MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY University Committee on Undergraduate Education Draft Agenda December 3, 2020 10:15am to 12:00pm, via ZOOM
https://msu.zoom.us/j/96531712347 Passcode: 849464
Ann Hoffman, Assistant Dean, College of Communication Arts & Sciences Kari Schueller-Lopez, Director, Academic and Student Affairs, College of Communication Arts & Sciences Jeff Searl, Undergraduate Program Coordinator, Communicative Sciences and Disorders
Ann Hoffman, Assistant Dean, College of Communication Arts & Sciences Kari Schueller-Lopez, Director, Academic and Student Affairs, College of Communication Arts & Sciences Judy Walgren, Associate Director, J-School Jonathan Whiting, Instructor
Walter Hawthorne, Associate Dean, College of Social Science Aaron McCright, Chairperson, Sociology, College of Social Science
John Ambrose, Director, Undergraduate Admissions John Gaboury, Associate Provost for Academic Services
Jim Lucas, Assistant Dean, Global Education, APUE Deb Dotterer, Assistant Dean, University Advising, APUE
MINUTES - APPROVED MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY University Committee on Undergraduate Education MINUTES Thursday, December 3, 2020 10:15 A.M. to 12:00 P.M., via Zoom
https://msu.zoom.us/j/96531712347 Passcode: 849464
Present: Nora Teagan for Brianna Aiello, Rich Bellon, Glenn Chambers, Andy Corner, Deb Dotterer, Corey Drake, Jan Eberle, Richard Enbody, Kathleen Gallo, David Gilstrap, Sejuti Das Gupta, Aubrey Hanes, Kionna Henderson, Aaron Iturralde, Nick Knowles, Mark Largent, Gina Leinninger, Sheng-Mei Ma, Chloe Majzel, Dan Manville, Helen Mayer, Justin Micomonaco, Steve Shablin, Emily Tabuteau, Antoinette Tessmer, Elizabeth Webster, Patty West, Scot Yoder Absent: Brianna Aiello, Chloe Majzel, Tyler Silvestri The agenda was approved. The minutes were approved for November 5, 2020. The minutes were approved for November 12, 2020.
Comments from the Chairperson Chairperson Corner stated that at the November 17 Faculty Senate meeting, two motions related to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) were passed: 1- To encourage faculty to incorporate DEI into their teaching practices, and 2- To encourage faculty to commit to personal development in DEI issues. The University Council met on November 24 and has a group that is looking into the issue of being paid over 10 months opposed to being paid over 12 months. This issue was brought forward by faculty in the School of Law, as it is their practice to pay over 12 months. A special meeting of the Faculty Senate is being held on December 15 to discuss MSU’s responses to the Office of Civil Rights reports of employee reviews for Nassar and Strampel. Chairperson Corner is unable to attend and asks if anyone is interested in attending in his place to email him directly.
Comments from the Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education Associate Provost Largent stated the 2nd year live on requirement is being implemented, effective with students being matriculated Fall, 2021. Living on campus during sophomore year will contribute to student success as well as a student’s health, wellness, and safety. With approval, co-operative housing and some Greek housing can be considered on campus living. In regard to vaccines in the spring, Associate Provost Largent reported that if MSU has the approximately 4,000 students in residence halls and approximate 400 in person classes, MSU will follow state regulations. All students who use on-campus facilities, work on campus, take in person classes, live on campus, use the IM or library, they must be registered for the Spartan Spit program and must comply when asked to spit. If a student does not comply, they may be locked out of classes or asked to move out of their residence hall. President Stanley would like all students to have a flu vaccine, however it is not a state mandated vaccine and there is no way to ensure that a student has had the flu vaccine. Students will be asked to attest to getting a flu vaccination or they have to request an exemption from the vaccine based on our state’s standards. Exemptions can be for medical, religious, or philosophical reasons. Associate Provost Largent reported that when the Covid vaccine becomes available, the hope is that all faculty, staff and students will receive the vaccine, however there will be technical, legal, and logistical challenges associated with the vaccine.
Request for a New Bachelor of Science Degree in Communicative Sciences and Disorders (Action Item) Kari Schueller-Lopez, Director, Academic and Student Affairs, College of Communication Arts & Sciences Jeff Searl, Undergraduate Program Coordinator, Communicative Sciences and Disorders The committee granted voice to Mr. Searl and Ms. Schueller-Lopez. Mr. Searl reported that the department of Communicative Sciences and Disorders (CSD) currently offers two graduate degrees. Once is a MA which is the working degree for students interested in working as a speech language pathologist and a doctoral degree for students interested in research academic careers. Since 2014, an undergraduate minor has been offered in CSD for students interested in pursuing a MA degree to become a licensed therapist. Mr. Searl reported that CSD determined this is a good time to propose the major due to the fact that they have strengthened the department in terms of the number and expertise of faculty and student demand for CSD training has increased. Mr. Searl described the three broad credit area requirements for the Major. Ms. Schueller-Lopez added that the Minor in CSD will remain and students will have the option to stay in the minor or join the new major and her office will oversee this transition. It was noted that the proposed BS degree will not require a practicum experience. Voice was removed from Mr. Searl and Ms. Schueller-Lopez. The following motion passed unanimously. The University Committee on Undergraduate Education duly considered and endorsed the request for a New Bachelor of Science Degree in Communicative Sciences and Disorders.
Request for a New Bachelor of Arts Degree in Digital Storytelling (Action Item) Kari Schueller-Lopez, Director, Academic and Student Affairs, College of Communication Arts & Sciences Judy Walgren, Associate Director, Journalism School Jonathan Whiting, Instructor, Journalism School The committee granted voice to Ms. Schueller-Lopez, Associate Director Walgren, and Mr. Whiting. Jon Whiting stated that in early 2020, the College of Communication Arts and Sciences shifted faculty from the Department of Media and Information into the School of Journalism. These six faculty are focused on film, television, sound, and animation and were asked to create a new BA degree in the related areas. Components of the new degree will allow students to develop a widespread understanding of digital media technologies and will allow students to choose their specific area of focus. The natural synergies between a media and information student and the Department of TV and Radio were noted as well as the overlap between the written aspect of journalism with the production side of storytelling. Mr. Whiting stated that the proposed degree program has a general name of “Digital Storytelling” however students can choose a concentration area in animation, audio storytelling, filmmaking or multi cam (television) and the anticipated start date is Fall, 2021. It was noted that minors in documentary film production and fiction film making currently exist. Ms. Schueller-Lopez reported on the transition plan stating that even though faculty have moved departments, students are still in the Media and Information BA (MIBA) program and that they are extracting that piece of the MIBA and shifting that over to Journalism and creating Digital Storytelling. Students pursuing the new curriculum will be allowed to shift over and students will have the option to complete the MIBA or Digital Storytelling, depending on where they are at in their degree. It was noted that Digital Storytelling will not add many additional credits. It was noted that the MIBA will be put in moratorium effective summer 2021 through 2026. Voice was removed from Ms. Schueller-Lopez, Associate Director Walgren, and Mr. Whiting. The following motion passed unanimously. The University Committee on Undergraduate Education duly considered and endorsed the request for a New Bachelor of Arts Degree in Digital Storytelling. Request for a New Minor in Environmental Social Science (Action Item) Walter Hawthorne, Associate Dean, College of Social Science Aaron McCright, Chairperson, Sociology, College of Social Science The committee granted voice to Associate Dean Hawthorne and Dr. McCright. Chairperson McCright reported that there are numerous careers that would benefit from this Minor. He indicated that the Department felt there was a need to provide students with the opportunity to have an interdisciplinary curriculum where they can learn about concepts and methods, and gain skills in environmental social science that would be beneficial if going on for future coursework. Also, given students’ interest in environmental issues, the Department feels there will be a good amount of student demand for this new Minor. A discussion was held on existing minors and if there was overlap on the curriculum. Voice was removed from Associate Dean Hawthorne and Dr. McCright. The following motion passed unanimously. The University Committee on Undergraduate Education duly considered and endorsed the request for a New Minor in Environmental Social Science. Test Optional Decision (Discussion Item) John Ambrose, Director, Undergraduate Admissions John Gaboury, Associate Provost for Academic Services Chairperson Corner stated that during spring semester, UCUE and the University Council endorsed a proposal to make the inclusion of a standardized test score optional for students applying for admission to MSU for fall, 2021. John Ambrose gave a presentation regarding if MSU should make “test optional” a permanent option at MSU and asks for UCUE’s approval to continue the test optional policy for three to five years. Some of MSU’s peers have already begun this process. He reported some of the challenges the Office of Admissions is having which include having to change the application review process, how to fairly award scholarships, and the negative impacts for already disadvantaged students. A discussion was held regarding standardized testing and that it does not accurately reflect student persistence. Associate Provost Largent reported that on November 30, Faculty Senate voted overwhelmingly to approve test optional for the GRE, ACT, and SAT for all undergraduate and graduate admissions. A discussion was held on the term “test optional” versus “test blind.” Associate Provost Largent discussed the work of the learning analytics group that was created six years ago. When determining student persistence rates, the SAT and ACT scores had a low predicted value. The highest predicted value came from the MSU calculated gpa. A motion was approved stating that UCUE endorses MSU implementing test optional policies for the next four application years.
Penalty Grades under S/NS (Discussion Item) Jim Lucas, Assistant Dean, Global Education, APUE Deb Dotterer, Assistant Dean, University Advising, APUE Chairperson Corner provided background stating that UCUE concurred with the Provost’s request to implement S/NS for fall 2020, spring 2021, and possibly summer 2021. An issue has surfaced that could be problematic when a 0.0 grade automatically becomes an S/NS. For example, a 0.0 grade that has been received for an academic dishonesty would be automatically changed to a NS grade. Assistant Dean Lucas held a discussion regarding if MSU should change penalty grades for academic dishonesty and other reasons into a NS or if the 0.0 should stand. He indicated that the Provost is asking for a recommendation from UCUE on how to proceed. It was stated that if a student receives one academic dishonesty report (ADR) which results in a 0.0 grade during their time at MSU, the ADR is dropped from a student’s record, however the 0.0 grade remains. A discussion was held around the issues of allowing a 0.0 to stand in cases of academic dishonesty versus all 0.0 grades being changed automatically to a NS. The issue becomes problematic when all 0.0 grades automatically change to a NS and a 0.0 penalty grade remains on a student’s record due to an ADR. Even though the ADR is removed from a student’s academic record, it will be obvious to some, after general research about grading on campus, that the 0.0 represents a penalty grade of some sort. A motion was approved stating that UCUE does not support the idea of retaining a 0.0 in situations of academic dishonesty or other penalty grades when MSU is automatically converting grades from 0.0 to NS for fall 2020, spring 2021, and possibly summer 2021.
Roundtable David Gilstrap commented on the upcoming mental health days and study days for spring 2021. Sejuti Das Gupta commented on the upcoming two-year live on requirement.
Submitted by Lynne Frechen.
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