. Delete: On pg. 138, delete the following:

171-4, 271-4, 371-4, 471-4 Interdisciplinary Special Topics (1-4)

Add: On pg. 138, add the following:

171-6, 271-6, 371-6, 471-6 Interdisciplinary Special Topics (1-6)

Impact:    
The University has already committed $20,000/year in support of this system-wide initiative. While there are no requirements for UNC constituent institutions to supply faculty to staff this course on a regular cycle, during semesters in which faculty from UNC Asheville do teach in this program, administrative arrangements may have to be made regarding compensation. Also, mechanisms will need to be in place to facilitate grade submission.

Along with IST 331, the Washington Experience seminar, students will register for a minimum of 6 hours of internship, by enrolling either in a departmental internship course or in [DEPT] 376 or 476. The internship and all work produced for the internship will be overseen by a UNCA faculty member. In addition, students will register for a minimum of 3 credit-hours of independent study in [DEPT] 373/473 or an appropriate existing course. As with the internship, the independent study course will be supervised by an appropriate UNCA faculty member. Courses for the UNC in Washington Program will be administratively pre-approved by the Chair of the student’s major department and by the Director of the Study Abroad and Study Away Program. Students are expected to make arrangements for internship and special topics courses at the time of their application to the program, and must obtain appropriate departmental or IST approval.

Rationale:
”Washington Experience” is an activities-based course designed to provide a unique student experience in the nation’s capital. The course will be taught as a part of the UNC in Washington Student Internship Program. Only students currently participating in the UNC in Washington Program may enroll. This program’s primary goal is to provide an opportunity for upper-level students from the University of North Carolina’s constituent institutions to work and study in Washington, D.C. The program—in both its seminar and internship components—seeks to educate socially responsible and engaged citizens. Students may work in internships at Washington-based organizations such as the US Congress, the US executive branch, think tanks, and interest groups. All interns take the 3-hour “Washington Experience” seminar as part of their semester’s work. Up to 42 students per semester (including summer) participate in the program.

All class meetings and activities will occur in Washington, DC. The instructor of the course will be the Resident Faculty Member at the UNC in Washington Program, although the student’s registration, and the grade submission, will take place on the student’s home campus. An IST- prefix and course number will facilitate registration and grade submission for this course.

The “Washington Experience” uses a variety of activities, visits, and experiential learning opportunities with the numerous agencies, associations, organizations, and governmental departments located in Washington, D.C., through which students will examine topics such as: Public Policy and Lawmaking; Arts, Culture, History, and Diversity; International Affairs and the US Role in the World Community. Activities and topics to be covered will appropriately vary in response to world and national events, special interests of the students or the instructor, or the availability of learning opportunities. The multidisciplinary nature of the “Washington Experience” makes IST an appropriate home for the course. 

Students in the Washington Experience will be housed in UNC-leased residence facilities in Washington, D.C. The program director, based in Washington, serves as a mentor and assists prospective program participants and their departments with finding internships and setting up interview appointments, among other logistical details. The faculty-in-residence, based in Washington, teaches the Washington Experience seminar. These positions are staffed in a rotating fashion by interested faculty from UNC-system schools. Students will pay their regular institution full-time tuition and appropriate fees for the semester. Students are responsible for housing, meals, and travel, all of which should be factored into financial aid requests.

The reason for the change to the credit hours allowed for Interdisciplinary Special Topics is to enable students majoring in a department that does not have a designated internship course or special topics option to take IST 376 or 476, as appropriate, to fulfill this component of the Washington Program. Many other departments allow the option of taking special topics courses for up to 6 credit hours; some departments, however, do not have this option and offering it in IST would not require departments to make this change if they felt it was not in line with their curricula.