MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY

University Committee on Undergraduate Education

MINUTES

Thursday, December 4, 2014

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

Board Room, 4^th Floor Administration Building

Attending:  Daniel Bergan, Teresa Bitner, Patrick Crane, Kiki Edozie, Doug Estry, Rob LaDuca, Peter Magyar, John Merrill, Richard Miksicek, Debra Nails, Renata Opoczynski, Helene Pazak, Ron Perry, Jesenia Pizarro Terrill, Matt Pontifex, Fred Rodammer, Cynthia Taggart

Absent:  Giles Brereton, Austin Jackson, Eli Kean, Lorenzo Santavicca, Cassandra Shavrnoch, Rachel Tate, Abraham Wheeler 

The agenda was approved.

The minutes were approved from November 13, 2014.

Comments from the Chairperson

There were no comments from the Chairperson.

Comments from the Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education

There were no comments from the Associate Provost.

Request for a New Minor in Pharmacology and Toxicology (action item)

Richard Neubig, Chairperson, Dept. of Pharmacology and Toxicology

Peter Cobbett, Associate Professor, Dept. of Pharmacology and Toxicology

Gail Riegle, Associate Dean for Academic Programs, College of Osteopathic Medicine

The committee unanimously granted voice to Chairperson Neubig, Associate Professor Cobbett, and Associate Dean Riegle.

Chairperson Neubig reported that there is significant student interest in a new minor in Pharmacology and Toxicology.  In September 2013, students in the College of Natural Science and in Lyman Briggs College were surveyed regarding a minor in Pharmacology and Toxicology.  Of the 1,155 respondents, 44% stated that they would apply for the minor and another 41% said that they would consider applying for the minor. Chairperson Neubig commented that many students in the College of Natural Science are pre-med, pre-vet, and pre-dental, and this minor would increase students’ chances of getting into one of those graduate programs.  Also, this minor can prepare students to work in fields such as medical writing, government positions such as the FDA, pharmaceutical companies, and patent law.

UCUE members recommended that the department consider replacing the words “non-science” with “science in context,” “history, philosophy, and sociology of science,” or something similar on the list of requirements for the Minor in Pharmacology and Toxicology in the Academic Programs Catalog text, Item #1, b. 3.   Associate Professor Cobbett indicated that students can ask for a substitute course if there is something that better fits their interest area and still meets the spirit of the requirement.  Courses in other departments such as Physiology or Chemistry would be considered if requested.

Some UCUE members were concerned about over enrollment in certain courses and the need for extra advising, since there may be an increase of students taking some courses.  Professor Neubig reported that most of the required courses for the minor have numerous offerings in class and online.  Most students would be working with advisors from their own colleges.

Voice was withdrawn from Chairperson Neubig, Associate Professor Cobbett, and Associate Dean Riegle.

The following motion passed unanimously.

The University Committee on Undergraduate Education duly considered and endorsed the request for a new Minor in Pharmacology and Toxicology with the following recommendations:

-        In the Academic Programs Catalog Text, Item #1, b. 3. consider replacing the words “non-science” with “science in context,”  “history, philosophy, and sociology of science,” or something similar.

-        Work with other units to create a list that courses advisors could use to suggest as alternatives.

Request for a New Agricultural Technology Certificate in Livestock Industries (action item)

Randy Showerman, Director, Institute of Agricultural Technology

The committee unanimously granted voice to Randy Showerman.

Dr. Showerman reported that a certificate program is in demand in the livestock industry to meet the demands of the industries in need of educated, trained professionals.  The current programs do not meet the industry’s need in relation to beef and swine.  The Agricultural Technology Certificate in Livestock Industries has been designed as a general program that would allow students to first complete 26 credits, choose a specific area of interest, and then complete the certificate with a total of 41 or 42 credits.  Currently, the swine program only has two or three students enrolled in it; however, enrollment in the beef program is flourishing.  The Certificate program in Livestock Industries will be offered on-campus and requires more credits to complete than the beef and swine programs.

UCUE members felt this certificate program would be useful to people who care for numerous types of animals.  However, they may only have a small number of each type of animal.  One UCUE member expressed the need to address the trend in farming toward free-range animals.  Dr. Showerman stated that, in the Certificate program, this trend is addressed within the species courses.  Dr. Showerman stated that more course will be designed in the next few years in relation to free range practices, and he agreed that the Institute needs to take a proactive stance on this topic.

Dr. Showerman also stated that this program and the courses being offered are linked to the workforce and specifically designed to address the workforce need.

Voice was withdrawn from Randy Showerman.

The following motion passed unanimously.

The University Committee on Undergraduate Education duly considered and endorsed the request for a new Agricultural Technology Certificate in Livestock Industries.

Request for Changes in the Linked Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communication and Master of Arts Degree in Communication (action item)

Gwen Wittenbaum, Program Director, MA Communication Degree

Ann Hoffman, Director, Academic & Student Affairs, College of Communication Arts and Sciences

The committee unanimously granted voice to Ann Hoffman and Dr. Gwen Wittenbaum.

Dr. Wittenbaum reported on two changes being requested in the linked program:  (1) lower the minimum grade point average for admission consideration from 3.5 to 3.0, and (2) eliminate the requirement to have already taken and achieved a minimum grade in specific undergraduate courses.

The linked program is for undergraduate communication majors who would like to stay a fifth year and complete a master’s degree in Communication.  This is not an accelerated program; however, the program allows nine credits from the bachelor’s degree to be applied to the master’s degree.  One reason for these changes is to allow a broader pool of applicants to apply to the program.  Lowering the minimum grade point average to 3.0 allows students to apply who may have experienced one bad semester when adjusting to college as freshmen or possibly doing poorly in one particular class in a semester.  It was noted that Communication majors rarely declare the major as incoming freshmen.  As a result, they do not know about the minimum grade requirement until it is too late. Therefore, they may have to repeat classes to meet the minimum grade point average to apply.  Dr. Wittenbaum reported that they are interested in admitting serious students who are ready to be graduate students.  She noted that some students may have been teaching or research assistants or held jobs on or off campus, which might negatively affect a student’s grade point average but actually make that student a more desirable graduate program candidate.

UCUE members voiced concerns regarding lowering the grade point average for admittance to the master’s program, stating that the overall standards would be lowered for the program.  In addition, members suggested the grade point average be lowered to 3.25 instead of 3.0.

Other UCUE members pointed out that 3.0 is a minimum grade point average, not the standard.  Also, admitting students to a linked master’s program encourages them to stay at MSU for a graduate degree.  Dr. Wittenbaum pointed out that, normally, master’s programs do not have a minimum grade point average requirement; however, this gives the undergraduate students an idea of what is expected for admission to the linked program.  However, as in most graduate level programs, an admissions committee will make recommendations.  One UCUE member stated that some graduate level programs have a required minimum grade point average to be admitted; however, a profile of the previous year’s admitted class is posted, showing their grade point average.

Dr. Wittenbaum reported that there have been five students in the linked program across the three years of its existence, and four additional students were admitted this semester.

Additional discussion took place on whether to remove the grade point average requirement as part of the consideration. 

Voice was withdrawn from Ann Hoffman and Gwen Wittenbaum.

The following motion passed by a hand vote of 11 approved and 4 opposed.

The University Committee on Undergraduate Education duly considered and approved the request for changes in the linked Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communication and Master of Arts Degree in Communication.

Request for a Moratorium on Admission to the Specialization in Postcolonial and Diaspora Literature and Culture (Action Item)

Fred Rauscher, Associate Dean, College of Arts and Letters

The committee unanimously granted voice to Associate Dean Rauscher.

Associate Dean Rauscher reported that the request for a moratorium is due to the fact that there is not a demand for the program, and faculty are not interested in continuing the program.  The program is being considered for discontinuation, and there is no interest in converting it to a minor.  The Department of English has courses available in this area if students choose to enroll.

Voice was withdrawn from Associate Dean Rauscher.

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 Postcolonial and Diaspora Literature and Culture.

Integrity of Scholarship and Grades (Discussion Item)

Chairperson Taggart referenced the latest copy of the Integrity of Scholarship and Grades policy indicating suggestions from the University Committee on Graduate Studies.

The Committee’s discussion centered on the following items:

-        Item #3b:  revise to say, “the instructor filing the report requests consideration it be removed”

Or “the instructor filing the report requests it be removed and that removal is approved by the appropriate Associate Dean.”

-        Item #3c: upon conferral of their degree, two minor corrections were noted (semicolon to comma, and “their” to “the”).

-        The instructor should speak to the student prior to filing an ADR.  Should there be a yes or no question asking if the instructor has spoken to the student yet before the instructor can proceed?

-        It is up to the faculty member to remove the report or not.  There was concern that an Assistant/ Adjunct Professor or fixed term faculty would feel pressured to remove the report. 

Due to lack of time, this motion was tabled until the next UCUE meeting being held on January 15, 2015. 

Mid-semester Formative Feedback Recommendations (Discussion Item)

Due to lack of time, this item will be discussed at the next UCUE meeting on January 15, 2015.

Sub-Committee Report addressing Faculty Senate Issues (Information Item)

Due to lack of time, this item will be discussed at the next UCUE meeting on January 15, 2015.

Roundtable

Due to lack of time, there was no Roundtable.

Meeting adjourned at 12:07 pm.

Respectfully submitted by Lynne Frechen.