UCAP Meeting of 03/26/2009 2008-2009 agenda status: approved Agenda: University Committee on Academic Policy
AGENDA Thursday, March 26, 2009 10:15 A.M. to 12:00 P.M. Board Room, 4th Floor, Administration Building
minutes status: approved approved at meeting of 04/02/2009 UCAP Minutes for meeting held on 03/26/2009 University Committee on Academic Policy MINUTES Thursday, March 26, 2009 Board Room, 4th Floor, Administration Building Attending: Mary Jo Arndt, Dennis Banks, Mary Burleson, R. Sekhar Chivukula, Peter Cobbett, Doug Estry, Guiseppe Getto, Mandalyn Griffin, Richard Hallgren, Caroline Hartig, Linda Jackson, Michael Lawrence, Carolyn Loeb, Brad McDonald, Malea Powell, Jerry Punch, Michael Schechter, Sharif Shakrani, Steve Shaw, Mike Shields, Jim Smith, Tom Volkening Not Attending: John Gore, Hovig Kouyoumdjian, A. Mahdi Saeed The Agenda was approved. The Minutes of the March 19 meeting were approved as amended with the following addition to the section regarding the proposed revision to the MSU Anti-Discrimination policy: Professor Lawrence suggested the wording of the Anti-Discrimination
amendment could be shortened without effect by inserting the words
"protected speech in" in the first sentence and eliminating the last
sentence, as follows: These prohibitions are not intended to abridge
University community members' rights to free expression or other civil
rights and are not applicable to protected speech in
public speeches by university community members or by the presenters
legally invited to the University by student groups or other University
personnel.
However, given the importance of free speech, especially in an academic environment, UCAP suggests that the ADP be reviewed by the appropriate university standing committees and the Office of the General Counsel to determine whether modification of the ADP is required to clarify the meaning of the phrase "these prohibitions are not intended to abridge University community members' rights of free expression”. UCAP recommends that Faculty and Academic Councils defer judgment on whether action is required until such a review of the MSU Anti-Discrimination Policy has been completed. Request for a Moratorium on Admission to the Bachelor of Music Degree in Music Therapy James Forger, Dean, College of Music The committee unanimously granted voice to Dr. Forger, Dean of the College of Music. Dean Forger summarized the issues and process that led to the decision by the College of Music to recommend a moratorium on admission to the Music Therapy undergraduate program. Dr. Forger stated that the decision was consistent with budget planning narratives for possible economic downturns submitted by the College since 2004. The College of Music, faced with significant budget reductions in the next year, made the strategic decision to downsize in order to maintain excellence in the integrative core Music programs. The Music Therapy program, a pioneer program founded in 1944, has had a 40% decline in enrollment over last three years with only 34 students now enrolled. All current students have been guaranteed degree completion and a plan is in place to accomplish this. Chairperson Chivukula reminded the committee that this issue falls under section 4.4.4 of the governance bylaws which state that “The Committee on Academic Policy shall consult with the Provost on the establishment, disbandment, or merger of undergraduate programs”, and that consultation is defined in section 1.3.1 of these bylaws as: “A body of faculty and/or students who discuss with and inform the administrator with authority and responsibility for decision. Such a committee is not a deliberative body; there is no vote. Rather, the members express their views to inform an administrator's decision.” Committee discussion centered on the following issues:
Request to Require a Grade of 2.00 in HRT 259A, HRT 259B, and HRT 259C in the Organic Farming Agricultural Technology Certificate Eunice Foster, Associate Dean, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources John Biernbaum, Professor, Horticulture Department The committee unanimously granted voice to Associate Dean Foster and Professor Biernbaum. Associate Dean Foster provided the committee with a history of the Agricultural Technology Program and the recent creation of the Organic Farming program. The rationale behind the request for a grade of 2.0 in the core courses of the program was that progression without a minimum understanding of the core knowledge of each course would not only disadvantage the individual student, but also seriously disadvantage the cohort, which depends on an individual’s mastery of core knowledge for group success. After brief discussion, the committee recommended that the Organic Farming program faculty, according to University operating procedure, determine the minimum skills and knowledge necessary for progression and base the grading structure on the extent to which a student exhibited them. Not meeting the minimum would constitute a failing grade. To the extent that the skills and knowledge met or exceeded the minimum, the full range of grades from 1.0 to 4.0 could be utilized. The committee did not endorse the request to require a grade of 2.00 in HRT 259A, B, or C. Associate Dean Foster and the Organic Farming program faculty will review the balance of the request to UCC and provide any necessary changes or edits to reflect UCAP’s decision. Religious Observance Policy Revision – Discussion Michael Schechter, Subcommittee Chairperson John Gore, Jim Smith, Subcommittee Members Subcommittee Chairperson Schechter reported that the subcommittee had received input from a number of committees, especially COGS and ASMSU. Committee discussion centered on the following:
The committee consensus was for item # 3 to remain in the document. Chairperson Chivukula asked the committee to direct any further comments about the revision to Michael Schechter. Dr. Chivukula asked the subcommittee to prepare the revision to the University Policy on Religious Observance for a final vote at the April 2 UCAP meeting. He suggested the subcommittee prepare a document summarizing the input provided by other campus committees and UCAP’s response to the suggestions to accompany the revision. The meeting was adjourned at noon. Respectfully submitted by Sandra Walther |
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