MICHIGAN
STATE UNIVERSITY Thursday, September 12, 2013
minutes status: approved amended and approved at the 10/3/2013 meeting UCUE Minutes for meeting held on 09/12/2013 University Committee on Undergraduate Studies Thursday, September 12, 2013 Attendees: Eric Aronoff, Henry Beckmeyer, Dan Bergan, Jan Brady, Laura Dillon, Doug Estry, Richard Miksicek, Debra Nails, Renata Opoczynski, Coretta Patterson, Matt Pontifex, Lynmarie Posey, Frederick Rodammer, Ryan Sweeder, Cynthia Taggart, Jesinia Pizarro Terrill Absent: Nicole Dandridge, Rita Kiki Edozie, David Schweikhardt, Abraham Wheeler Motion by Laura Dillon passed unanimously:
The Agenda was approved. Welcome and Introductions Chairperson Taggart and Associate Provost Estry welcomed the new and returning committee members. UCUE members introduced themselves. The Minutes from April 25, 2013 were approved. Comments from the Chairperson Chairperson Taggart reviewed the UCUS bylaws and its role within new academic governance structure. Dr. Taggart reviewed the elected committee positions and introduced the incumbents. Dr. Taggart reviewed the subcommittees, the subcommittee for the APUE 5-year review and the Grief Absence Policy subcommittee. Members of the subcommittee for the APUE 5-year review are:
Chairperson Taggart stated that the committee had completed the first draft of the survey and would present it to the UCUE members at the next committee meeting on October 3 for input. Members of the subcommittee for the Grief Absence Policy are:
Chairperson Taggart stated that an ASMSU student would be added to the Grief Absence Policy subcommittee when the ASMSU representatives join the committee. Associate Provost Estry stated that UCUE had been asked to provide representatives to a committee being organized jointly with the University Graduate Committee to consider whether MSU will accept MOOC credit transfers. He distributed a draft of issues to be considered by faculty governance. Dr. Estry explained that the issue of University participation in the MOOC phenomenon emanated from four MSU strategic priorities proposed by Acting Provost Youatt in spring 2013. The following UCUE members volunteered to serve on the MOOCs Committee:
Chairperson Taggart suggested the committee use Robert’s Rules of Order as a guide for conducting the committee’s meetings. She suggested http://parlipro.org and its companion site, http://rulesonline.com, as excellent references. Chairperson Taggart reviewed member responsibilities. She asked that members, if unable to attend a meeting, find a substitute from their college and notify Sandra Walther of the substitution. She stated that it is important for the college UCUE representatives to keep communication flowing between UCUE and the units. Member substitutes would be able to represent the views of their college constituents in the meeting and share committee business of interest with their constituents. Dr. Taggart noted that there was Wi-Fi available in the Administration Building, therefore members could bring a laptop to refer to UCUE meeting materials online or print and bring materials with them. Chairperson Taggart stated that it might become necessary to hold additional meetings in order to allow due consideration of all slated agenda items. She asked the committee members to reserve every Thursday not scheduled for regular committee meetings to accommodate possible additional meetings or subcommittee meetings. She requested the authority and autonomy to call additional meetings if necessary Motion by Ryan Sweeder passed unanimously.
Chairperson Taggart recommended the committee consider accomplishing some business electronically. Examples would be crafting final language for motions and voting by email on issues previously discussed. She asked the committee to allow conducting such business electronically. Motion by Debra Nails passed unanimously.
Chairperson Taggart described the streamlined procedure to grant and remove voice for visitors to UCUE meetings used in past years. She requested that the committee adopt the procedure allowing the chair to grant and remove voice without a formal committee vote, i.e., hearing no objections, for the current year. Motion by Matt Pontifex passed unanimously.
Chairperson Taggart reviewed the public comment procedures created by UCAP in 2009 and renewed by the committee in each subsequent year. Motion by Laura Dillon passed unanimously.
Chairperson Taggart noted that currently member substitutes have voice but no vote and do not count towards a quorum. Although the subject of voting rights has not been an agenda topic in past committee discussion, several individuals have commented that they think substitutes should be able to vote. Chairperson Taggart opened the topic for discussion to hear member’s thoughts about giving substitutes voting rights when attending a UCUE meeting. In its discussion the committee members expressed two concerns about granting voting rights to member substitutes. First, if a member is charged with finding a substitute among those in his/her constituency, the substitute will not have been selected in a manner that is consistent with the constituency’s bylaws. The other concern was a substitute’s lack of background or context on the topic to be voted upon. The consensus was that each organization would be notified that they would be responsible for determining how UCUE substitutes would be selected. It would be incumbent on a particular organization’s representative to adhere to the decision of the organization in determining the appropriate substitute. Motion by Debra Nails passed with two dissenting votes.
Chairperson Taggart noted that most of the business she had planned to mention in UCUE business review and preview had already been discussed (MOOCs and the Associate Provost’s review). She added that the subcommittee for the Associate Provost’s review would propose a process for the review at the next committee meeting. Dr. Estry added that a small change in Scholarship and Grades would be brought to the committee as well as a proposal by ASMSU for mid-semester formative feedback. The proposal suggests mandatory student instructional rating evaluations for all instructors. Comments from the Associate Provost for Undergraduate Studies Associate Provost Estry pointed out that two years ago the University’s bylaws were revised and now require that all program changes must be reviewed by UCUE as well as UCC. The purview of UCUE is to review anything in a new programmatic request that brings up issues with undergraduate grades or undergraduate policies that UCUE members see as they review the program. He noted that in the past it has been difficult to divide out policy issues versus issues with the program. The committee’s role is to focus on issues related to grades and policy, although the committee can add comments to UCC. Associate Provost Estry stated that a moratorium would be on the agenda at the next UCUE meeting. He distributed copies of the guidelines for considering a moratorium to the committee members. Associate Provost Estry explained that moratoriums are not to be confused with discontinuances. Often the purpose of a moratorium is to slow down admissions to the program while substantive changes to the program are being considered by a department or college. Recently, most moratorium requests have been for programs that have only a couple of students enrolled. In some cases a unit may ask for extensions to moratorium deadlines if the unit is not ready to proceed. Request for a New Linked Bachelor of Arts Degree in Advertising and Master of Arts Degree in Health and Risk Communication Associate Dean Kami Silk, College of Communication Arts & Sciences The committee unanimously granted voice to Associate Dean Silk and Director of Undergraduate Affairs Hoffman. Associate Provost Estry stated that the requests for new linked programs were an example of issues that come before the committee in which it may be difficult to sort out UCUE’s role. Linked programs are primarily a graduate council issue and the UGC has already reviewed and approved these requests. The issue for UCUE is if there are any undergraduate concerns about the programs. Associate Dean Silk stated that the Health and Risk Masters is a college-level graduate program. Applicants are drawn from all majors offered in the college. As a college-level graduate program, it made sense to the college to link the Masters with all undergraduate degree programs offered in the college. The College of Communication Arts and Sciences has several linked programs already and they are working very well. The committee questioned allowing a 3.0 grade in a 400-level course to transfer to the Master’s degree. Dr. Silk responded that a 3.0 is an appropriate minimum for transfer in a Master’s degree and that Master’s programs in the University allow Master’s candidates to take 400-level courses as part of their coursework. She pointed out that all Master’s students’ coursework has to be approved through the student’s committee. The committee asked what mechanism is used for evaluating outcomes of the linked programs. Associate Dean Silk responded that the college tries to attract high achievers to remain at the institution and they track how many of these individuals pursue a doctorate. Associate Provost Estry pointed out that the UCC requires an assessment plan for all program requests that has been vetted and approved and that the UGC had no concerns. Voice was withdrawn from Associate Dean Silk and Director of Undergraduate Affairs Hoffman. Chairperson Taggart asked that the committee consider the four requests at the same time because the policy issues were the same for all 4 programs. Motion by Laura Dillon was approved unanimously.
Roundtable
Fred Rodammer asked: 1) if an honor code for undergraduates is within the scope of the committee, and 2) if the scope of the committee is to deal with the influx of international students to help them to succeed at MSU. Associate Provost Estry responded that the committee could decide to take up the issue of an institutional honor code. Any specific policies or policy recommendations relative to international students should come from UCUE.
Meeting adjourned. Respectfully submitted by |
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