agenda status: not approved Agenda: minutes status: not approved UCAP Minutes for meeting held on 04/13/2006 University Committee on Academic Policy Thursday April 13, 2006 Meeting Minutes Members Present: Dennis Banks, Renee Canady, Rebecca Henry, Yen-Hwei Lin, Kyle Martin, Helen Mayer, Philip Moon, Tony Nunez, Edmund Outslay, Sharon Pocock, Ralph Putnam (Chair), Sharon Senk, Kurt Stirewalt, Alex von Eye, Keri Zolman Members Absent: Angela Allen, Richard Hallgren, Nikole Patson, Colleen Tremonte, Bruce Vanden Bergh
2. The Minutes of the March 30, 2006 meeting were approved with no changes. 3. Comments from the Chairperson: Putnam announced that the new UCAP members would be joining us at our next meeting (April 27) and that we would elect officers at that meeting. 4. Apparel & Textile Design Move from Human Ecology to Arts & Letters: A request to change administrative responsibility for Apparel and Textile Design from the College of Human Ecology to the Dean’s Office of the College of Arts & Letters was considered. The request was supported by unanimous vote of members present. A related motion was proposed to recommend to the Provost the closing of the College of Human Ecology. Given that all the programs in the College of Human Ecology have now been relocated into other administrative homes it seems appropriate to close this unit. The motion was approved unanimously. 5. Working Group for the Improvement of Undergraduate Education: The committee continued discussion of its commentary on the Working Group’s Final Report and Executive Summary. The committee (a) proposed a set of goals for liberal learning, based on those in the Final Report, (b) endorsed undertaking appropriate study to inform implementation of the Quantitative Literacy and Writing recommendations, and (c) supported the general idea of a establishing a group to support and advance liberal learning and MSU. (See attached commentary resulting from this discussion.) 6. Religious Observance Policy. Academic Assembly bill number 14-41 to Change the religious observance policy to accommodate individual religious practices was discussed. Key issues included (a) concern that the current policy is not specific enough about what constitutes “seriously disadvantaged” for students who absent themselves from classes to observe religious holidays, (b) concern that including in the policy language that is too specific about such issues as the number of tests that might be missed might eliminate important flexibility for instructors and students to work out reasonable arrangements for respect students’ religious observances, and (c) concern about treating the missing of class for religious reasons with the same status as missing class for other reasons, such as illness or personal reasons. A subcommittee was formed to consult with the Ombudsman and further consider existing policies and practices, reporting back to the first UCAP meeting Fall semester, 2006: Kyle Martin, Keri Zolman, Rebecca Henry. 7. Fall Semester Break: Discussed additional materials and issues provided by student representatives. Tabled for further consideration, with Ralph Putnam and Kyle Martin to consider next steps. 8. Dean’s List Policy: Further discussion was tabled until next meeting when additional information from Office of Registrar will be available. 9. Round Table Discussion: No issues raised. 10. Nominations for 2006-2007 UCAP officers: The following nominations were made, with election of officers to be held at the UCAP meeting of April 27: Chair: Ralph Putnam Vice-Chair: Renee Canady Second UCAP Representative to Academic Council: Yen-Hwei Lin Athletic Council Representative: Dennis Banks Ex Officio Member of University Military Education Advisory Committee: (nominations to be solicited at next meeting) 11. The meeting was adjourned at 12:05 pm. |
Agenda/Minutes > 2005-2006 >