UCAP Meeting of 02/12/2009 2008-2009 agenda status: approved Agenda: University Committee on Academic Policy AGENDA Thursday, February 12, 2009 10:15 A.M. to 12:00 P.M. Board Room, 4th Floor, Administration Building
Phone or e-mail Sandra Walther (353-5380; swalther@msu.edu) if you cannot be present. Please remember that you are asked to send a substitute from your college. minutes status: approved approved at meeting of 03/19/2009 UCAP Minutes for meeting held on 02/12/2009 University Committee on Academic Policy MINUTES Thursday, February 12, 2009 10:15 A.M. to 12:00 P.M. Board Room, 4th Floor, Administration Building Attendees: Mary Jo Arndt, Dennis Banks, Mary Burleson, R. Sekhar Chivukula, Marty Crimp, Guiseppe Getto, Mandalyn Griffin, Richard Hallgren, Caroline Hartig, Linda Jackson, Michael Lawrence, Carolyn Loeb, Brad McDonald, Jerry Punch, A. Mahdi Saeed, Michael Schechter, Michael Shields, Jim Smith, Linda Stanford, Tom Volkening Not Attending: Peter Cobbett, Doug Estry, John Gore, Hovig Kouyoumdjian, Malea Powell, Sharif Shakrani The Agenda was approved. The Minutes of the January 29, 2009 meeting were approved. Comments from the Chair Chairperson Chivukula welcomed two new student representatives, Guiseppe Getto, COGS and Mary Burleson, ASMSU. Dr. Chivukula reported that Carolyn Loeb and Jim Smith would attend at the upcoming Faculty Council meeting, and that Carolyn Loeb and Dennis Banks would attend the Academic Council meeting. Carolyn would represent UCAP in discussion of the proposed changes to the Integrity of Scholarship and Grades policy at both meetings, and Jim would represent the committee in the discussion of proposed changes to university committee bylaws at the Faculty Council meeting. Professor Chivukula also mentioned that, as discussed at the most recent meeting of the Academic Council, budgeting issues at the University should be clarified soon given the unveiling of the State budget, scheduled later in the day, and the anticipated Congressional approval of the economic stimulus package. The Provost has begun meeting with college deans on a weekly basis to discuss university budgeting issues, noting that President Simon’s recent letter to MSU employees regarding health care costs indicates budget-driven changes to employee health benefits may be considered. Dr. Chivukula reported that the academic taskforce on academic calendar survey would be released soon to administrators, deans, faculty, and staff. Permission to survey students had not been received yet, delaying administration of student surveys. Comments from the Associate Provost for Academic Services There were no comments from the Associate Provost for Academic Services. Request to Establish a Linked BS-MS Program in each of the following: Civil Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Environmental Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering Tom Wolff, Associate Dean, College of Engineering Manoochehr Koochesfahani, Asc Dean for Engineering Research & Graduate Studies Clark Radcliffe, Professor for Mechanical Engineering The committee unanimously granted voice to Drs. Wolff, Koochesfahani, and Radcliffe. Associate Dean Wolff indicated the creation of linked BS-MS programs was intended to enhance external graduate recruitment and to retain more MSU graduates in the College of Engineering graduate studies programs (currently estimated at 30% at the master’s degree level). The implementation of the linked BS-MS programs would not require any policy change in engineering undergraduate programs. He reported that MSU College of Engineering recruiting had been at a disadvantage in relation to four peer institutions that allow a number of undergraduate course credits to be applied towards their master’s degree programs. In addition, the linked programs could ease the transition from specified undergraduate to specified graduate programs. The College of Engineering representatives explained that MSU engineering undergraduates would be required to apply to the program significantly prior to their completion of the requirements for the bachelor’s degree. The intent would be to work with eligible undergraduate students to build a program of study that will relate directly with the linked graduate program. Admission to the linked BS-MS programs will require a 3.5 overall GPA and approval of the proposed program of study. MSU engineering students in the linked BS-MS programs will complete the same graduate school application and be admitted based on the same criteria as all non-MSU applicants to The Graduate School. Dr. Wolff clarified that the (up to) 9 credits applied toward the master’s degree will, per the University linked bachelor’s master’s program policy, be by class waiver based on courses taken at the undergraduate level and not by double counting credits. Committee discussion centered on the following issues:
Motion by A. Mahdi Saeed passed unanimously.
Associate Provost Stanford suggested that, after approval by UCC, representatives from the College of Engineering meet with Admissions to acquaint them with the linked programs. Chairperson Chivukula suggested, and the committee agreed, to move agenda items 6 and 7 ahead, postponing the Integrity of Scholarship and Grades item until later in the meeting. Religious Observance Policy Update Michael Schechter, Subcommittee Chairperson John Gore, Jim Smith, Subcommittee Members Subcommittee Chairperson Schechter reported the subcommittee had not received feedback from other committees on the proposed Religious Observance policy. The subcommittee will meet if feedback is received. Dr. Chivukula mentioned that COGS is planning to discuss the Religious Observance policy at its meeting on February 18 and UGC representatives said notes from their discussion would be forthcoming. It was noted that ASMSU comments and Faculty Affairs comments had been received earlier. Course Repeat Policy Update Dennis Banks, Subcommittee Chairperson Peter Cobbett, Brad McDonald, A. Mahdi Saeed, Subcommittee Members Subcommittee Chairperson Banks reported the subcommittee met with Associate Provost Estry to frame questions for further data gathering, especially increased scrutiny at improvement distribution among students who repeat courses. In addition, the subcommittee will solicit data from other universities regarding the impact course repeats have on grade improvement. Chairperson Chivukula mentioned that an ASMSU subcommittee had passed a course repeat bill changing the repeatable grade level to 2.5 or below and placing a limit on the repeatable credits. The measure was not passed by the ASMSU assembly. The committee discussed a State News editorial published on February 9, 2009, in which University course repeat policy was misstated. Dr. Chivukula will contact the State News to let them know that UCAP is reviewing the policy on course repeats and that the policy was incorrectly stated in the editorial. Integrity of Scholarship and Grades Draft Policy Review Carolyn Loeb, Subcommittee Chairperson Rick Hallgren, Brad McDonald, Subcommittee Members Chairperson Chivukula introduced Dr. Stan Soffin, University Ombudsman, who had been invited to attend the meeting to consult on Integrity of Scholarship and Grades issues. The committee unanimously granted voice to Dr. Soffin. Committee consensus was that the draft presented was excellent and discussion centered on language clarification. Motion by Jim Smith to accept the Integrity of Scholarship and Grades policy proposal as modified passed unanimously. The committee reviewed the letter to Faculty Council and Academic Council that would accompany the Integrity of Scholarship and Grades proposal, provide background on committee process, and recommend procedural changes. Roundtable Chairperson Chivukula stated the revision of the Anti-discrimination policy referred by ECAC for UCAP comments would be on the UCAP agenda for March 19. At the same meeting, the committee would consider amendments to the University outside speaker policy, forwarded by Associate Vice President for Student Affairs June for UCAP feedback. Meeting adjourned. 11:30 am. Respectfully submitted by Sandra Walther |
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