MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY

University Committee on Undergraduate Education

MINUTES

Thursday, October 15, 2020

10:15 A.M. to 12:00 P.M., via Zoom

 

https://msu.zoom.us/j/96531712347

Passcode: 849464

Present:  Brianna Aiello, Rich Bellon, Glenn Chambers, Andy Corner, Deb Dotterer, Corey Drake, Richard Enbody, Kathleen Gallo, David Gilstrap, Sejuti Das Gupta, Aubrey Hanes, Aaron Iturralde, Mark Largent, Gina Leinninger, Sheng-Mei Ma, Chloe Majzel, Helen Mayer, Justin Micomonaco, Nick Knowles, Steve Shablin, Tyler Silvestri, Emily Tabuteau, Antoinette Tessmer, Elizabeth Webster, Patty West, Scot Yoder

 Absent:  Dan Manville, Jan Eberle

 The agenda was approved.

 The minutes were approved for October 1, 2020.

 

 Comments from the Chairperson

Chairperson Corner stated that when the Steering Committee met on October 6, President Stanley and Provost Woodruff announced that Explorance Blue was selected as the replacement platform for SIRS because of its robust set of validated questions and the ability to customize.  The Provost’s office will oversee implementation of the software and coordinate faculty participation in establishing the questions.

 Chairperson Corner reported that President Stanley and General Counsel have determined that, for privacy reasons, it is the student’s decision whether or not they want to turn on their webcamera during an online class.  Faculty may only require students to turn on their cameras in a compelling, pedagogical case such as to verify that a student is taking an exam.  Chairperson Corner thanked Rich Bellon, Aubrey Hanes, and Corey Drake for their willingness to serve on the subcommittee considering this issue.

 

Comments from the Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education

Associate Provost Largent stated that information regarding spring semester will be released to the public within the next five days.  Although spring semester will look very similar to fall, there will be more classes being taught in person as well as more students living on campus.  There are approximately 2,500 students living in the residence halls.  This will be increased to about 6,000 students for spring.

 A discussion took place regarding the webcam policy and how to determine a timeline of sufficient notice if a webcam is required for a class.  It was noted that it depends on the nature of the class and the situation however all parties involved should operate in a culture of respect.

  

Request for a New Linked Bachelor of Arts in Finance and Master of Science in Financial Planning and Wealth Management (Action Item) (Tabled at October 1 UCUE meeting)

Andrei Simonov, Department Chair, Finance, Eli Broad Graduate School of Management

Kirt Butler, Associate Professor, Finance, Eli Broad College of Business

 The committee granted voice to Chairperson Simonov.

 Chairperson Simonov stated that students can take 9 credits, however these are 400 level classes, and not 300 level classes.

 Voice was removed from Chairperson Simonov.

 The following motion passed unanimously.

 The University Committee on Undergraduate Education duly considered and endorsed the request for a New Linked Bachelor of Arts in Finance and Master of Science in Financial Planning and Wealth Management.

 

Request for a New Minor in Migration Studies (Action Item) (Tabled at October 1 UCUE meeting)

Walter Hawthorne, Associate Dean, College of Social Science

Aaron McCright, Chair, Sociology Department

 The committee granted voice to Associate Dean Hawthorne and Chairperson McCright.

 Chairperson Corner reminded members that this item was tabled at UCUE’s last meeting due to questions regarding classes from other departments that could count toward the minor.  It was noted that the College of Social Science has an interdisciplinary requirement.

 A list was referenced showing admission requirements for the minor and the range of classes that are offered.  It was noted that this list is negotiated between the College of Social Science and the other departments involved.   

 Associate Dean Hawthorne discussed the College’s interdisciplinary requirement and stated that the College’s curriculum committee has approved the minor and all proposed courses.

 Voice was removed from Associate Dean Hawthorne and Chairperson McCright.

 The following motion passed unanimously.

 The University Committee on Undergraduate Education duly considered and endorsed the request for a New Minor in Migration Studies.

 

Request to Change the Admission Requirements for the Minor in Hospitality Real Estate (Action Item)

Jim Anhut, Director, Real Estate Minor, School of Hospitality Business

 The committee granted voice to Jim Anhut.

 Dr. Anhut provided background on the minor and stated that the School is proposing a name change from Hospitality Business Real Estate Investment Minor to Hospitality Business Real Estate.  This change makes it easier for searching as well as better represents what the minor is.

 Dr. Anhut stated that by simplifying enrollment requirements, the minor will be opened up to a broader cross section of students from across campus.  They are hoping to appeal to students from the Broad College and also from the School of Planning, Design, and Construction.  A number of one-credit workshops have been combined into more rigorous three-credit hour classes.

 A brief discussion was held regarding the minimum GPA requirement.

 Voice was removed from Jim Anhut.

 The following motion passed unanimously.

 The University Committee on Undergraduate Education duly considered and endorsed the request to Change the Admission Requirements for the Minor in Hospitality Real Estate.

 

No Record-Covid Transcript Substitution (Subcommittee Report)

Steve Shablin, Registrar

Steve Shablin provided an update from the No Record-Covid (NR-C) Transcript subcommittee which consists of himself, Andy Corner, Brianna Aiello, and Kathy Gallo.  The subcommittee’s motion before UCUE reads, “that MSU adopt the No Record-Covid transcript designation for fall semester, 2020.”  The subcommittee could not come to a consensus and have brought it to UCUE for further discussion.

A discussion took place with mixed feelings regarding the adoption of the NR-C and the following thoughts were shared:

-          Trying to help students in need and avoid accommodating students who may abuse the policy;

-          Not a pass/fail like what was done in spring; 

-          Would like to see data based on EASE reports;

-          The increase of faculty submitting EASE reports  for positive and negative reporting;

-          Immediate and long-term effects on a student’s GPA;

-          NR-C may help the most vulnerable students be less harmed;

-          Are there degree progression policies;

-          Fairness issue because MSU did not use the NR-C in the summer;

-          Financial aid impact if taking an NR-C grade and how it affects academic satisfactory progress;

-          Will using NR-C keep students off of academic probation who should actually be on academic probation and receive special assistance;

-          If NR-C is adopted, when would MSU return to normal grading;

-          Will NR-C be used for Spring as well;

 

Associate Provost Largent points out that the word “probation” is not a punishment.  Academic probation can be used as an indicator for students in need of assistance, resources, and advising.

After discussion, a motion was made to read, “MSU shall establish and implement a substitute grade of NR-C (No Record-Covid) for all grades of 1.5, 1.0, or 0.0 earned during Fall Semester 2020.  Grades of 0.0 will automatically be replaced with NR-C; grades of 1.0 or 1.5 will be replaced with NR-C if the student so chooses.

The motion passed with 16 votes in favor.

 

SIRS Replacement (Subcommittee Report)

Scot Yoder, Associate Dean, Residential College in Arts & Humanities

 Associate Dean Yoder provided a subcommittee report on the SIRS Replacement indicating two issues that were under consideration.

1)      What to do with a report on exploring a replacement for the SIRS system that was started by a working group in the spring however was delayed due to Covid.  The administration has decided to use Explorance Blue for the SIRS replacement so this is a non issue.

2)      A September 3 request from Associate Provost Grabill asked that we add questions to the SIRS form to do with assessing online or remote education.  The questions were used last spring as part of the supplemental evaluation form and Associate Provost Grabill’s request was not to use the supplementary form but to have the questions officially added to the SIRS form. 

Associate Dean Yoder reported that the standard SIRS form was not as widely used as expected.  Many departments have their own customized form.  The subcommittee’s recommendation is to recommend to units that they consider these questions for evaluation purposes rather than to ask the SIRS administrator to add them.

 Associate Provost Largent clarified that there are a standard set of questions that are a part of SIRS and units can add their own questions to the standard list.  Last spring, a set of supplementary questions were added hoping to provide developmental information for faculty so they could improve their teaching during summer and fall semesters.  This structure presents a set of responses prior to the professional development that approximately 2,000 faculty completed this summer. Keeping the same set of supplemental questions is a valuable tool in determining if faculty who did or did not choose professional development had different responses to the supplemental questions.  It was noted that the questions are not appropriate for evaluation of faculty.

 The Hub is asking this set of supplementary questions be added to the standard set of questions for fall semester because it has both institutional value and value for the faculty members.  The Subcommittee Chair stated that they are not opposed to adding the questions although they are not inclined to make it an official recommendation from UCUE.   

 Although Associate Provost Largent reported that results were reported in aggregated form, discussion continued about how to keep responses separate from the standard set and the supplemental set of questions.

 Discussion was closed and will be reconsidered at the next meeting.

  

MSU’s Application of Transfer Credit from Community Colleges (Discussion Item)

Deb Dotterer, Assistant Dean, University Advising

Glenn Chambers, Associate Dean, Curriculum, APUE

 Assistant Dean Dotterer referenced a document that was shared with UCUE regarding MSU’s current policy of transfer credits from community colleges.  The current policy states that students who have matriculated at MSU and achieved junior standing (56 semester credits) may not earn credits from two-year institutions.  Students who have matriculated at MSU and not yet achieved junior standing (56 semester credits) may earn credits from two-year institutions up to the 56-semester credit limit.  Students transferring directly from two-year institutions may transfer a maximum of 60 semester credits for use toward a bachelor’s degree.  To facilitate automated transfer credit processing in the new Campus Solutions Student Information System (SIS), the transfer credit policy should be amended to permit the same transfer credit limits regardless of student status (i.e. junior standing).  A recommendation was made to change the current policy to allow for a maximum of sixty transfer credits to be accepted from a two-year institution, regardless of student level at MSU.

 A motion was made to remove the restriction for class standing in terms of eligibility for transfer credits.  Motion passed.

  

Roundtable

 There were no Roundtable items.

 

 

Submitted by Lynne Frechen.