MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY University Committee on Undergraduate Education AGENDA Thursday, January 29, 2015 10:15 A.M. to 12:00 P.M. Board Room, 4th Floor Administration Building
Brian O’Shea, Associate Professor, Lyman Briggs R. James Kirkpatrick, Dean, College of Natural Science John Verboncoeur, Acting Associate Dean for Research, College of Engineering Andrew Christlieb, Professor, Colleges of Natural Science and Engineering
Brad Rakerd, Professor, Communicative Sciences and Disorders Ann Hoffman, Assistant Dean, Communication Arts and Sciences
Tom Hammond, Professor, Political Science Steven Kautz, Associate Dean, Academic & Student Affairs, College of Social Sciences
Rick Brandenburg, Assistant Dean, Undergraduate Academic & Student Affairs, Agriculture & Natural Resources
Arlene Sierra, Outreach, College of Osteopathic Medicine Philip Strong, Assistant Dean, Lyman Briggs College
Status of 1/29/15 UCUE Minutes: Approved MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY University Committee on Undergraduate Education MINUTES Thursday, January 29, 2015 10:15 A.M. to 12:00 P.M. Board Room, 4th Floor Administration Building
Attending: Daniel Bergan, Giles Brereton, Soma Chaudhuri, Patrick Crane, Kiki Edozie, Eli Kean, Karen Klomparens, Peter Magyar, John Merrill, Debra Nails, Patricia Obando-Solano, Renata Opoczynski, Helene Pazak, Matt Pontifex, Fred Rodammer, Ryan Sweeder, Cynthia Taggart
Absent: Teresa Bitner, Doug Estry, Austin Jackson, Richard Miksicek, Ron Perry, Jesenia Pizarro Terrill, Lorenzo Santavicca, Cassandra Shavrnoch, Rachel Tate, Abraham Wheeler
The agenda was approved.
The minutes were approved from January 15, 2015.
Comments from the Chairperson Chairperson Taggart stated that Associate Provost Estry is out of town and Associate Provost Klomparens is attending in his stead.
Comments from the Associate Provost for Graduate Education Associate Provost Klomparens had no comments.
Request to Establish a New Academic Department: Department of Computational Mathematics, Science & Engineering (Action Item) Brian O’Shea, Associate Professor, Lyman Briggs Andrew Christlieb, Professor, Colleges of Natural Science and Engineering
The committee unanimously granted voice to Professors O’Shea and Christlieb.
Professors O’Shea and Christlieb indicated to UCUE that there is great need for a Department of Computational Mathematics, Science & Engineering. They have determined that students at both the undergraduate and graduate levels are not prepared to use computational modeling, data science, and high performance computing, which are skills that many employers are now seeking. The new department will allow students to pursue internships at national labs and business partners. The focus of the new department is to develop new methods for investigating complex problems through computation.
Plans are underway to offer an undergraduate minor in computing with a specialization in either Data Science (data exploration, data mining) or Scientific Computing (high performance computing). A graduate certificate program has also been designed. Within three to five years, the new department would like to offer new undergraduate degrees in both data science and scientific computing.
A small number of existing faculty members will transition into the new department; however, there are faculty searches currently underway for seven new faculty members. In order to prepare for the new department, bylaws are being written, a web page is being designed, and outreach and advertising efforts are being coordinated. The department has also begun to discuss the creation of Ph.D. programs.
Chairperson Taggart indicated that the University Committee on Graduate Studies has reviewed the proposal and endorses it. UCUE thought that the creation of a new department of Computational Mathematics, Science & Engineering was a good idea and would help retain bright students at MSU who are seeking an education in that area.
Voice was withdrawn from Professors O’Shea and Christlieb.
The following motion passed unanimously.
The University Committee on Undergraduate Education duly considered and endorsed the request for a new academic department: Department of Computational Mathematics, Science & Engineering. Request for a New Minor in Communicative Sciences and Disorders (Action Item) Brad Rakerd, Professor, Communicative Sciences and Disorders Ann Hoffman, Assistant Dean, Communication Arts and Sciences The committee unanimously granted voice to Professor Rakerd and Assistant Dean Hoffman.
Professor Rakerd said that an undergraduate degree was put in moratorium Spring 2010 and discontinued in 2014. Although there is no undergraduate degree offered, the department continued to offer undergraduate courses for students seeking careers in Speech-Language Pathology or Audiology. The entry level degree for these professional tracks will be a master’s degree for Speech Language Pathology and a clinical doctorate for Audiology. Due to the competitiveness of admission for graduate programs in this area, a minor in Communicative Sciences and Disorders will allow undergraduate students to have the necessary prerequisite courses needed for graduate programs and to be prepared academically for graduate study.
Voice was withdrawn from Professor Rakerd and Assistant Dean Hoffman.
The following motion passed unanimously.
The University Committee on Undergraduate Education duly considered and endorsed the request for a new minor in Communicative Sciences and Disorders. Request for a New Linked Bachelor of Arts Degree in World Politics and Master of Public Policy Degree in Public Policy (Action Item) Tom Hammond, Professor, Political Science Steven Kautz, Associate Dean, Academic & Student Affairs, College of Social Science The committee unanimously granted voice to Professor Hammond and Associate Dean Kautz.
Professor Hammond explained that in 2011 the Departments of Political Science and Economics established a linked bachelor’s-master’s degree program in Public Policy. Admission to the program allows students to apply 9 approved credit hours from their undergraduate degrees toward the 39 graduate credit hours required to earn the MPP degree. When the linked BA/MPP program was established in 2010, there were three undergraduate majors in Political Science: general, pre-law, and public policy. Eventually, a new Political Science major, World Politics, was added. This request is to add the option of a linked BA/MPP for World Politics majors. A linked program will allow students to complete both a BA and a MPP degree in five years (plus one summer). Professor Hammond said that three or four students per year enroll in the linked program. Chairperson Taggart indicated that an assessment plan was not on file for the degree programs involved in this request and suggested that assessment plans be filed.
Voice was withdrawn from Professor Hammond and Associate Dean Kautz. The following motion passed unanimously. The University Committee on Undergraduate Education duly considered and approved the grade point average requirement, endorsed the request for a new linked Bachelor of Arts Degree in World Politics and Master of Public Policy degree in Public Policy, and recommended that assessment plans be filed for the two degree programs. Request to Change Admission as a Junior in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources to Admission to the College in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (Action Item) Rick Brandenburg, Assistant Dean, Undergraduate Academic & Student Affairs, Agriculture & Natural Resources The committee unanimously granted voice to Assistant Dean Brandenburg.
Assistant Dean Brandenburg stated that this request is related to the change in University policy with the option to admit students to a major at 28 credits. He also noted that several majors within the College have limited enrollment and may admit students only upon reaching junior standing or have other requirements that must be met prior to admission to the major. No staffing issues in regard to advising are anticipated. If students are not accepted into their desired majors at the junior transition point, advisors work to help students find an alternative major.
Voice was withdrawn from Assistant Dean Brandenburg.
The University Committee on Undergraduate Education duly considered and endorsed the request to change the admission as a junior in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources to admission to the college in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
Request for a New 3 + 4 Option for Lyman Briggs College Biology Majors in Collaboration with the College of Osteopathic Medicine (Action Item) Arlene Sierra, Outreach, College of Osteopathic Medicine Philip Strong, Associate Dean, Lyman Briggs College
The committee unanimously granted voice to Arlene Sierra and Associate Dean Strong.
Ms. Sierra reported that this request is mainly targeted for Lyman Briggs College biology majors who are considering a D.O. from the College of Osteopathic Medicine. The request allows certain Lyman Briggs College students to earn a BA degree after completion of a minimum of 90 credits at MSU and a minimum of 30 credits through subsequent enrollment at the MSU College of Osteopathic Medicine. Admission to the MSU College of Osteopathic Medicine part of this program is limited to a small number of students who complete the specified University requirements. Associate Dean Strong reported that after students satisfactorily complete the specified 120 credits, they will be eligible for the BS degree in Lyman Briggs College with a major in biology. The goal of the program is not to eliminate students, but to reduce time for graduation and to create a more cost effective plan.
Chairperson Taggart indicated that there is no assessment on file for the Lyman Briggs biology major and recommended that one be filed. Discussion took place on the difference between a linked program and a 3 + 4 option. A 3 + 4 option means the programs are not formally linked; however, the programs have shared credits. A student would be enrolled three years in one college and 4 years in another college.
Voice was withdrawn from Arlene Sierra and Associate Dean Strong.
The following motion passed unanimously.
The University Committee on Undergraduate Education duly considered and endorsed the request for a new 3 + 4 option for Lyman Briggs College Biology majors in collaboration with the College of Osteopathic Medicine, and recommended that an assessment plan be filed for the Lyman Briggs Biology major. Roundtable Kiki Edozie reported that the
subcommittee formed to discuss issues identified in the Faculty Senate survey plans
to formulate an assessment plan of the liberal learning goals. The committee is currently looking at best
practices and plans to look at the Lyman Briggs model. Meeting adjourned at 11:15.
Respectfully submitted by Lynne Frechen. |
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