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agenda status: approved

Agenda:

AGENDA

University Committee on Academic Policy

Meeting of Thursday, February 8, 2001
10:15 a.m., Board Room, Administration Building




1. Approval of Agenda

2. Approval of Minutes of the January 25, 2001 Meeting

3. Comments from the Chairperson

4. Comments from the Assistant Provost

5. Proposed Policy Change in Integrative Studies: IAH 201 (Attachment B)

6. Martin Luther King Day: Review and Recommendation (Attachment C)

7. Teaching Evaluation Discussion

8. Roundtable



Attachments: (A) January 25, 2001 Draft Minutes
(B) IAH Integrative Studies Proposed Policy Change
(C) MLK Recognition Materials

SUPPORT DOCUMENTS: University proposed copyright policy http://www.msu.edu/unit/provost/copyrightdraft.html

Please phone or E-Mail Robin Pline (353-5380; pline@msu.edu) if you cannot be present.




2.8.01UCAPagenda.doc

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minutes status: approved

approved at meeting of

UCAP Minutes for meeting held on 02/08/2001

Present: J. Roy Black, Howard Bossen, Joe Chartkoff, James Gallagher, Cindy

Gibbons, David Imig, Fred Jacobs, Rod Phillips, Shaun Phillips, Latonya
Riddle, Jon Sticklen, Winston Wilkinson

Others: Barbara Steidle (Assistant Provost), Kitty Geissler (representing IAH)

1. The minutes and agenda were approved.

2. Comments from the Vice Chairperson: Jon Sticklen reported that he had discussed the matter of University copyright policy as it applies to web materials with Melissa Crimp of the Faculty Affairs Committee. She advised him that the University's copyright policy regarding web materials would be consistent with the policy in place for books published by faculty (i.e. if a book was written as part of a professor's assigned duties, the copyright becomes the property of the University).

Discussion followed as to whether such intellectual property could be marketed externally by the University, and about the fairness of the split in copyright royalties at many universities. The committee agreed to continue discussion/investigation of this matter.

3. Comments from the Assistant Provost: Barbara Steidle reminded the committee of the Undergraduate Research and Creativity Forum, to be held April 6.

4. Integrative Studies in Arts and Humanities Proposed Policy Change: IAH representative Kitty Geissler addressed the committee on the proposed Policy Change in Integrative Studies. She discussed the proposal to broaden IAH 201 (Course A) offerings to meet student requests for alternatives to the current offerings. Two new courses are proposed at this time, and three more are in development.

Discussion followed, with concern expressed that a total of eight IAH courses would undermine the "shared experience" of the single common course which students now enjoy. Kitty Geissler responded that while the subject matter for the courses may become more diverse, the methods and goals for the courses will remain the same. It was generally agreed that broadening the course offerings in IAH would allow students greater choice and diminish "academic myopia" within general education courses.
A motion was made by Winston Wilkinson, and seconded by Joe Chartkoff, to approve the proposed policy change, to be reflected in Academic Programs:
"In the Arts and Humanities area, students must complete one IAH course numbered below 211 and one other IAH course numbered 211 or higher. Completion of a Tier I writing course is a prerequisite for the IAH course below 211. Any IAH course below 211 serves as the prerequisite for all other IAH courses."

This motion passed unanimously.


5. Barbara Steidle made some preliminary remarks about the background of UCAP’s consideration of the current practice and calendar arrangement for commemorating Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day. It was agreed in 1998, when it was first established that the University would cancel classes on that day, that there would be an evaluation of the participation in, and impact of, the holiday in the University community at the end of 2001. The evaluation is being conducted by the Vice President for Student Affairs and Services and by the Director of Affirmative Action Compliance and Monitoring and, based on the information to date, UCAP is asked to consider a recommendation extending the current practice and the concept of periodic re-assessment.

Discussion focused on the need for both gathering data on and publicizing the number of Martin Luther King Day events on campus, and the number of students and faculty participating. It was generally agreed that while activities surrounding the holiday were growing in both scope and participation, there is some utility in quantifying this.

James Gallagher offered the following motion:

The University Committee on Academic Policy expresses its continued support of the cancellation of classes on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day to promote commemorative activities on the MSU campus, and strongly suggests the chronicling of data concerning the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day events, immediately past and future.

Seconded by Winston Wilkinson. Motion passed unanimously.

6. Vice Chairperson Jon Sticklen asked for comment on what, finally, should be done in regard to the unanswered questions regarding the proposed University Copyright Policy. After discussion, it was agreed that Melissa Crimp should be invited to attend the next UCAP meeting to address questions on the issue. Sticklen was also asked to send a letter to ECAC to present UCAP’s concerns and wish to have a voice in the matter because of its connection with academic policy.

7. Meeting was adjourned at 12:10.

Minutes submitted by Rod Phillips

UCAP MINUTES 2.8.01.doc

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