UCAP Meeting of 03/15/2012 2011-2012 agenda status: not approved Agenda: University Committee on Undergraduate Studies AGENDA Thursday, March 15, 2012 10:15 A.M. to 12:00 P.M. Board Room, 4th Floor, Administration Building
minutes status: not approved UCAP Minutes for meeting held on 03/15/2012 University Committee on Undergraduate Studies Minutes Thursday, March 15, 2012 10:15 A.M. to 12:00 P.M. Board Room, 4th Floor, Administration Building Attending: Zarena Aslami, Mark Axelrod, Henry Beckmeyer, Jan Brady, Crystal Branta, Laura Dillon, Doug Estry, Fred Fico, Kathleen Hoag, Seung Hyun Kim, Chris McClain, Nicole McCleese, Tom Morse, Mary Noel, Justin O’Dell, Ron Perry, John Reifenberg, Patricia Rogers, Michael Scott, Ryan Sweeder, Zachary Taylor, Abraham Wheeler Absent: Milan Griffes, Evan Martinak The agenda was approved. The minutes of the February 23, 2012 meeting were approved. Comments from the Chairperson Chairperson Dillon thanked Dr. Ron Perry for representing UCUS at the Steering Committee meeting on February 21. Comments from the Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education Associate Provost Estry commented on recent discussions regarding undergraduate persistence, time-to-degree, and graduation rates. These topics, always important to the University, have become part of Governor Snyder’s thinking on metrics that would drive the State’s funding model. Dr. Estry offered to provide information regarding MSU undergraduate persistence, time-to-degree and graduation rates at a future meeting. He noted that feedback will be solicited from the University community regarding policies and any other issues that should be examined to insure they do not provide a barrier for timely graduation. When asked about the possibility of changing the current policy regarding declaring majors in the junior year, Dr. Estry stated that the Provost is seriously considering changing to a sophomore admit. The College of Engineering’s admit when ready program has been successful, achieving all the positive goals thought possible. Energy Transition Plan Jennifer Battle, Assistant Director, Campus Sustainability Chairperson Dillon stated that UCUS has been asked to provide comments on the MSU Energy Transition Plan to the Steering Committee. A response similar to the one provided to the URO would be appropriate. The committee unanimously granted voice to Ms. Battle. Ms. Battle focused her presentation on the impact the proposed Energy Transition Plan would have on undergraduate students. She noted that a primary concern of the planning committee had been that any plan must not increase student tuition. She stated that finding solutions to MSU’s energy problems would provide more opportunities for student participation in faculty research and student engagement. Notes from the Energy Transition Plan committee meetings are available at www.Energytransition.msu.edu. Individual comments about the plans are being sought by academic governance and President Simon is collecting individual comments through her presmail@msu.edu address. The MSU Board of Trustees will vote on the plan at its next meeting in April. When approved, the next step will be to put together an operations team to begin formulating specific goals and timelines. After a brief question and answer period, voice was withdrawn from Ms. Battle. Request for a New Bachelor of Arts Degree in Mathematics, Advanced Kathy Doig, Associate Dean, College of Natural Science Jeanne Wald, Professor, Department of Mathematics The committee unanimously granted voice to Associate Dean Doig and Professor Wald. Associate Dean Doig stated that the Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics, Advanced had been approved last academic year. The Bachelor of Arts degree in Mathematics, Advanced would allow students in BA programs, such as mathematics education to take the courses as a second major without having to complete the additional courses required to satisfy Bachelor of Science requirements. After fielding questions from the committee, voice was withdrawn from Associate Dean Doig and Professor Wald. Motion by Kathleen Hoag was unanimously approved.
Request for a New Bachelor of Science Degree in Neuroscience Kathy Doig, Associate Dean, College of Natural Science Laura Symonds, Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Radiology The committee unanimously granted voice to Associate Dean Doig and Assistant Professor Symonds. Associate Dean Doig stated that the request for a new BS in Neuroscience was part of a larger plan to expand Neuroscience in the College of Natural Science and to strengthen research in the area. In 2010, the Provost had approved the initial plans, providing funds for new faculty hires in conjunction with the new degree. She noted the new program had been developed in conjunction with the College of Social Science as Neuroscience, broadly defined, would rely on expertise from other units such as psychology as well. She added that the Zoology department had raised concerns about the availability of strategic courses such as genetics and other zoology courses and the Dean of CNS had committed to addressing student access issues in those courses. Professor Symonds, the undergraduate director and advisor for the new program in Neuroscience stated the design of the major has been undertaken by an interdisciplinary committee and included a great deal of faculty involvement as Neuroscience overlaps with other disciplines. The committee members expressed enthusiastic support for the new program and would encourage it to seek campus-wide inclusion as a number of colleges who have faculty working in this area would be anxious to participate. Voice was withdrawn from Associate Dean Doig and Assistant Professor Symonds. Motion by Ryan Sweeder was unanimously approved.
Roundtable: Professor Ron Perry announced that his request to expand his wine course to 180 seat capacity had been approved. The meeting was adjourned. Respectfully submitted by Sandra Walther |
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