Agenda/Minutes‎ > ‎2005-2006‎ > ‎

2006 - 03/16

agenda status: approved

Agenda:
University Committee on Academic Policy

Meeting of Thursday, March 16, 2006
10:15 a.m., Board Room, Administration Building


1. Approval of Agenda

2. Approval of Minutes of the February 16, 2006 meeting.

3. Comments from the Chairperson

4. Comments from the Assistant Provost

5. Tier II Writing Requirement in Modern Languages..........(Attachment 1, Attachment 2)

6. Dean’s List Policy Discussion..........(Attachment)

7. Undergraduate Academic Minors Revisited..........(Attachment 1, Attachment 2)

8. Working Group for the Improvement of Undergraduate Education..........(Attachment)
(review/discuss the WGIUE’s newly created Executive Summary)
(link to original WGIUE report, Nov. 2005)

9. Roundtable

Please phone or E-Mail Robin Pline (353-5380; pline@msu.edu) if you cannot be present and send a substitute in your place.


Attachments: February 16, 2006 Minutes
Tier II Writing Requirement Materials
Academic Programs Dean’s List Policy Description
Undergrad. Academic Minors Concerns from University Curriculum Committee
WGIUE Executive Summary



minutes status: approved

approved at meeting of

UCAP Minutes for meeting held on 03/16/2006
Approved 3/30/06

University Committee on Academic Policy
Thursday, March 16, 2006
Meeting Minutes

Members Present: Dennis Banks, Renee Canady, Richard Hallgren, Rebecca Henry, Yen-Hwei Lin, Kyle Martin, Helen Mayer, Philip Moon, Antonio Nunez, Edmund Outslay, Nikole Patson, Sharon Pocock, Ralph Putnam (Chair), Sharon Senk, Colleen Tremonte, Bruce Vanden Bergh, Alex von Eye, Keri Zolman

Members Absent: Angela Allen, Kurt Stirewalt

Others present: June Pierce Youatt (Associate Provost and Dean), Pat McConeghy (Acting Dean of Arts & Letters), Nancy Marino (Spanish & Portuguese), David Prestel and Charlene Polio (Ling, Germ, Slav, Asian & Afr Lang), John Rauk (French, Classics & Italian), Janet Swenson(Writ, Rhet, & Amer. Cultures)

1. Meeting began at 10:21 with approval of the agenda.

2. Minutes from the February 16, 2006 meeting were approved.

3. Comments from the Chairperson: Dennis Banks is UCAP’s representative to the Athletic Council. He will report to UCAP after each Athletic Council meeting and will carry questions from UCAP to Athletic Council.

4. Comments from the Associate Provost: Faculty and students are urged to encourage good community behavior in the upcoming season of athletic championship games. Visit celebrations.com to learn more about appropriate responses to such events.

5. Tier II Writing Requirement in Modern Languages: We were joined by Pat McConeghy, Nancy Marino, David Prestel, Charlene Polio, John Rauk and Janet Swenson to consider a proposal for the Tier II Writing Requirement for students majoring in a modern language. The motion to support the change in the College of Arts and Letters Tier II Writing Policy which allows the Tier II writing course to require competency in writing in the language of instruction was passed without dissent.

6. Dean’s List Policy Discussion: June Youatt pointed out that a student who is enrolled in a dual degree program leading to a B.A.& M.A. is not eligible for the Dean’s list if less than 12 credits are taken at the undergraduate level. Committee members discussed various interpretations of the intent of the Dean’s List and the need to clarify definitions related to this issue. Ralph Putnam and June Youatt agreed to talk with the Registrar about possible language that might be used to ensure that students who are enrolled in a dual bachelors and masters program could be eligible for recognition on the Dean’s List. They will report back at the next UCAP meeting.

7. Undergraduate Academic Minors: (See attached letter from Michael Schechter, Chair University Curriculum Committee, regarding comments on the establishment of undergraduate Academic Minors at MSU.) Committee members discussed the difference between a specialization (an interdisciplinary program), cognates (a set of courses related to and defined by the major department) and a minor (a set of courses comprising a secondary field of study defined by the minor department). The following motion was passed.
    “Departments, schools, and colleges with administrative responsibility for offering academic programs may decide to offer a minor in a particular field. The academic unit may specify admission requirements for the minor. Minors require no less than one third and no more than two thirds the number of credits required for a major. Approval of the student’s completion of the requirements for the minor occurs at the time of degree certification.”
8. Working Group for Improvement of Undergraduate Education: June Youatt asked members of UCAP to do the following before the next meeting:
    (a) Read the goals for “liberal learning.”
    (b) Read the Executive summary and full report, and identify potential discrepancies.
    (c) Read the Academic Policy on CLEP (College Level Examination Program).
9. Meeting was adjourned at 11:52 a.m.


Minutes submitted by Sharon Senk

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