University Committee on Undergraduate Education

Minutes

Thursday, February 6, 2014

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

Boardroom, 4^th Floor, Administration Building

Attendees: Henry Beckmeyer, Christopher Baldwin, Jan Brady, Laura Dillon, Rita Kiki Edozie, Doug Estry, Mitchell Goheen, Bradley Hammond, Amanda Holmstrom, Jesenia Pizarro-Terrill, Richard Miksicek, Debra Nails, Renata Opoczynski, Matt Pontifex, Lynmarie Posey, Fred Rodammer, Evan Schrage, David Schweikhardt, Philip Strong, Abraham Wheeler

Absent: Rob LaDuca, Chris Melde, Coretta Patterson, Anita Skeen, Cynthia Taggart, Veronica Thronson

The agenda was approved as amended by moving the approval of the minutes after the student grief absence policy.

Comments from the Vice Chairperson

There were no comments from the Vice Chairperson

Comments from the Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education

Associate Provost Estry noted that January 23 is the last day for the final provost candidate interviews. He asked UCUE members to go to provost search site to provide input on the candidates. As all candidates have presented, their presentations will be available online.

Request for a New Linked Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemical Engineering and Master of Science Degree in Chemical Engineering  (Action Item)

Tom Wolff, Associate Dean, College of Engineering
Andre Lee, Chairperson, Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science

The committee unanimously granted voice to Associate Dean Tom Wolff and Associate Professor Andre Lee.

Associate Provost Wolff stated that the request would be the last linked BS/MS request from the College of Engineering as all of the other departmental requests have been presented and approved. He noted that the College of Engineering is excited to continue this groundbreaking effort to keep some of its best students in MSU Engineering graduate programs. Dr. Lee reported that Chemical Engineering decided to participate in the linked programs based on the successful retention of excellent students in Mechanical Engineering and Electrical Engineering.

After a brief discussion, voice was withdrawn from Associate Dean Wolff and Dr. Lee.

The following motion, as amended, passed unanimously.

The University Committee on Undergraduate Education has duly considered and endorses the request for a linked Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemical Engineering and Master of Science Degree in Chemical Engineering.

Request for a New Minor in Musical Theatre (Action Item)

Gary Hoppenstand, Associate Dean, College of Arts & Letters
Kirk Domer, Chairperson, Department of Theatre

The committee unanimously granted voice to Associate Dean Gary Hoppenstand and Chairperson Kirk Domer.

Associate Dean Hoppenstand stated that the College of Arts & Letters strongly supports new minor in Musical Theatre. Not only is it a strong addition to Department of Theatre curriculum is important in the connection of the State of Michigan to Broadway and global connections as well. Chairperson Domer added that the new minor will have a unique connection with the Wharton Center in offering professional performance based activities.

After brief discussion, voice was withdrawn from Associate Dean Hoppenstand and Dr. Domer.

The following motion, as amended, passed unanimously.

The University Committee on Undergraduate Education, has duly considered and endorses the request for a new minor in Musical Theatre.

Student Grief Absence Policy (Action Item)
Student Grief Absence Policy Subcommittee

Mitchell Goheen reviewed the policy with the committee. The salient aspects of the policy are:

 The committee discussed possible changes to the document. If approved the amended document is to be forwarded to the Provost and the Steering Committee for their review and forwarding to others for comment. 

The committee unanimously approved the policy document as amended.

Approval of the January 23, 2014 UCUE Minutes (Action Item)

 The committee discussed and approved amendments to correct two areas in the discussion of the requests from the Eli Broad College of Business. Additionally, the committee discussed the various ways that motions could be handled going forward. It was suggested that UCUE use the UCGS method of having motions reflected in committee agendas. Associate Provost Estry explained the language currently used in motions related to requests that are, according to the Bylaws, consultative to the Provost emanated from a specific request from Provost Wilcox.

Professor Nails asked that her motions made at the January 23 UCUE meeting be changed to reflect the language that she used in making the motion or her name could be removed from those motions in the minutes.

Associate Provost Estry stated that Chairperson Taggart had asked to meet with the Provost and others to learn more about their preferred language for UCUE motions in areas of the committee’s consultative authority. He stated that in the interim, the motions could go forward with Debra Nails’ name removed.

The committee unanimously approved the minutes as amended.

Roundtable:

Mitchell Goheen stated that mid-semester formative feedback was intended to be informal and anonymous way to open up a dialogue between students and professors about the course. The UCUE subcommittee working on this proposal created a survey intended for soliciting feedback from faculty.

The meeting was adjourned.

Respectfully submitted by

Sandra Walther