UCAP Meeting of 12/17/2009 2009-2010 agenda status: approved Agenda: University Committee on Academic Policy Tentative AGENDA Thursday, December 17, 2009 10:15 A.M. to 12:00 P.M. Board Room, 4th Floor, Administration Building
minutes status: approved approved at meeting of 01/14/2010 UCAP Minutes for meeting held on 12/17/2009 University Committee on Academic Policy AGENDA Thursday, December 17, 2009 10:15am-12:00pm Board Room, 4th Floor, Administration Building Attending: Paul Abramson, Gillian Bice, Peter Cobbett, Lisa Cook, Marty Crimp, Doug Estry, Anita Ezzo, Fred Fico, Melanie Helton, Michael Lipphardt, Justin Lippi, Michael Ly, Matt McKeon, Ed Outslay, John Reifenberg, Henry Reinart, Ron Perry, Mahdi Saeed, Christopher Scales, Mary Kay Smith, Jeanne Wald Absent: Jim Smith, Sharif Shakrani, Mike Shields, The Agenda was approved. The Minutes of the December 10, 2009 meeting were approved with the following amendments:
Comments from the Chairperson Chairperson Crimp made no comments. Comments from the Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education Associate Provost Estry asked members to provide comments via email to the recommended changes to the catalogue language on Withdrawal of Students from courses guidelines document distributed at the December 10 meeting. UCAP members indicated there were no changes recommended and a consensus vote was taken indicating the committee’s recommendation to adopt the proposed language. Request for a Moratorium on Admission to the Bachelor of Science in Veterinary Technology Christopher Brown, Dean, College of Veterinary Medicine David Sprecher, Associate Dean, College of Veterinary Medicine Chairperson Crimp reviewed UCAP’s rules on public comments and the guidelines provided to the colleges. He noted the committee had received written materials regarding the proposed moratorium from the College, its faculty, students, alumni, and other concerned parties. The committee granted voice to Dean Brown and Associate Dean Sprecher. Dean Brown presented the rationale for the moratorium request, stating that phasing out the Veterinary Technology Program was one of several proposals under consideration for reaching the College’s budget goals. The request was not related to the quality of the program or the value the technologists play in the College. He indicated that a moratorium on admission to the Veterinary Technology program would allow the College to continue discussions about the prospect of phasing out the program and provide time for further examination of possibilities for reaching the College’s financial goals without jeopardizing students. He noted the moratorium would be effective fall 2010 but if funding could be found, the moratorium could be withdrawn. The committee granted voice to the following individuals who asked to provide comments about the proposed moratorium on admission to the BS in Veterinary Science.
2. Amber Irrer, Veterinary Technician, Veterinary Teaching Hospital 3. Jan Krehbiel, Professor Emeritus, College of Veterinary Medicine; 4. Marc Bailie, Associate Professor, Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Osteopathic Medicine and College of Human Medicine 5. Karla Seaver, Senior, Veterinary Technology Assistant Dean Pazak indicated that faculty, students, and alumni find it difficult understand closure of a unique and dynamic, 40-year old program that strengthens the Veterinary Medicine program and adds greatly to the Veterinary Technology profession. Dr. Pazak indicated that the moratorium date, at a minimum, should, be pushed back one year due to the inability of the program to accommodate all those who had expressed interest in one academic year. Ms. Irrer, oncology veterinary medical technician, stated she was one of the first students to receive a Bachelors Degree in Veterinary Technology at MSU. She described the program as cutting-edge, a blueprint for other programs in the U.S. She maintained the need for veterinary technologists is growing in Michigan and in the nation. Professor Emeritus Krehbiel stated he has served for many years on the American Veterinary Medical Association Board of Directors and for the past 6 years on its accrediting body. He indicated that there is a growing need for highly qualified veterinary medical technologists in the nation, closing the MSU program would have a negative effect on programs seeking accreditation (if MSU’s highly successful program cannot succeed, how can other, less successful programs succeed), the closing of the veterinary technology program would compromise the prestige of MSU’s veterinary medicine program. Professor Bailie described the need for veterinary technologists that have a bachelor’s degree in the pharmaceutical and other medical related industries. He suggests the closing of MSU’s veterinary technology BS program will negatively affect the possible growth of the biotechnology industry in Michigan. Ms. Seaver pointed out that Purdue is the only University, other than MSU, that offers a BS in veterinary technology with training in a veterinary teaching hospital. Veterinary technology students at MSU and Purdue train alongside one another in a setting that provides a breadth of experience not found in other programs. After a question and answer period, the committee withdrew voice from the College of Veterinary Medicine representatives and the five individuals making public comments. Motion by Professor Bice was unanimously approved. The University Committee on Academic Policy, in its consultative capacity to the Provost, has the following concerns about the request for a moratorium on admission to the Bachelor of Science Degree in Veterinary Technology.
Paul Abramson asked that microphone equipment be provided at future meetings in order for speakers to be heard more clearly. Request for a Moratorium on Admission to the Bachelor of Science Degree in Retailing Janet Lillie, Associate Dean, College of Communication Arts and Sciences Stephen R. Lacy, Associate Dean, College of Communication Arts and Sciences Chairperson Crimp noted that no requests were received for public comments. Professor Linda Good had provided written materials regarding the moratorium request that had been distributed to the committee prior to the meeting. The committee granted voice to Associate Deans Lillie and Lacy. Associate Dean Lillie summarized the College of Communication Arts and Sciences rationale for requesting a moratorium on the undergraduate program in Retailing, stating the program was not consistent with the College vision of integration of faculty and programs and didn’t fit in the strategic plan for the college. The Retailing program’s enrollment has decreased over the last five years with the number of incoming students declaring a preference for retailing had also decreased. After committee members’ questions of clarification, voice was withdrawn from the College of Communication Arts and Sciences representatives. Motion by Professor Saeed passed unanimously with no committee discussion.
Request for a Moratorium on Admission to the Bachelor of Science Degree in Physics and Geophysics Kathy Doig, Associate Dean, College of Natural Science Chairperson Crimp noted that no requests were received for public comments. The committee granted voice to Associate Dean Doig. Associate Dean Doig summarized the College of Natural Science rational for the request, indicating there would be no projected cost savings to the College due to this action. There are only two courses unique to the major that would not be taught. Those courses would be phased out of the curriculum, finding other ways for the material to be offered. Professor Doig’s voice was withdrawn. Motion by Professor Abramson passed unanimously with no committee discussion.
Request for a Moratorium on Admission to the Bachelor of Arts Degree in General Business Administration – Prelaw Elvin Lashbrooke, Dean, Eli Broad College of Business Geoffrey Booth, Associate Dean, Eli Broad College of Business Eileen Wilson, Assistant Dean, Eli Broad College of Business Chairperson Crimp noted that no requests had been received for public comment and that no written material had been received from Business Law constituents. The committee granted voice the to the representatives from the Eli Broad College of Business. Dean Lashbrooke stated the College had examined all its majors and specializations to make sure they were mission critical, determining that preparation of students for law school is tangential to the College’s mission. He noted that other prelaw programs exist in social science and the humanities for students who desire to have a prelaw designation. The College will be losing two tenured General Business-Prelaw faculty to retirement and they would not be replaced. The one course directly related to law school, GBL 420, would be eliminated. Other faculty would be retained to teach business law, a critical part of a business school curriculum. After a question and answer period, the committee withdrew voice from the College of Business representatives was withdrawn. Motion by Professor Perry passed unanimously with no committee discussion.
Roundtable: All other business Associate Provost Estry thanked the committee for its focus, attention to detail, and thoughtful concern in dealing with the moratorium requests. Ms. Ezzo reported that the Athletic Council did not meet in December. Mr. Reinart reported that ASMSU had passed a bill regarding course repeat policy. The bill, submitted to ECAC would be forward to UCAP in the future. Meeting adjourned. Respectfully submitted by Sandra Walther |
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