UCAP Meeting of 01/29/2009 2008-2009 agenda status: approved Agenda: University Committee on Academic Policy AGENDA Thursday, January 29, 2009 10:15 A.M. to 12:00 P.M. Board Room, 4th Floor, Administration Building
minutes status: approved approved at meeting of 02/12/2009 UCAP Minutes for meeting held on 01/29/2009 University Committee on Academic Policy MINUTES Thursday, January 29, 2009 Board Room 4th Floor, Administration Building Attendees: Mary Jo Arndt, Dennis Banks, R. Sekhar Chivukula, Peter Cobbett, Marty Crimp, John Gore, Mandalyn Griffin, Richard Hallgren, Hovig Kouyoumdjian, Michael Lawrence, Carolyn Loeb, Brad McDonald, Jerry Punch, A. Mahdi Saeed, Michael Schechter, Sharif Shakrani, Michael Shields, Jim Smith, Linda Stanford, Tom Volkening. The Agenda was approved. Minutes of the January 15, 2009 meeting were approved. Comments from the Chair Chairperson Chivukula announced that after the January 15, 2009 meeting at which action on the request from the Department of Animal Science had been deferred, the Department of Animal Science had withdrawn its request. Dr. Chivukula welcomed John Gore, a new ASMSU representative to the committee. Chairperson Chivukula asked Jim Smith and Dennis Banks to report on Faculty Council and Academic Council meetings. Vice Chairperson Smith reported the Faculty Council did not discuss UCUAP bylaws due to lack of time. He noted that a potential problem for UCAP would be the mandated timing of the election of committee chairs as the first meeting in the fall semester. Dr. Smith will represent UCAP at the next meeting of the Faculty Council at which committee bylaws will be addressed. Dr. Banks reported that the Academic Council did not have a quorum; consequently, only information items were discussed. Chairperson Chivukula, UCAP’s representative to the Academic Calendar Taskforce, reported that the Taskforce met several times and intended to have its recommendation completed by mid-March. The Taskforce plans to survey faculty, students, and administrative personnel to inform its planning process. As a test, a limited release of the 9-question survey will be given to the Academic Council and other relevant standing committees. Comments from the Associate Provost for Academic Services Dr. Stanford expressed her appreciation of UCAP’s detailed consideration of UCC issues. The University Curriculum Committee finds the policy perspective complementary to the curriculum view in assessing requests. The committee deferred discussion of agenda item 5 until all subcommittee members had arrived. Religious Observance Policy Update Michael Schechter, Subcommittee Chairperson Jim Smith, Subcommittee Member Subcommittee chairperson Schechter reported the subcommittee had not met and requested a replacement for the student member that had left the subcommittee. John Gore agreed to serve as the student representative on the Religious Observance Policy subcommittee. Chairperson Chivukula stated he would remind other relevant standing committees that feedback on this policy proposal is requested. Course Repeat Policy Update Dennis Banks, Subcommittee Chairperson Peter Cobbett, Brad McDonald, A. Mahdi Saeed, Subcommittee Members Dennis Banks, subcommittee chairperson reviewed the most recent data analysis from OPB with the committee. Dr. Banks asked the committee for additional guidance in its approach to assessment of the Course Repeat Policy with the purpose of determining whether a policy change should be made in light of the increasing number of requests from programs to impose grade restrictions. Committee discussion centered on the following issues or themes:
Associate Provost Stanford suggested the subcommittee contact the Financial Aid office to determine whether Federal policies regarding time to degree and credit limits to degree might have implications for the Course Repeat Policy. Chairperson Chivukula recommended considering two larger issues in question. If MSU is an open access institution, should UCAP approve requests from programs that contain a specific GPA for admission or progression that is greater than that required for graduation from the University? Of the various dimensions of the Course Repeat Policy, which are at issue? Professor Chivukula suggested the subcommittee meet with Associate Provost Estry as they considered next steps. Integrity of Scholarship and Grades (ISG) Subcommittee Report Carolyn Loeb, Subcommittee Chairperson Rick Hallgren, Brad McDonald, Subcommittee Members Chairperson Chivukula prefaced the committees report asking that the committee attempt to provide a final draft for action at the next UCAP meeting in order for the proposal to be submitted for action at the February 17 Faculty Council meeting. Professor Chivukula suggested that the subcommittee consult Ombudsman Stan Soffin to discuss the construction of the policy to insure that the proposal will work effectively. Subcommittee Chairperson Loeb began discussion of the most recent comments from the Graduate Council. Committee discussion resulted in the following:
Chairperson Chivukula suggested that the committee attempt to accomplish the following for review at the next UCAP meeting:
Roundtable Dr. Cobbett reported that across-the-board tuition increases have created an accrediting problem for CHM, COM, and CVM in that the amount of debt students at MSU are incurring for their education is out-of-line with that of students at peer institutions. The meeting was adjourned at 12:00 pm Respectfully submitted by Sandra Walther |
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