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JANUARY 16, 2004
Present: F. Sauls (Chair), B. Bower, C. Brooks, D. Boucher, B. Pavlac, M. Rose, L. Sterling, J. Tierney. Guest: P. Lindenmuth, Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice.
The meeting was called to order at 2:00 p.m. in the Library Conference Room.
Committee Reports
Curriculum and Teaching Committee
1. At its final meeting in the fall, C&T approved the proposal for a Forensic Studies Minor and sent the proposal to Faculty Council for final approval. Dr. Boucher, chair of C&T, highlighted several comments made in his e-mail to Council (attached) regarding his committee’s deliberations. Council members raised additional questions, primarily concerning the number of workshops a student in the minor could take to satisfy elective requirements. Mr. Lindenmuth clarified that issue (a student may take no more than three workshops), and the proposal was amended to reflect his comments. Other questions were answered to Council’s satisfaction. Council moved and voted unanimously to approve the Forensics Studies Minor as amended (appended).
2. Dr. Boucher reported that C&T is continuing its review the Core Curriculum and that he is waiting for reports regarding core curricula at other colleges.
3. C&T will begin looking more deeply into the issue of course evaluations once more information is available from Dr. Dan Ghezzi, who is undertaking a statistical analysis of current evaluation forms. Council members raised several questions about the current forms and the way they are used to measure teaching effectiveness, but further discussion was tabled until C&T completes its work.
Academic and Professional Affairs Committee
1. Dr. Pavlac, chair of A&P, reported that his committee continues to work on the issue of faculty governance.
2. The committee will soon survey faculty regarding whether the tenure clock should be suspended during medical leave.
3. A&P has concluded its work regarding the definition of “teaching hours”. They noted that they found no examples of unfairness in the way the “hours” are calculated. After some discussion, and based on their recommendation, Council approved the following change on p. 40 of the Faculty Handbook:
The teaching “hours” are ADD normally END ADD the same as the number of course credits awarded the students. Exceptions are that laboratories of three or four clock hours shall count as two “hours,” even though they may be one-credit courses, and three-credit courses that meet four times a week count as four “hours.” ADD Other exceptions are handled on a case by case basis by the faculty member, department chair and the Vice President for Academic Affairs. END ADD
4. Dr. Pavlac explained his committee’s views regarding converting professional specialists to tenure. The committee has determined that two administrative policies preclude conversion: 1) professional specialists are not eligible for tenure and promotion as it pertains to regular faculty; and 2) a professional specialist can apply for a tenure track position should one become available. It is the committee’s view, given College policy, that a current professional specialist could not be automatically converted to a tenure track position. Should a tenure track position open, a current professional specialist would be welcome to apply and compete for the position. Dr. Sauls raised concerns about this approach and has provided a draft of policies for the conversion of professional specialists to tenure. Council will continue discussion on this issue at its next meeting.
Further Business
In a free-ranging discussion, Council members noted the following:
· The intellectual property statement in the current edition of the Faculty Handbook appears to be incomplete. Council will look into this.
· The usefulness of the Faculty Handbook could be improved by, for example, including an index and making the handbook available on the web.
· Minutes of faculty governance meetings should be available on the web. Dr. Pavlac offered to put the minutes of Faculty Council on the faculty governance website, which he maintains.
· Dr. Pavlac, Director of the Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching, reminded Council members that the center is holding a “happy hour” every Friday afternoon at 3:30 and invites all faculty to stop by.
· Concerns about attendance at faculty meetings were raised, and several possible explanations for the light turnout were proposed. Dr. Rose will survey the faculty concerning this issue. A&P will continue to look into the role of the Faculty Meeting in College governance.
The next meeting of the Faculty Council will be January 23, 2004, at 2:00 in the Library Conference Room. Fr. Grimes will be guest.
The meeting adjourned at 3:00.
Respectfully Submitted,
Jim Wallace
(approved by faculty Council 1/16/04)
Proposed new program:
FORENSIC STUDIES MINOR
Program philosophy
Forensic studies may be defined as the use of specialized knowledge to assist in the resolution of legal questions. It is not really a separate intellectual field; it is a way of applying the results of specialized disciplines to legal questions. In application, it draws from a wide range of knowledge. A practitioner requires an in-depth knowledge of the discipline in question, along with an understanding of the peculiarities involved in applying it to the legal system.
A very rough analogy with our secondary education program is appropriate. In training high school teachers we first require an in depth education in the discipline; we don’t just train “teachers”. However, no department can provide the special knowledge necessary for teacher training. Thus, we have extracted the common features of education in a separate program; the individual majors then build on this.
Similarly, a forensic practitioner is first and foremost an expert in the discipline. We have collected the common features of forensic work into the minor. From the minor the student will draw (1) a broad understanding of how specialized knowledge is applied in the legal system, (2) an understanding of the legal considerations affecting expert testimony, (3) a framework for the acquisition of relevant professional knowledge in the major, and (4) the skills necessary to analyze and apply data forensically. Major programs can build on this as appropriate.
Because advanced degrees and/or extensive experience are generally required for forensic work, it will NOT generally provide sufficient depth for students to immediately become forensic practitioners. That is not the intent. It will provide a foundation on which to build, however.
It is designed to provide a forensic focus to any major which decides to participate. The overall forensic perspective comes from the general courses required of all. The professional expertise and focus come from the forensically oriented courses within the major program. While majors in disciplines which do not participate can complete the program, the full benefit will only come from a collaboration between the minor and majors.
STUDENT INTEREST
Some of us have been deflecting student requests for forensics for many years, with a certain degree of embarrassment. This is NOT a new area of interest. With the events of September 11, 2001, increased awareness of the need for forensic science has developed. In addition, television has spotlighted this field in drama and documentary. Students see how this field applies to their lives.
The cross-disciplinary approach will be exciting to students from various majors. There is a marriage of theory, laboratory practice and application between such majors as psychology, biology, chemistry, criminal justice . . .
Potential students will see that their interests can be met at King’s – which is the only reason we exist. This should prove a strong recruitment tool for all the disciplines participating. The word of this proposal has leaked out; even absent an announcement we are already fielding inquiries.
PROGRAM STRUCTURE
The minor consists of courses covering (a) the basic legal considerations, (b) broad areas of forensic applications, and (c) specialization within the major covering areas of relevance to forensic questions. Parts (a) and (b) are required of all students. They are developed through existing courses, requiring few prerequisites. Some reemphasis may be appropriate (e. g. in CORE 273 or 275) to make the course more forensically oriented.
In consultation with the project team, each participating program will require up to 2 courses in the major. These will be at a high level, emphasizing professional skills, and requiring substantial prerequisites within the major. Because these are advanced disciplinary courses, majors may be permitted to take these even if they choose not to complete the minor. Each program will have to make its own decisions. We hope for as broad participation as possible.
Students majoring in nonparticipating disciplines may also complete the minor, as a matter of personal enrichment.
The CJ workshops, currently marketed principally to an external audience of professional forensic practitioners, will be made available to our students. Recognized experts will teach them in a 40 hour week made up of five (8 hour) days. Because of the time constraints and fees of these experts, the workshop structure best meets the needs of our students and the practitioners.
Assessment is built into each workshop and covers the student’s ability to master technical skills, use critical thinking, and use knowledge of the law in performing investigations. For our students these will be assigned numbers as 1 credit CJ courses, with normal grading procedures.
RESOURCES REQUIRED / AVAILABLE
THE PROGRAM CAN BE IMPLEMENTED WITH FEW NEW RESOURCES. EXISTING COURSES HAVE BEEN USED; SOME WILL REQUIRE MODIFICATION. HOWEVER, BECAUSE COURSES ARE UNDER CONTINUOUS DEVELOPMENT ANYWAY, THIS REQUIRES REDIRECTION OF EFFORT AND NOT AN INCREASE. WITHIN PARTICIPATING MAJORS, THIS MAY REQUIRE AN EXPANSION OR CHANGE OF THE ELECTIVES OFFERED. THIS SHOULD NOT REQUIRE SUBSTANTIAL EXTRA EFFORT; RATHER A REDIRECTION TOWARDS AREAS OF INCREASED STUDENT INTEREST.
Our goal must be to serve our students’ needs and interests – not to teach what we are comfortable doing. To a minor extent, this may cause an internal shift of enrollments, particularly in the Core. We will have to offer more of the desired courses, fewer of the rest. Little net Core enrollment change is likely. Because the minor is offered in conjunction with the major, enrollment shifts between majors are improbable.
Covering the broader forensic aspects of the program, Paul Lindenmuth and Fred Sauls have professional experience and expertise in the field. In the disciplines, many faculty have experience in the legal system as expert witnesses. It should be professionally enriching (and a good deal of fun) to design and teach these advanced disciplinary courses.
Because we commit few new resources to the program, in the unlikely event the student interest collapses, we have lost little.
ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE
Day to day operation of the program and student advising will be performed by a program director appointed by the VPAA. (Currently envisioned to be Paul Lindenmuth). Academic supervision of the program will be by a project team (the director, faculty of the required courses, and others interested) appointed by the VPAA.
Draft Catalog Copy
FORENSIC STUDIES MINOR
Paul Lindenmuth, Director
Forensic studies may be defined as the use of specialized knowledge to assist in the resolution of legal questions. It is not itself a separate intellectual field; it is a way of applying the results of specialized disciplines to legal questions. In application, it draws from a wide range of knowledge. A practitioner requires an in-depth knowledge of the discipline, along with how to apply it to the legal system.
The minor provides an overview of the forensic disciplines and how they aid the investigation of criminal activity. The principles, methods and skills used in analyzing evidence and applying the results to criminal investigation are examined.
From the minor the student will draw (1) a broad understanding of how specialized knowledge is applied in the legal system, (2) an understanding of the legal considerations affecting expert testimony, (3) a framework for the acquisition of relevant professional knowledge in the major, and (4) the skills necessary to analyze and apply data forensically. Advanced courses within the major provide the technical knowledge required. The program will provide a foundation on which the student can further build toward a forensic career.
Students majoring in disciplines without courses approved for the minor may still complete the program.
MINOR SEQUENCE REQUIREMENTS
(6 COURSES - 18 CREDITS)
REQUIRED
CJ 131 – Introduction to Criminal Law (3)
CORE 278 – Forensic Chemistry (3)
CORE 275 – Human Genetics (3)
PSYC 341 – Forensic Psychology (3)
ELECTIVE (2 required; consult the department listing for more information)
ACCT 498 – Forensic Accounting (3)
CHEM 475 – Advanced Analytical Chemistry (3)
*CIS – XXX Computer Fraud (3)
*CIS – XXX Cyber Terrorism and Industrial Espionage 3)
*CIS – XXX Conspiracy and Computer Crime (3)
*CIS – XXX Legal Issues and Computer Technology (3)
CJ 355 – Criminal Investigation (3)
CJ 367 – Rules of Evidence (3)
CORE 273 - Contemporary Biology
PSYC 391 – Psychology of Violent Crime
*(Offered under special topics)
Others may be substituted in consultation with the program director.
FORENSIC SCIENCE WORKSHOPS (3 may substitute for one of the electives)
CJ XXX - Blood Stain Evidence (1credit)
CJ XXX - Forensic Photography (1credit)
CJ XXX - Document and Handwriting Examination (1credit)
CJ XXX - Weapons Identification (1credit)
CJ XXX - Evidence Retrieval and Processing (1credit)
CJ XXX - Financial Crimes (1credit)
CJ XXX - Forensic Anthropology (1credit)
CJ XXX - Forensic Odontology (1credit)
APPENDIX: Learning Objectives
Introduction to Criminal Law (CJ 131)
The forensic sciences are a hybrid of the sciences and law. Introduction to Criminal Law establishes how the lawful collection of evidence is a critical part of any criminal investigation.
1. Upon completion of the course, students will be able to apply the knowledge
of criminal law to commonly accepted defenses used to by attorneys within the
criminal justice system.
2. The student will be able identify the major elements of criminal offenses and will able
to apply real life situations to determine the likelihood of a successful prosecution.
3. The student will understand the importance of lawful searches and seizure with
regard to the admissibility of evidence obtained to all criminal cases.
CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION (CJ 355)
1. Upon completion of this course of study, the student will be able to recognize the difference between an incident that is a violation of law and one that is not. Deciding whether a crime has been committed or whether it has not been committed is crucial to the effectiveness and efficiency of the criminal justice system.
2. The student will be able to apply their knowledge of both criminal law and the forensic sciences to lawfully process a crime scene. After completion of this course, the student will be able to properly secure evidence. This is essential for successful prosecution of a criminal case.
3. Students will develop skills in public relations, writing, interpersonal relationships, teamwork, critical thinking and mathematics. This will be combined with other skills to process a crime scene, continue through the various stages of an investigation, and prepare the case for trial. Examples of this would be: (1) the interviewing of victims and witnesses; (2) dealing with the press and other agencies concerned with the criminal incident; (3) lawfully processing the crime scene as a team; (4) the student will be involved with the development and organization of case files, that are viewed by attorney’s for the purpose of case preparation and for the investigator’s testimony given at trial; (5) apply various crime scene techniques (i.e. crime scene sketching, lawfully securing and preserving evidence, photographs, and other investigative techniques and how they apply to investigations); (6) write reports, conduct interviews and interrogations, develop probable cause for searches, and use these techniques to successfully complete an investigation and prepare a case file for prosecution;
4. Ethical and moral issues are an integral part of any course more especially within criminal investigations. Emphasis is placed on the primary purpose of any investigation, which is to uncover the truth, and students will leave with that understanding. Students are expected to conduct themselves in a moral and ethical manner while they are conducting a crime scene search, securing evidence, interviewing witnesses and suspects.
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