The evaluation of new courses and the revision of some curricula are just some of the items piling up on the discussion table of the Council on Academic Affairs, which meets today for the first time this academic year.

Among the council’s first orders of business will be to address a series of academic waiver reports which were filed toward the end of the summer but were not addressed because of the summer recess.

The council will be evaluating the waivers as well as the addition of new courses, such as History 4940, The Early Republic of the United States, 1798-1848; English 2760, Introduction to Professional Writing; and History 3530, Medieval Archaeology and Cultural Heritage in Europe. The council will also discuss revising English 4760, Studies in Professional Writing.

“The new history courses were offered because faculty members had strong concentrations in the topics such as the early republic of the U.S. from 1798-1848, and wanted to teach it as an elective,” History department chair Anita Shelton said.

History majors would not be required to take the course.

The English and speech department chairs could not be reached for comment on their new course proposals.

CAA Vice Chair Douglas Bock, speech communications professor, said an important item that the CAA will look at possibly today or in the next few meetings is a revision to the speech communication curriculum.

The topic is not on the council’s agenda to be acted upon, but the group may discuss the issue tomorrow, Bock said.

Bock said he didn’t know what the possible revisions were because more discussion is needed.

“It’s a major item the council is looking at. We’re also looking at a revision in the professional writing minor, but that would be discussed at a later date,” Bock said.

CAA meets at 2 p.m. tomorrow in the Arcola-Tuscola Room of the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union.