UCUE Minutes for meeting held on 12/5/2013

University Committee on Undergraduate Education

MINUTES

Thursday, December 5, 2013

10:15 A.M. to 12:00 P.M.

Board Room, 4th Floor Administration Building

Attending:  Eric Aronoff, Dan Bergan, Jan Brady, James Conwell, Laura Dillon, Rita Kiki Edozie, Doug Estry, Mitchell Goheen, Bradley Hammond, Rob LaDuca, Chris Melde, Richard Miksicek, Debra Nails, Renata Opoczynski, Matt Pontifex, Lynmarie Posey, Evan Schrage,  Cynthia Taggart, Veronica Thronson, Abraham Wheeler

Absent:  Henry Beckmeyer, Lanay Kazmirzack, Calvin Manitowabi, Coretta Patterson, Frederick Rodammer, David Schweikhardt

The agenda was approved.

The minutes of the October 17, 2013 meeting were approved with the following amendment, 

p. 2 (addition underlined):

1. UCUE will survey the subset of the faculty consisting of those who had served on University undergraduate committees in the past five years (UCUE, UGAAD, UCLL, Advisors, and Liberal Learning Rubrics task forces), and

Comments from the Chairperson

Chairperson Taggart commented on the request to allow undergraduate students to admit to majors earlier and noted that UCUE will be discussing it in the near future.  

Chairperson Taggart commented that the Grief Absence Policy will be discussed formally in January.

Request to Change the Admission Requirement and the List of Courses Which Currently Require a Grade of 2.0 in the Bachelor of Arts Degree in Social Work

Ethan Segal, Associate Dean, College of Social Science

Monaca Eaton, Academic Advisor, School of Social Work

The committee granted voice to Associate Dean Segal and Monaca Eaton.

A rationale for the request was provided by Dr. Segal and Ms. Eaton.  If a student has a poor grade, an advisor could intervene and assist the student to seek tutoring, peer group help, or other academic assistance depending on what is needed.  If an ethical violation occurs by a student, they would be removed from the program.  If other issues arise, advisors can work with the students and put them in an area where the students have strong skills.

Voice was withdrawn from Associate Dean Segal and Monaca Eaton.

A Motion was made and passed unanimously.

The University Committee on Undergraduate Studies, in its delegated capacity, approves the request for a change in the admission requirement and the list of courses which currently require a grade of 2.0 in the Bachelor of Arts Degree in Social Work.

1. Request for a Moratorium on Admission to the Bachelor of Arts Degree in Geography

2. Request for a Moratorium on Admission to the Bachelor of Science Degree in Geography 

3. Request for a New Bachelor of Science Degree in Environmental Geography

4. Request for a New Bachelor of Arts Degree in Human Geography 

5. Request for a Grade-Point Average Requirement in the Bachelor of Science Degree in Geographic Information Science 

Ethan Segal, Associate Dean, College of Social Science

Alan Arbogast, Chairperson, Geography Department

Randall Schaetzl, Professor, Geography Department

The committee granted voice to Associate Dean Segal, Chairperson Arbogast and Professor Schaetzl.

Associate Dean Segal indicated the reason for the above requests is to enable the geography department to introduce new majors.  Chairperson Arbogast stated that the program has a very low number of graduates and that most students enter the program late in their college career.  Associate Dean Segal, Chairperson Arbogast, and Professor Schaetzl are working to promote the department across campus and are working toward curricular revision.

Chairperson Arbogast indicated that the department is gearing some of its courses toward the environment, in hopes of making it more attractive to students.  Two years ago, a committee created a new BS degree in environmental geography.  This was necessary because a number of graduates are then able to work in environmental consulting agencies in the state.  Calculus has been added to the BS in Environmental Geography to make it more rigorous.  

Professor Schaetzl indicated that, if approved today, they will continue to go forward with a human geography major.  He believes it will appeal to students who enter the discipline late.  Curriculums of other programs from around the country have been reviewed and electives have been added to help make the program successful.  The new human geography major will be 34 – 35 credits.  

The committee suggested Professor Schaetzl look at the environmental philosophy program.  A committee member agreed to send him materials.  

Voice was withdrawn from Associate Dean Segal and Professors Arbogast and Schaetzl.

The University committee on Undergraduate Studies, in its consultative capacity to the Provost, recommends the following requests with no concerns:

Request for a Moratorium on Admission to the Bachelor of Arts Degree in Geography 

Request for a Moratorium on Admission to the Bachelor of Science Degree in Geography

Request for a New Bachelor of Science Degree in Environmental Geography

Request for a New Bachelor of Arts Degree in Human Geography

The University committee on Undergraduate Studies, in its delegated capacity, approves the request for a grade-point average requirement in the Bachelor of Science degree in Geographic Information Science.

Associate Provost Estry announced that members of UCUE should have received an email survey regarding his review as Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education.  If you have not received this email, please contact your Dean.

Subcommittee/Liaison Reports

Academic Freedom Report Revision:  Debra Nails stated that the most important revision to the AFR will be that MSU takes responsibility for hearings to replace what departments and colleges have had in their bylaws.  The AFR will be given a new name.  

MOOCs Joint Subcommittee:  The committee has been reviewing what is currently being done at MSU and elsewhere.  The committee is trying to learn from online courses already existing and indicated that verification of students is an issue.  The subcommittee asks if MSU should join a consortium.  The subcommittee believes that faculty should maintain control over what they develop and keep their Intellectual Property.  The committee is trying to determine if MSU should look at MOOCs as an add on to the curriculum, similar to an enhancement.  It could supplement classroom instruction and face-to-face interaction and could become a blended opportunity.  The reasons to offer MOOCs have not been well defined.  However some reasons are flex scheduling and the global possibilities to reach farther than the campus community.

Student Grief Absence Subcommittee:  Mitchell Goheen stated that this policy gives no protection for students, and the subcommittee would like the process simplified.  As proposed, the Associate Dean will communicate to the student’s professors.  The subcommittee believes that a standard, streamlined system is needed for notifying the Associate Deans of a student’s absence - possibly an email template.  Laura Dillon mentioned the issue of holding students accountable and that there should be some follow up.  The Associate Dean’s office would define what type of documentation they would need.  Students could choose whether they want to communicate with each of their professors or go through their Associate Dean for notification.

ASMSU Midterm Formative Feedback Proposal:  There are three University Governance committees working on this proposal.  Mitchell Goheen is working on wording for a faculty survey and will report back in January.

Roundtable

Athletic council met this morning and there is a guarded anticipation of a Rosebowl trip.

The meeting was adjourned at 11:24 am.

Respectfully submitted by Lynne Frechen.