UCAP Meeting of 01/15/2009 2008-2009 agenda status: approved Agenda: University Committee on Academic Policy AGENDA Thursday, January 15, 2009 10:15 A.M. to 12:00 P.M. Board Room, 4th Floor, Administration Building
minutes status: approved approved at meeting of 01/29/2009 UCAP Minutes for meeting held on 01/15/2009 University Committee on Academic Policy MINUTES Thursday, January 15, 2009 Board Room 4th Floor, Administration Building Attendees: Mary Jo Arndt, Dennis Banks, R. Sekhar Chivukula, Peter Cobbett, Marty Crimp, Doug Estry, Richard Hallgren, Caroline Hartig, Linda Jackson, Hovig Kouyoumdjian, Carolyn Loeb, Brad McDonald, Malea Powell, Jerry Punch, A. Mahdi Saeed, Michael Schechter, Michael Shields, Jim Smith , Thomas Volkening Not Attending: Mandalyn Griffin, Chris Kline, Michael Lawrence, Parita Shah, Sharif Shakrani The Agenda was approved with reordering of items 8 as item 9 and item 9 as 8. Minutes of the December 4, 2008 committee meeting were approved. Comments from the Chair Chairperson Chivukula reported that UGC would provide UCAP with a recommendation about the proposed Integrity of Scholarships and Grades Policy by the end of January. The UCAP subcommittee is working toward the goal of providing a revised ISG proposal to Faculty Council for its February 13 meeting. Professor Chivukula will also remind other governance committees that UCAP requests a response about the proposed Religious Observance Policy. The goal is that comments would be received and the UCAP subcommittee could incorporate those comments into a revision to forward to ECAC for its March 3 meeting. Dr. Chivukula summarized the status of Academic Calendar Taskforce review. Based on his own research, he provided the committee with academic calendar data comparisons of MSU vs. other CIC and Michigan institutions, noting that Michigan institutions usually start school after Labor Day and have an average of 65 instructional days; institutions outside Michigan have closer to 15 full weeks of classes (75 instructional days). Information collected from AAU registrars indicates that most public universities have 15-week semesters (75 instructional days); most private universities have 13-week semesters (65 instructional days). He presented three possible changes to the semester calendars for the committee to review. Comments from the Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education Associate Provost Estry urged the committee to look at changing the academic calendar in creative ways in order to build enhanced learning opportunities that cannot be accomplished with our current academic calendar system into the revised calendar. Dr. Estry reported that OPB was working on a summary report that would address the committee’s questions from the last meeting. The report would be forwarded to the Course Repeat Policy subcommittee for their review. Dr. Estry stated that he would provide a framework for the fall 2009 orientation schedule for comment at the next committee meeting. He will be soliciting feedback from colleges and other stakeholders. Request to Change the Admission as a Junior in Music Statement Curtis Olson, Associate Dean, College of Music The committee unanimously granted voice to Dr. Olson. Associate Dean Olson indicated that the current Music curriculum did not have a process in place to establish whether a student was prepared to enter upper level classes (proficiency on instrument). The College of Music sought to remedy this by adding a performance examination as a prerequisite for enrollment into applied music courses at the 300-level. The committee thought adding a performance examination as a prerequisite for enrollment into applied music courses at the 300-level was reasonable suggesting that catalogue copy be changed to indicate that the performance examination was not a requirement of admission to the program but rather a requirement entry into 300-level courses and for graduation. Motion by Carolyn Loeb passed unanimously.
Request to Require a Grade Point of 2.00 in CEP 430 in the Bachelor of Arts Degree in Special Education, Deaf Education Area of Emphasis Claudia Pagliaro, Co-Director, Deaf Education, Dept of Counseling, Ed Psych & Special Ed Harold Johnson, Co-Director, Deaf Education, Dept of Counseling, Ed Psych & Special Ed The committee unanimously granted voice to Drs. Directors Pagliaro and Johnson. Co-Directors Pagliaro and Johnson explained that the request was part of a package of administrative and curricular changes being made in the Deaf Education Area of Emphasis. One change would move the foundational course in Deaf Education, CEP 430, to the sophomore year. Drs. Pagliaro and Johnson maintained that a 2.0 grade point in the foundational course would indicate that a student had acquired sufficient foundational knowledge and would be able to succeed in the rigorous program. A student’s inability to achieve a 2.0 grade point would indicate the student might not be successful if admitted to the Deaf Education area of emphasis. The committee discussion was divided on the necessity for a grade point requirement. There was general agreement, however, that a sophomore course with a 400 level course number violates the University course-numbering rubric. Motion by A. Mahdi Saeed was passed by majority vote, 2 members dissenting.
Request to Require a Grade-Point Average of 3.00 for Admission into the Production Animal Scholars Concentration in the Bachelor of Science Degree in Animal Science John Shelle, Coordinator of Undergraduate Programs and Faculty Member, Department of Animal Science The committee unanimously granted voice to Dr. Shelle. Professor Shelle provided the background on the Production Animal Scholars concentration formed in concert with the College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) to promote the CVM large animal medicine program. CVM created a special admission pool of 10 seats for Production Animal Scholars who meet CVM admission requirements. Dr. Shelle explained that the request to require a grade point average for admission to the concentration was among other changes being made in the program, which included changing its name from Production Medical Scholars to Production Animal Scholars since no medicine is taught in the concentration. Committee discussion centered on the structure of the program and the rationale for requiring a 3.0 gpa for entry into a concentration that should, like the other concentrations in the department that do not have admission standards, be open for interested students, and not as a fast-track to veterinary school or an honors program. Chairperson Chivukula summarized the issues of the discussion noting that there was not consensus among the members of the committee, suggesting deferral of the request, asking the Department of Animal Science to consider whether the current structure of the program and the requested admissions requirement is the right mechanism for achieving the goals set for the program. Dr. Chivukula asked members to provide him with suggestions that would enable the department to move forward this request. UCUAP: Membership Recommendations - Discussion Chairperson Chivukula reviewed the proposed changes to UCAP, part of the restructuring of MSU academic governance as recommended in Faculty Voice Task Force I. He stated that Academic Council would be considering committee bylaw revisions at its next meeting. He explained that, in essence, standing committees would remain relatively unchanged. UCAP’s name will be changed to reflect that the committee’s role extends only to undergraduate policy. After discussion, committee consensus was to:
request that graduate students have continued representation on the committee. Graduate students teach undergraduates and are otherwise involved in undergraduate education. Undergraduate policy matters affect graduate students who teach in the same way they affect instructors and faculty who teach undergraduates. request that professional colleges continue representation on the committee. These representatives provide a unique perspective and valuable insight on undergraduate policy as it pertains to preparation of undergraduate students to move forward into these programs at MSU and other institutions. Jim Smith will represent UCAP and relay the committee’s recommendations at the next Academic Council meeting. Integrity of Scholarship and Grades Subcommittee Report Carolyn Loeb, Subcommittee Chairperson Rick Hallgren, Brad McDonald, Subcommittee Members The Integrity of Scholarship and Grades Subcommittee Report was deferred to the next meeting. Roundtable Marty Crimp, UCAP representative to the Athletic Council, reported that the Council expressed concern that some faculty are administering finals prior to finals week. Following MSU policy, the Athletic Department insures that student athletes do not travel during finals week. This alternate practice by faculty creates difficulties for athletes who travel during the week prior to finals. The Athletic Council seeks a way to strengthen the policy in the University. The meeting was adjourned at 12:05 pm. Respectfully submitted by Sandra Walther |
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