MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY
University Committee on Undergraduate Education AGENDA Thursday, October 2, 2014 10:15 A.M. to 12:00 P.M. Board Room, 4th Floor Administration Building
Ann
Hoffman, Director, Undergraduate Student Affairs, College of Comm. Arts &
Sciences
Marcus Duck, Specialist,
College of Agriculture and Natural Resources Kelly Millenbah, Associate
Dean, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources
Sue
Selke, Professor, School of Packaging Kelly
Millenbah, Associate Dean, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources
Luke
Reese, Coordinator, Technology Training, Dept. of Biosystems and Agricultural
Engineering Kelly
Millenbah, Associate Dean, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources
Chris
Corneal, Chairperson, Art, Art History, and Design Fred
Rauscher, Associate Dean, Undergraduate Education, College of Arts and Letters
Minutes Status: Final; approved at 10/16/14 meeting.
MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY
University Committee on Undergraduate Education MINUTES
Thursday, October 2, 2014
10:15 A.M. to 12:00 P.M.
Board Room, 4th Floor Administration Building
Attending: Daniel Bergan, Teresa Bitner, Patrick Crane, Doug Estry, Rob LaDuca, Peter Magyar, Richard Miksicek, Debra Nails, Renata Opoczynski, Helene Pazak, Jesenia Pizarro Terrill, Matt Pontifex, Fred Rodammer, Lorenzo Santavicca, Cynthia Taggart, Rachel Tate, Abraham Wheeler, David Schweikhardt
Absent: Giles Brereton, Kiki Edozie, Austin Jackson, Eli Kean, Ron Perry, Cassandra Shavrnoch
The agenda was approved as amended by adding an item after #2 to revisit the September 4, 2014 minutes.
The minutes were approved from September 18, 2014 with minor editorial changes.
Amendment to September 4, 2014 UCUE Minutes (Action Item)
Under the action item “Request to Change the Admission Requirement and the List of courses which Currently Require a Grade-Point Average of 2.5” it was moved and seconded to approve the following edits to the minutes of the September 4, 2014 meeting:
Remove the first sentence: “Dr. Pontifex explained the request to change the list of courses that currently require a grade point average of 2.5 to 2.0 in the Athletic Training Program in the Department of Kinesiology.”
Change the motion to read as follows:
The University Committee on Undergraduate Education duly considered and approved the addition to the list of courses considered for admission and requiring a minimum gpa of 2.5, and the addition of KIN 228 to the list of requirements for the BS degree requiring a minimum gpa of 2.0.
The motion was approved.
Comments from the Chairperson
Chairperson Taggart commented on the email recently sent to UCUE members with a list of governance issues for discussion. She reminded UCUE members to send her the three or four items within the next week they would like UCUE to consider. She will compile the results and distribute them to the committee for future discussion. Chairperson Taggart stated that she will be unable to attend the October 16, 2014 meeting and Matt Pontifex will be chairing. She asked for a volunteer to attend the next Steering Committee meeting in her absence on Tuesday, October 7. Debra Nails volunteered to attend.
Comments from the Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education
Associate Provost Estry stated that the University Council approved the change in policy allowing students to declare a major at 28 credits. It will be effective Fall 2015.
Associate Provost Estry also stated that in addition to the regular application for admission to MSU, beginning in the fall of 2015 all admitted students will be complete the Student Background and Experiences Inventory (SBEI). Initially the primary focus will be on the use of the information to enhance student success. He said he would send members research on both the SBEI and the Mindset work along with a more detailed description of the SBEI.
Request for a Moratorium on Admission to the Specialization in Design (Action Item)
Ann Hoffman, Director, Undergraduate Student Affairs, College of Communication Arts & Sciences
The committee unanimously granted voice to Ann Hoffman.
She noted that that the College of Communication Arts and Sciences is a joint sponsor of the specialization along with Art, Art History and Design and that as the Department of Art, Art History and Design is implementing a minor in design related areas, giving students an option to take design classes, the specialization is no longer necessary. She reported that no students with this specialization would be negatively affected.
Voice was withdrawn from Ann Hoffman.
The following motion passed unanimously.
The University Committee on Undergraduate Education duly considered and endorsed the request for a moratorium on admission to the specialization in Design.
Request for a New Agricultural Technology Certificate in Fruit, Vegetable, and Organic Horticulture Management (Action Item)
Marcus Duck, Specialist, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources
Kelly Millenbah, Associate Dean, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources
The committee unanimously granted voice to Marcus Duck and Associate Dean Millenbah.
Associate Dean Millenbah stated that the Agricultural Technology Certificate in Fruit, Vegetable, and Organic Horticulture Management is a 2-year certificate program. She stated that a recent needs survey identified this Certificate as critical and in high demand.
Mr. Duck stated that there is significant interest in this certificate because many people are interested in where their food is coming from, how it is grown, and the option of eating organically grown food. In addition, he stated that the courses already exist for the creation of this certificate.
Associate Provost Estry questioned how the department would evaluate student learning and the effectiveness of the program. Associate Dean Millenbah stated the evaluation and effectiveness of the program would be measured by working one-on-one with an employer for a required internship, and follow up with alumni.
Concern was expressed about what elective courses could be used for the certificate if students did not need to enroll in AT 045 and 071. It was noted that elective courses are chosen in consultation with the coordinator and dependent on what area the student is interested in.
Voice was withdrawn from Marcus Duck and Associate Dean Millenbah.
The following motion passed unanimously.
The University Committee on Undergraduate Education duly considered and endorsed the request for a new Agricultural Technology Certificate in Fruit, Vegetable, and Organic Horticulture Management.
Request to Change the Admission Requirement and the List of Courses Which currently Require a Grade of 2.0 in Each Course (Action Item)
Sue Selke, Professor, School of Packaging
Kelly Millenbah, Associate Dean, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources
The committee unanimously granted voice to Dr. Selke and Associate Dean Millenbah.
Dr. Selke stated that the School of Packaging would like to increase the mathematics requirement for the BS degree in Packaging by adding MTH 132 and 133 (Calculus I and Calculus II). She stated that more analytical thinking is needed by packaging majors; and calculus develops this type of thought process. She also stated enrollment has greatly increased in the major, and they are struggling to keep up with the demand.
Concern was expressed about whether the requirement was being added to simply reduce the number of majors or whether it was indeed a critical requirement. Dr. Selke responded that knowledge of differential equations was important in packaging. As a number of students who are not admitted to business elect to consider packaging, and business requires MTH 124, she was asked whether there might be an accommodation for these students. She indicated that they would simply have to complete the MTH 133 as it will be a prerequisite. There was some discussion about why a 2.0 instead of a higher grade; and it was noted that 2.0 was linked to the repeat policy and the committee’s hesitation to place barriers in students’ paths.
Voice was withdrawn from Dr. Selke and Associate Dean Millenbah.
The following motion passed unanimously.
The University Committee on Undergraduate Education duly considered and endorsed the request to change requirements to the degree program, and approves the change to the list of courses that currently require a grade of 2.0 in each course for admission to the Bachelor of Science degree in Packaging.
Request for a New Minor in Technology Systems Management (Action Item)
Dr. Luke Reese, Coordinator, Technology Training, Dept. of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering
Kelly Millenbah, Associate Dean, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources
The committee unanimously granted voice to Dr. Reese and Associate Dean Millenbah.
Dr. Reese indicated that there is a demand for graduates in the area of technology systems management and cited focus group conversation with key stakeholders. He indicated the creation of the minor will fill the void left by the TSM major currently under moratorium. Dr. Reese reported that the minor would provide students an opportunity to understand technologies needed to manage aspects of food, agriculture, and natural resource systems. In addition, it was suggested that industry positions often require technology and business components, so the creation of this minor is a positive move.
Associate Provost Estry indicated the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources had done an excellent job in considering program needs and that their assessment plan looked strong. Dr. Reese added that this industry has an active advisory board, and students are surveyed two years after graduation to indicate (or measure) learning outcomes.
Voice was withdrawn from Dr. Reese and Associate Dean Millenbah.
The following motion passed unanimously.
The University Committee on Undergraduate Education duly considered and endorsed the request for a new minor in Technology Systems Management.
Request for a New Minor in Graphic Design (Action Item)
Chris Corneal, Chairperson, Art, Art History, and Design
Fred Rauscher, Associate Dean, College of Arts and Letters
The committee unanimously granted voice to Dr. Corneal and Associate Dean Rauscher.
Dr. Corneal stated a Minor in Graphic Design will allow students to experience graphic design at an entry level. He has had interest from students majoring in Interior Design, Professional Writing, Journalism, Marketing, and many others. He was asked why Communication Arts and Sciences is not an interdisciplinary partner, and he indicated that the focus/approach of the disciplinary content was significantly different.
Concern was expressed that there was no assessment plan in place and that an assessment plan had not been filed with the UCC.
Voice was withdrawn from Dr. Corneal and Associate Dean Rauscher.
The following motion passed unanimously.
The University Committee on Undergraduate Education duly considered and endorsed the request for a new minor in Graphic Design but recommends that the application not be forwarded through faculty governance until it includes an assessment plan.
Roundtable
There was considerable discussion about clarity around the criteria students must meet for admission to some limited enrollment majors and in cases where a secondary application is required. Committee members want to be sure that admission criteria are clear and transparent to the students.
There was also discussion about the role that UCUE should play relative to the evaluation of assessment plans. Most committee members felt strongly that assessment plans should be part of the package. If they were required but not included, then they would prefer not to review the packet until the information was included. It was also noted that the guidelines for assessment plans should be updated in line with UCLL recommendations. Dr. Estry was asked to convey this information to the Associate Provost for Academic Services.
Meeting adjourned at 11:40 am.
Respectfully submitted by Lynne Frechen.
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