MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY University Committee on Undergraduate Education AGENDA Thursday, October 3, 2013 10:15 A.M. to 12:00 P.M. Board Room, 4th Floor Administration Building
*For background information about the consideration of the original moratorium request on the admission to the undergraduate specialization in Canadian Studies in 2010, read the Oct 21, 2010 UCAP minutes at: http://ucue.msu.edu/agenda-minutes/2010-2011/2010---10-21 minutes status: approved approved at the 10/17/2013 meeting UCUE Minutes for meeting held on 10/03/2013 University
Committee on Undergraduate Studies Thursday,
October 3, 2013
Attendees: Eric Aronoff, Henry Beckmeyer, Dan Bergan, Jan Brady, James Conwell, Rita Kiki Edozie, Abdol Esfahanian, Mitchell Goheen, Bradley Hammond, Karen Klomparens, Calvin Manitowabi, Chris Melde, Richard Miksicek, Debra Nails, Renata Opoczynski, Lynmarie Posey, Frederick Rodammer, Ryan Sweeder, Cynthia Taggart, Abraham Wheeler Absent: Nicole Dandridge, Laura Dillon, Doug Estry, Coretta Patterson, Evan Schrage, David Schweikhardt The Agenda was approved. The Minutes of the September 12, 2013 meeting were approved as amended by Debra Nails. Comments from the Chairperson Chairperson Taggart summarized the items from the October 1 meeting of The Steering Committee that are of interest to UCUE.
Chairperson Taggart asked for a volunteer to replace Debra Nails on the MOOCs subcommittee for fall 2013. The subcommittee’s meeting times conflict with Dr. Nails’ fall teaching schedule. Kiki Edozie volunteered to fill in for fall semester. Chairperson Taggart asked for volunteers to form a subcommittee to consider the ASMSU proposal on mid-semester formative feedback. The following UCUE members volunteered to serve on this subcommittee: Ryan Sweeder, convener Comments from Associate Provost for Graduate Education The Associate Provost for Graduate Education made no comments. Request for an Extension on the Moratorium on Admission to the
Undergraduate Specialization in Canadian Studies
The committee unanimously granted voice to Associate Dean Segal and Acting Director Schneider. Associate Dean Segal requested that an extension be to the current moratorium on admission to the undergraduate specialization was being requested in order to allow time for the program’s revised curriculum to move through the curriculum approval process. Acting Director Schneider added that students from a wide variety of disciplines were expressing interest in the Canadian Studies specialization as the relationship between Canada and the United States was becoming more relevant in the global economy and supply chain. She stated that the new curriculum had been vetted and could be ready for students as soon as next fall. Questions from the committee centered on the length of time it would take for the revised curriculum to work through the curriculum approval process and presenting a revised curriculum for a specialization when all specializations will be converted to minors by 2015. Voice was withdrawn from Associate Dean Segal and Acting Director Schneider. Eric Aronoff proposed a motion to forward the request to the Provost with no concerns. The committee discussed adding a suggestion that the unit consider bringing the new curriculum forward as a minor rather than a specialization. Voice was granted to Associate Dean Segal and Acting Director Schneider and removed again after a brief discussion of the arguments in favor of and against bringing the new curriculum forward as a minor rather than a specialization. Motion by Eric Aronoff passed unanimously. The University Committee on Undergraduate Studies, in its consultative capacity to the Provost, has no concerns about the request for an extension on the moratorium on admission to the undergraduate specialization in Canadian Studies. However, the committee suggests the unit consider bringing the new curriculum forward as a minor rather than a specialization.
Request for a Moratorium on Admission to the Specialization in African
American History and Culture The committee unanimously granted voice to Associate Dean Segal and Associate Chair Tabuteau. Associate Chair Tabuteau explained that the specialization in African American History and Culture, administered by the History Department, moved to the College of Social Science with the History Department a number of years ago. In reviewing the program’s curriculum, it was discovered that most courses in the specialization were no longer offered or had been merged into other courses. Additionally, there is only one student currently enrolled in the specialization and attempts to reach the student to discuss the proposed moratorium have been unsuccessful. Dr. Tabuteau noted that there are other programs that have African American matters at the center. After a brief discussion about opening a dialogue between the History Department and the College of Arts and Letters regarding the curriculum of African American History and Culture, Kiki Edozie volunteered to facilitate that dialogue. Voice was withdrawn from Associate Dean Segal and Associate Chair Tabuteau. Motion by Debra Nails passed unanimously. The University Committee on Undergraduate Studies, in its consultative capacity to the Provost, has no concerns about the request for a moratorium on admission to the specialization in African American History and Culture. However, the committee suggests that if the unit chooses to bring a revised curriculum forward at the end of the moratorium, they should consider proposing it as a minor rather than a specialization.
Associate Provost Review Process Chairperson and subcommittee convener Cynthia Taggart reported that the subcommittee had developed a survey for faculty input as a part of Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education Estry’s 5-year review. As the position description had not been updated since the job search for Associate Provost Estry’s predecessor and the duties of the position have evolved and changed substantially in the past 5 years, there was some difficulty framing the questions. However, the subcommittee would not be presenting the questionnaire at the meeting as it had originally planned to do because the idea of a faculty survey was being reconsidered. The current thinking is that as the position deals primarily with offices and governance committee groups around the University and not directly with faculty. Chairperson Taggart has requested a meeting with Associate Provost and Vice President for Academic Human Resources Terry Curry to discuss these issues and to seek clarification of the committee’s role in the evaluation process. The committee’s discussion revolved around the possible lack of inclusion of faculty and student groups in the review process and included various suggestions on ways to include faculty and student group feedback. The conclusion was to revisit the conversation after Chairperson Taggart’s meeting with Associate Provost Curry. Roundtable: Jan Brady, Liaison to the Athletic Council reported that changes were being proposed in MSU drug education and testing policy. She added that Tom Izzo attended the last meeting and his commitment to student athletes and to MSU is impressive and can be a point of pride for MSU. Ryan Sweeder, liaison to the Military Education Advisory Council (MEAC), reported that a new Air Force ROTC instructor had been approved by the committee. The meeting was adjourned. Respectfully submitted by
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