Goals and Objectives of the CSUB American Institutions Government Requirement (from Chancellor’s Executive Order No. 405 (November 15, 1982), Revised Spring 2008

Goal 1: Courses or examinations meeting this requirement should address the Constitution of the United States and the operation of representative democratic government under that Constitution

Objective 1a: Students shall understand the political philosophies of the framers of the Constitution and the nature and operation of United States political institutions and processes under that Constitution as amended and interpreted.

Objective 1b: Students shall understand the rights and obligations of citizens in the political system established under the Constitution.

Goal 2: Courses or examinations meeting this requirement should address the process of California state and local government

Objective 2a: Students shall understand the Constitution of the State of California within the context and evolution of federal-state relations and understand the nature and processes of state and local government under that Constitution.

Objective 2b: Students shall understand the contemporary relationships of state and local government with the federal government, the resolution of conflicts and the establishment of cooperative processes under the constitutions of both the state and nation, and the political processes involved.

Rules and Procedures for the American Government Institutions Committee

Membership

• 1. The membership of the American Institutions Government committee (hereafter know as the committee) shall consist of two members from the Department of Political Science and two members from the Department of Public Policy and Administration.
• 2. The departments shall elect the members by majority vote of each department’s faculty.
• 3. The departments shall hold elections during the fall quarter of each academic year.

Meetings

• 1. The committee shall establish meeting schedules and inform the Committee on Academic Requirements and Standards at the start of each academic year.

Officers

• 1. The committee shall select its chair by majority vote.
• 2. The committee may designate and select by majority vote other officers deemed necessary by the committee.

Functions

• 1. The functions of the American Institutions Government Committee shall include
  • a. confirming, revising, or developing common course goals and learning objectives for the American Institutions Government requirement;
  • b. developing guiding principles for approving or removing courses;
  • c. reviewing all courses with authority to remove courses not meeting criteria.
  • d. reviewing courses when taught by new instructors;
  • e. approving new courses and re-approving courses not taught within five-year period;
  • f. overseeing syllabi basics. For example, syllabi should have a statement that course meets the university-wide academic requirement, should include common goals and objectives specific to the requirement, and should align with other general provisions;
  • g. preparing timely and periodic reviews (assessment) of goals, student learning objectives and guidelines; and
  • h. establishing meeting schedules and informing CARS at the beginning of an academic year.

Procedures for Changing the Goals and Objectives of the American Institutions Government Requirement

• 1. The committee shall review periodically all goals and objectives for the American Institutions Government requirement to ensure compliance with Title V, the Chancellor’s Executive Order 405, the CSUB mission, and the goals and objectives of the Departments of Political Science and Public Policy and Administration.
• 2. The Committee shall recommend changes as necessary. A majority vote of each department must approve all changes.

Procedures for Adding and Removing Courses that Meet the American Institutions Government Requirement

• 1. Any faculty member in the Departments of Political Science and Public Policy and Administration may recommend the addition or removal of courses that meet the goals and objectives of the American Institutions Government requirement.
• 2. The Committee shall evaluate all courses not taught in the last five years for continuation or removal.
• 3. To add or continue a course, the recommending faculty member or the committee must provide evidence that
  • a. the course meets the existing goals and objectives of the American Institutions Government requirement;
  • b. the course meets the existing goals and objectives of the University and the proposing Department;
  • c. the course will generate sufficient enrollment to justify the creation of the course; and
  • d. the course will not reduce significantly enrollment for other approved courses for the requirement.
• 4. To remove a course, the recommending faculty member must provide evidence that
  • a. the course no longer meets the goals and objectives of the American Institution Government requirement;
  • b. the course no longer meets the goals and objectives of the University or the two departments;
  • c. the course cannot be changed to meet the goals and objects of the requirement, the University, or the departments; or
  • d. the course does not generate sufficient enrollment to justify its continuation.
• 5. The American Institutions Government Committee shall evaluate all requests to add or remove courses for the requirement, and shall make recommendations by majority vote.
• 6. Each department must approve by majority vote the addition or removal of a course that meets the requirement.

Procedures for Ongoing Courses

• 1. The committee shall review and mentor approved courses when taught by new instructors to ensure that the courses meet the American Institutions Government goals and objectives.
• 2. The committee shall monitor periodically course syllabi to ensure that the syllabi align with the goals and objectives of the American Institutions Government requirement.

Procedures for Assessment

• 1. The committee shall develop procedures for periodic assessment of the goals and objectives of the requirement.
• 2. These assessments may include, but are not restricted to,
  • a. direct assessments of student achievement of the requirements goals and objectives; and
  • b. indirect assessments of student attitudes toward the instructor and course.