UCAP Meeting of 03/18/2010 2009-2010 agenda status: approved Agenda: University Committee on Academic Policy
AGENDA Thursday, March 18, 2010 10:15 A.M. to 12:00 P.M. Board Room, 4th Floor, Administration Building
minutes status: approved approved at meeting of 04/01/2010 UCAP Minutes for meeting held on 03/18/2010 University Committee on Academic Policy MINUTES Thursday, March 18, 2010 10:15 A.M. to 12:00 P.M. Board Room, 4th Floor, Administration Building Attending: Paul Abramson, Gillian Bice, R. Sekhar Chivukula, Amita Chudgar, Peter Cobbett, Lisa Cook, Marty Crimp, Doug Estry, Anita Ezzo, Fred Fico, Matt McKeon, Ron Perry, John Reifenberg, Henry Reinart, A. Mahdi Saeed, Christopher Scales, Mike Shields, Jim Smith, Mary Kay Smith, Dan Tratt Not Attending: Jon Beaulac, Melanie Helton, Michael Ly The Agenda was approved. The Minutes of the February 25, 2010 meeting were approved. Comments from the Chairperson Chairperson Crimp reported that the Faculty Council approved Bylaws for Academic Governance. Academic Council will consider the bylaws at its meeting Tuesday, March 23. Professor Crimp reported the proposed revision of the academic calendar was not presented at that meeting. Moratorium Requests Professor Crimp reminded members that the change to a 10-month pay schedule for faculty and academic staff would begin in August. Comments from the Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education There were no comments from the Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education. Chairperson Crimp reviewed the committees charge to advise the provost on moratoriums and committee procedure for granting and withdrawing voice for those presenting information to the committee. Request for a Moratorium on Admission to the Bachelor of Science Degree in Plant Pathology Eunice Foster, Associate Dean, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources Ray Hammerschmidt, Chairperson, Department of Plant Pathology The committee granted voice to Drs. Foster and Hammerschmidt. Chairperson Hammerschmidt stated that the request for a moratorium in admission to the BS degree in Plant Pathology had evolved in college discussions over a period of years. He explained the demand for the undergraduate degree is small with most students entering the discipline at the graduate level. The department’s mission revolves around graduate education, research, and extension and only two undergraduate majors, the moratorium made sense. He assured the committee the two undergraduate students were on track for graduation and undergraduate courses would continue to be offered as service courses in multi-disciplinary programs. After brief discussion, the motion made by Professor Bice passed unanimously.
Request for a Moratorium on Admission to the Bachelor of Science Degree in Technology Systems Management Eunice Foster, Associate Dean, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources Steve Safferman, Associate Professor, Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering The committee granted voice to Dr. Safferman. Dr. Safferman described Technology Systems Management as an alternative engineering program for students with little interest in math. The major is in its fourth year and has 21 undergraduate students. Five students matriculating in fall 2010 have expressed interest in the major. Professor Safferman noted there was not a plan in place to accommodate the current and matriculating students through the current program. Associate Dean Foster stated it was the position of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (CANR) to work with the students who were admitted to ensure they graduated in the degree program and would work with the University Curriculum Committee to extend the moratorium if necessary. The department plans to begin a minor in technology systems management, which will make the program of study available to more students. Dr. Safferman stated the department faculty supported the moratorium request. Dr. Estry noted that the original moratorium dates already had been extended to accommodate the fall 2010 entering class. Chairperson Crimp stated that no requests for comments or written comments were received regarding the request for a moratorium on admission to the BS in Plant Pathology or Technology Systems Management. Motion by R. Sekhar Chivukula passed unanimously and without further discussion.
Request for a Moratorium on Admission to the Bachelor of Science Degree in Entomology Eunice Foster, Associate Dean, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (CANR) Associate Dean Foster stated that restructuring in CANR combined with the relatively low enrollment in the Entomology major was the reason for the moratorium request. She further stated that CANR would be undergoing a curriculum review with part of the curricular discussion to be consideration of alternative ways of delivering the Entomology course content. Neither a moratorium on admission to the Entomology major nor potential curricular reorganization would negatively impact student currently completing the major. She noted that a minor in Entomology had been approved in the past year and that there would not be a moratorium request for the minor. Questions and discussion centered on the following issues.
The committee granted voice to Chris DiFonzo, Larry Olsen, Rich Merritt, T. Michael Kates, and George Bird. Chris DiFonzo, Professor and Advisor in the Department of Entomology read a statement to the committee regarding lack of notice or discussion about the moratorium request. She noted the Dean had, several years earlier, requested that the program be reinvigorated by recruiting, which had been effective. She indicated the moratorium request was based on unsupported cost savings and vague size metrics. Larry Olsen, Professor and associate chair of the Department of Entomology stated the moratorium was imposed upon the department without due process. Although size of program was given as the main factor in the moratorium proposal, there is no need in the marketplace for more than 40 graduates in a year. Dr. Olsen provided an example of a gift that had been withdrawn from the University based on the action of the college. Rich Merritt, Professor and former chair of the Department of Entomology provided the background on efforts to increase the enrollment in the major by appointing two faculty members, Chris DiFonzo and Walter Pett, as advisors. In four years, the undergraduate program has increased from 2 to 18 undergraduate student majors. Dr. Merritt indicated there would be no cost savings associated with eliminating the major. He also indicated that he would withdraw his donation of a scholarship if a moratorium were placed on admission to the major. T. Michael Kates, Masters Candidate in Entomology, stated that University guidelines for consultation had not been followed and that ending the undergraduate entomology program would be nearsighted. He noted that the Purdue entomology program was focused on structural/home invasive species and the MSUs program was more broadly based, supporting the Michigan agricultural needs and regional, national, and international food production Professor George Bird, Professor Emeritus, Department of Entomology stated that a strong undergraduate entomology program was essential for a positive impact on global, national, local long-term food security. He asked the committee to advise the Provost to reject the request for a moratorium on the BS degree in entomology. He indicated the need for entomologists would be increasing throughout the world because of the increase of invasive species due to global warming and world trade, and the decline in the use and effectiveness of chemical insect control measures. He believed that well-trained entomology undergraduates fill the international need for practitioner who can bring scientific developments into practice. Dr. Crimp noted that correspondence from other stakeholders had been distributed to the committee prior to the meeting. Committee discussion included the following.
The lack of due diligence in determining whether this program serves a growing regional and national need. The lack of consultation in making the decision to request a moratorium in this undergraduate major. A motion was made by Professor Chivukula and seconded by Professor Abramson.
After committee discussion, the original wording was retained. A suggestion was made to ask for more information from the college and finalize the committee’s decision at its April 1 meeting. Committee consensus was to complete its recommendation in the current meeting. Professor Perry offered a friendly amendment to add, “A moratorium on the program would have a negative impact on regional, national, and international food production”. Professor Bice called the question.
The committee voted unanimously in favor of the motion. Respectfully submitted by Sandra Walther |
Agenda/Minutes > 2009-2010 >