MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY

University Committee on Undergraduate Education

MINUTES

Thursday, October 16, 2014

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

Board Room, 4^th Floor Administration Building

Attending:  Daniel Bergan,Teresa Bitner, Soma Chaudhuri, Patrick Crane, Kiki Edozie, Doug Estry, Rob LaDuca, Peter Magyar, Richard Miksicek, Debra Nails, Renata Opoczynski, Ron Patterson, Helene Pazak, Ron Perry, Matt Pontifex, Fred Rodammer, Lorenzo Santavicca

Absent:  Giles Brereton, Austin Jackson, Eli Kean, John Merrill, Jesenia Pizarro Terrill, Cassandra Shavrnoch, Ryan Sweeder, Cynthia Taggart, Rachel Tate, Abraham Wheeler

The agenda was approved as amended by correcting item #3 on agenda to read, “Comments from the Vice Chairperson.”

The minutes were approved from October 2, 2014.

Comments from the Vice Chairperson

Vice Chairperson Pontifex thanked UCUE members for sending forward governance issues for discussion.

Comments from the Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education

There were no comments from Associate Provost Estry. 

Request for a New Bachelor of Arts Degree in Early Care and Education in collaboration with the Great Plains Interactive Distance Education Alliance (GPIDEA)

Karen Mills, GPIDEA Advisor and Coordinator

Hope Gerde, Associate Professor, Human Development and Family Studies

Amy Bonomi, Chairperson, Human Development and Family Studies

Laurie Linscott, Specialist, Human Development and Family Studies

Steve Kautz, Associate Dean, Social Science

The committee unanimously granted voice to Associate Dean Kautz, Associate Professor Gerde, and Karen Mills.

Associate Dean Kautz stated that the concept for a new BA degree in Early Care and Education in collaboration with the GPIDEA was endorsed by the College Curriculum Committee last spring.

Associate Professor Gerde described the BA degree in Early Care and Education in collaboration with the GPIDEA.  She indicated it is the first degree program in the Great Plains IDEA.  All courses offered for this degree are online.  This is accomplished by online video lectures, discussion forums, and students posting their assignments.  Experts on early childhood education have been meeting for four years to develop a curriculum.  Details  include:

-        The target audience is military and their spouses, non-traditional students and marginalized populations with limited access to quality higher education. 

-        Seven institutions make up the GPIDEA and students choose their home institution based on where they are living.  Kansas is the lead institution.

-         A practicum coordinator assists the student in finding a practicum site based on where the student is living.  Students video record themselves and email files to the coordinator for evaluation.

-        Students must have a minimum of 30 general credits and a minimum gpa of 2.5 for admittance into the program.  The 30 credits can be online or from a traditional classroom.

Associate Professor Gerde explained that one goal of the program is to have ten students at each institution.  Discussion continued between UCUE members and Associate Professor Gerde regarding program assessment plans.

Voice was withdrawn from Associate Dean Kautz, Associate Professor Gerde, and Karen Mills.

The following motion passed unanimously.

The University Committee on Undergraduate Education duly considered and approved the limited enrollment criteria and endorses the request for a New Bachelor of Arts Degree in Early Care and Education in Collaboration with the Great Plains Interactive Distance Education Alliance (GPIDEA).

Dual Enrollment and Overlapping Courses

UCUE members expressed concern about students being allowed to dual enroll and overlap courses when registering.  MSU’s system will warn a student when they are dual enrolled or have signed up for overlapping courses, however the system does not prevent a student from being able to do this.  The committee felt strongly that dual enrollment should not be permitted since it is not conducive to student learning and it negatively affects other students enrolled in the class.  Other UCUE members felt it was the student taking a risk by being registered for two classes being offered at the same time.  One UCUE member pointed out that current technology has made it possible for a student to be dually enrolled by the use of video capture and other technologies.  Some UCUE members suggested that faculty could indicate on their syllabi that they will not make special accommodations to students dually enrolled.  Associate Provost Estry agreed to follow up with the Registrar’s office and report back.

Governance Issues

UCUE members felt that the most important governance issues within their purview would be best tackled by choosing three issues that would improve overall support for undergraduate education.  These items include:

-        Shift from tenure stream to fixed term faculty;

-        Lack of funding tied to student education or way of connecting tuition dollars with courses taught;

-        Integrating international students and students of diverse backgrounds.

Issues that were important to UCUE but were previously addressed include:

-        MOOCs:  UCUE has been re-charged with forming a joint subcommittee with the University Committee on Graduate Education to continue this discussion.  Kiki Edozie and Dan Bergan volunteered to continue this work.

-        Plagiarism/honor code:  ASMSU is discussing and will bring a proposal back to UCUE.

-        Grade inflation:  UCUE discussed grade inflation and if it is a current problem at MSU.  UCUE members agreed that attempts to resolve grade inflation may create additional issues.  UCUE agreed that they are not pursuing a discussion on grade inflation at this time but is interested in seeing a presentation about STEM research that is being discussed at the CIC.

UCUE members discussed the student to faculty ratio.  A discussion took place regarding the pros and cons of adjunct faculty and how the practical knowledge that adjuncts bring can be very valuable to students.

Vice Chairperson Pontifex called for a vote to form a subcommittee to address strategies to improve undergraduate education concerns with an emphasis on identifying actionable items that could be pursued from a measurement standpoint or an implementation standpoint.  Debra Nails, Teresa Bitner, Ryan Sweeder, and Kiki Edozie volunteered.

Roundtable

The report on the mid semester faculty evaluation will be forthcoming.

Meeting adjourned at 11:45 am.

Respectfully submitted by Lynne Frechen.