University Committee on Undergraduate Education AGENDA Thursday, April 10, 2014 10:15 A.M. to 12:00 P.M. Board Room, 4th Floor Administration Building 1. Approval of the Agenda (Action Item) 2. Approval of the March 27, 2014 UCUE Minutes (Action) 3. Comments from the Vice Chairperson 4. Comments from the Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education 5. Request to Phase Out and Discontinue the Agricultural Technology Certificate in Organic Farming (Action) Kelly Millenbah, Associate Dean 6. Request to Phase Out and Discontinue the Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communicative Sciences and Disorders (Action) Ann Hoffman, Director of Undergraduate Affairs, College of Communication Arts & Sciences 7. Request for a Moratorium on Admission to the Undergraduate Specialization in Spatial Information Processing (Action) Steve Kautz, Associate Dean, College of Social Science Alan Arbogast, Chairperson, Department of Geography 8. Roundtable minutes status: approved approved at the 4/24/14 meeting UCUE Minutes for meeting held on 4/10/2014
Attending: Henry Beckmeyer, Jan Brady, Rita Kiki Edozie, Abdol Esfahanian, Doug Estry, Amanda Holmstrom, Rob LaDuca, Richard Miksicek, Debra Nails, Renata Opoczynski, Helene Pazak, Matt Pontifex, Frederick Rodammer, Jesenia Pizarro Terrill, Veronica Thronson, Abraham Wheeler Absent: Christopher Baldwin, Laura Dillon, Mitchell Goheen, Chris Melde, Coretta Patterson, Jason Porter, Lynmarie Posey, Evan Schrage, David Schweikhardt, Anita Skeen, Cynthia Taggart The agenda was approved. The minutes from March 27, 2014 were approved. Comments from the Chairperson Matt Pontifex sat in for Chairperson Taggart. Dr. Pontifex reminded UCUE of the upcoming elections for 2014 – 2015. He asked incumbents to let Chairperson Taggart know if you would like to continue in your position and to also let her know if you are interested in volunteering for a position. Comments from the Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education Associate Provost Estry indicated the University Graduate Council discussed the Grief Absence Policy and they decided not to support the Policy for graduate students, however the Policy will be supported for undergraduate students. Provost Youatt is in agreement with this decision. One UCUE member questioned why the Policy does not apply to graduate students and Associate Estry replied that the Policy, as written, does not apply to graduate students in the context of graduate education. One UCUE member added that graduate assistants already have a Grief Absence Policy in their contract. Associate Provost Estry said the Grief Absence Policy may be on the next agenda as well as MOOCs. Request to Phase Out and Discontinue the Agricultural Technology Certificate in Organic Farming (Action) Kelly Millenbah, Associate Dean The committee unanimously granted voice to Associate Dean Millenbah. Associate Dean Millenbah indicated that since the Agricultural Technology Certificate in Organic Farming is in the moratorium phase, the department is not encouraging students to sign up. This certificate program has been replaced by the Organic Farmer Training program (OFTP). Associate Dean Millenbah indicated the one student in the program can continue and complete the certificate, or they can transfer to the OFTP. Voice was withdrawn from Associate Dean Millenbah. The University Committee on Undergraduate Education duly considered and endorsed the request to Phase Out and Discontinue the Agricultural Technology Certificate in Organic Farming. Request to Phase Out and Discontinue the Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communicative Sciences and Disorders (Action) Ann Hoffman, Director of Undergraduate Affairs, College of Communication Arts & Sciences Rahul Shrivastav, Chair, Communicative Sciences & Disorders The committee unanimously granted voice to Ms. Hoffman and Chairperson Shrivastav. Ms. Hoffman stated the degree program has been in a moratorium since Spring, 2010. Chairperson Shrivastav said he has been working with Ms. Hoffman to be sure students have met program requirements. One UCUE member questioned why MSU no longer supported the program. Ms. Hoffman stated the decision to close the program was part of a budget review and it was determined this was an area that would be cut. Ms. Hoffman added that the department plans to continue to offer selected classes as electives for other majors and may propose a minor in the future. Voice was withdrawn from Ms. Hoffman and Chairperson Shrivastav. The University Committee on Undergraduate Education duly considered and endorsed the request to Phase Out and Discontinue the Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communicative Sciences and Disorders. Request for a Moratorium on Admission to the Undergraduate Specialization in Spatial Information Processing (Action) Mike Connelly, Director, Undergraduate Student Affairs, College of Social Science Richard Groop, Professor, Department of Geography The Committee unanimously granted voice to Mr. Connelly
and Professor Groop. Mr. Connelly stated that no students have been in the
program since Fall, 2011. The program
has been determined to be outdated and
an update of courses will take place in order for the specialization to be
modernized. Professor Groop stated that the program was popular thirty years
ago. The department has instituted a new
minor in the program called Geographic Information Science. Voice was withdrawn form Mr. Connelly and Professor Groop. The University Committee on Undergraduate Education duly considered and endorsed the Request for a Moratorium on Admission to the Undergraduate Specialization in Spatial Information Processing. Roundtable Jan Brady encouraged members to consider volunteering to serve as liaison to the athletic council. Meetings are held once a month on Thursdays from 7:30 – 9:00 am at the University Club. Helene Pazak stated that an open house was held at the Veterinary School and over 6,000 people visited. Debra Nails commented that the MOOCS report that UCUE
will soon review is 11 pages and to plan to give it some time and
attention. UCUE will eventually need to
determine an opinion regarding MOOCS and the Provost will want to review it
over the summer. The Meeting was adjourned. Respectfully submitted by Lynne Frechen.
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