UCAP Meeting of 12/02/2010 2010-2011 agenda status: approved Agenda: University Committee on Academic Policy
AGENDA Thursday, December 2, 2010 10:15 A.M. to 12:00 P.M. Board Room, 4th Floor, Administration Building
minutes status: approved approved at meeting of 01/27/2011 UCAP Minutes for meeting held on 12/02/2010 University Committee on Academic Policy Minutes Thursday, December 2, 2010 10:15 AM to 12:00 PM Attending: Paul Abramson, Miles Armaly, Gillian Bice, Crystal Branta, Lisa Cook, Laura Dillon, Justin Epstein, Doug Estry, Anita Ezzo, Fred Fico, Kathleen Hoag, Evan Martinak, Helen Mayer, Tom Morse, Mary Noel, Justin O’Dell, John Reifenberg, Chris Scales, Mike Shields, Jim Smith, Mary Kay Smith, Emily Storrer, Zeynep Ustunol Not Attending: Matt McKeon, Helene Pazak, Ron Perry The Agenda was approved. The Minutes of the November 18, 2010 meeting were approved . Comments from the Chairperson There were no comments from Chairperson Bice. Comments from the Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education There were no comments from the Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education. Request for a Moratorium on Admission to the Disciplinary Teaching Minor in Religious Studies Arthur Versluis, Chairperson, Department of Religious Studies The committee granted voice to Chairperson Versluis. Chairperson Versluis stated the State of Michigan no longer recognizes certification in the teaching minor in Religious Studies. Based on the State’s decision, the department has requested a moratorium on admission to the teaching minor in Religious Studies. Professor Versluis noted that a general minor in religious studies is offered in the department. Students wishing to pursue a minor in the area will not be affected. Dr. Versluis indicated that, although the department was forwarding the moratorium, it opposed the States’ decision and views it as part of a general pattern of diminishing humanities curricula. Committee members questioned the choice of a 2020 moratorium end date. Given that the State no longer recognizes certification in Religious Studies, the committee thought an earlier end date would be appropriate. Consensus was that Associate Provost Estry’s office would contact the Office of the Registrar regarding the end date. The committee withdrew voice from Chairperson Versluis. Motion by Kathleen Hoag passed unanimously.
Request for a New Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science Degree in Media and Information Janet Lillie, Associate Dean College of Communication Arts & Sciences Charles Steinfield, Chairperson, Department of Telecommunication, Information Studies & Media The committee granted voice to Associate Dean Lillie and Chairperson Steinfield. Associate Dean Lillie informed the committee that the College of Communication Arts & Sciences had withdrawn the moratoria considered by UCAP at its November 18 meeting to remove them from the moratorium website. Professor Steinfield stated the new BA/BS degree in Media and Information did not reflect a change in the mission of the department but periodic adjustments to the curriculum were necessary to reflect changes in the industry environment and technological developments. The current BA and BS programs prevented students from mixing and matching classes to create a personalized program. Students would still be able to graduate with either a BA or BS; however, combining them into one major would reduce program redundancy and improve program clarity. The difference between the two degrees will be largely in the requirements external to TISM. Also, as the College will be opening more courses to non-majors; TISM course requirements needed to be changed to reflect a college-wide student base. Associate Dean Lillie commented that the communication plan for these changes would begin in spring 2011, one semester prior to the planned implementation of the new program. She noted that students shouldn’t feel there was a change in their academic program. In addition to communicating the program change to all levels of students, open advisors meetings were planned. She added that students with 56 credits or more would have the choice of which program to pursue. They could be grandfathered into the old (current program) or progress into the new (proposed) one. Students would not be able to mix and match the old and new programs. Students with 55 credits and fewer would automatically be moved into the new program. After brief discussion, voice was withdrawn from Associate Dean Lillie and Chairperson Steinfield. Motion by Laura Dillon pass unanimously.
Election of UCAP Vice Chair for Spring 2011 Chairperson Bice stated the need for the election of a new UCAP Vice Chair for Spring 2011 to replace Jim Smith who was leaving the committee due to a conflict with his teaching commitments. She explained that the responsibility of the Vice Chair is to stand in for the chair as needed (e.g., chair UCAP or attend an ECAC meeting). The Vice Chair may also take initiative on larger projects in order to broaden the scope of the committee’s work. ASMSU representative Evan Martinek self-nominated; however, following committee discussion regarding whether this was permitted in the by-laws of Academic Governance and the appropriateness of a student representing faculty at Faculty Council, Mr. Martinek withdrew his nomination. Chris Scales was nominated and elected unanimously. Roundtable There was a brief discussion of the memorandum from Pharmacology/Toxicology providing suggestions for the reorganization of the basic science programs. Professor Smith thanked the committee members for their professionalism and ability to move issues forward in a thoughtful and logical way. The meeting was adjourned. Respectfully submitted by Sandra Walther |
Agenda/Minutes > 2010-2011 >