MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY

University Committee on Undergraduate Education

MINUTES

Thursday, February 12, 2015

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

Board Room, 4^th Floor Administration Building

Attending:  Daniel Bergan, Teresa Bitner, Giles Brereton, Soma Chaudhuri, Patrick Crane, John Gaboury, Eli Kean, John Merrill, Richard Miksicek, Debra Nails, Renata Opoczynski, Helene Pazak, Ron Perry, Matt Pontifex, Fred Rodammer, Lorenzo Santavicca, Cassandra Shavrnoch, Ryan Sweeder, Abraham Wheeler

Absent:  Kiki Edozie, Doug Estry, Austin Jackson, Peter Magyar, Jesenia Pizarro Terrill, Cynthia Taggart, Rachel Tate

The agenda was approved.

The minutes were approved from January 29, 2015.  

Comments from the Vice Chairperson

There were no comments from Vice Chairperson Pontifex.

Comments from the Associate Provost for Academic Services

There were no comments from Associate Provost Gaboury.

Request to Change the Admission Requirement as a Junior in the College of Communication Arts and Sciences to Admission to the College in the College of Communication Arts and Sciences (Action Item)

Ann Hoffman, Assistant Dean, College of Communication Arts & Sciences

The committee unanimously granted voice to Assistant Dean Hoffman.

Assistant Dean Hoffman stated that this request is related to the change in University policy with the option to admit students to a major at 28 credits, effective Fall, 2015.  Students not ready to declare a major at 28 credits can remain in “no preference” status until they reach 56 credits.  No staffing issues are anticipated. 

Voice was withdrawn from Assistant Dean Hoffman.

The following motion passed unanimously. 

The University Committee on Undergraduate Education duly considered and endorsed the request to change the admission requirement as a junior in the college of Communication Arts and Sciences to admission to the college in the College of Communication Arts and Sciences.

Request to Change the Admission as a Junior in the College of Natural Science to Admission to the College in the College of Natural Science (Action Item)

Mark Voit, Associate Dean, College of Natural Science

Deb Dotterer, Assistant Dean, College of Natural Science

The committee unanimously granted voice to Assistant Dean Dotterer and Associate Dean Voit.

Assistant Dean Dotterer stated that this request is related to the change in University policy with the option to admit students to a major at 28 credits, effective Fall, 2015.  Students not ready to declare a major at 28 credits can remain in “no preference” status until they reach 56 credits.  No staffing issues are anticipated. 

Voice was withdrawn from Assistant Dean Dotterer and Associate Dean Voit.

The following motion passed unanimously.

The Committee on Undergraduate Education duly considered and endorsed the request to change the admission as a junior in the College of Natural Science to admission to the college in the College of Natural Science.

Request for a New Minor in Retail Management (Action Item)

Linda Good, Professor, Advertising and Public Relations Department

The committee unanimously granted voice to Professor Good.

Professor Good reported on the need for a minor in Retail Management.  The minor will be administered by the Management Department of the Broad College of Business and is offered in conjunction with the Marketing Department in the Business College, the Department of Advertising and Public Relations in the College of Communication Arts and Sciences, and the Department of Agriculture, Food and Resource Economics in the College of Agriculture.  The Retail Management minor is intended for students with careers in the area of retailing and financial services.  No additional faculty is needed to support the program; all courses for the minor are currently being offered.  Approximately 50 students per year are expected to pursue the minor. 

Voice was withdrawn from Professor Good.

The University Committee on Undergraduate Education duly considered and endorsed the request for a new minor in Retail Management.

Request for a Moratorium on Admission to the Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering (Action Item)

Timothy Hogan, Professor and Interim Chairperson, Dept. of Electrical and Computer Engineering

The committee unanimously granted voice to Professor Hogan.

Professor Hogan stated that the Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering was a degree offered in Dubai.  Although the University discontinued programs in Dubai some years ago, the program is still in the University catalog.  Since a one year moratorium is needed for this degree to be removed from the curriculum, this request has been submitted.

Voice was withdrawn from Professor Hogan.

The following motion passed unanimously.

The University Committee on Undergraduate Education duly considered and endorsed the request for a moratorium on admission to the Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering.

A motion was made by Vice Chairperson Pontifex to take a 30 minute adjournment until 11:00 a.m.  A representative from the College of Arts and Letters was expected to arrive at 11:00 a.m. to discuss the request to phase out and discontinue the bachelor of arts degree in Classical Studies.  The motion was approved.

Request to Phase Out and Discontinue the Bachelor of Arts Degree in Classical Studies (Action Item)

Fred Rauscher, Associate Dean, College of Arts and Letters

The committee unanimously granted voice to Associate Dean Rauscher.

Since the Bachelor of Arts degree in Classical Studies began in spring 2006, the program has struggled due to low enrollment.  An Ancient Studies major was created in 2003; however it did not attract enough students and was discontinued in 2006.  The College of Arts and Letters determined the Bachelor Arts in Classical Studies was not sustainable and it was put in moratorium in Spring 2010.  The moratorium was renewed in Spring 2014 through Fall 2015.  A number of faculties have retired from the core curriculum for the major.  In order for students to continue taking classes in classical studies, a new minor has been created called Classical and Ancient Mediterranean Studies.  This minor includes courses from numerous departments. 

A UCUE member stated that other institutions, such as the University of Michigan and Grand Valley State University, are not having trouble with enrollment in similar classical studies programs.  Associate Dean Rauscher said the MSU students have not embraced the courses.  The department wants to build a better approach to the students for the remaining classical studies courses and have plans to market it more successfully.  Committee members spoke in favor of the preservation of classical studies courses.

Voice was withdrawn from Associate Dean Rauscher.

The following motion passed.

The University Committee on Undergraduate Education duly considered and endorsed the request to phase out and discontinue the Bachelor of Arts degree in Classical Studies.

Modifications to Grief Absence Policy from UCGS (Action Item)

Teresa Bitner provided an update on the Grief Absence Policy.  The UCUE and University Council on Graduate Studies have endorsed this policy and it has been sent out to various other committees for review. The subcommittee recommends that a Web form be created in which a completed request would be sent to the appropriate Associate Dean.  It was noted that several of the professional colleges have their own policies for grief absence and would therefore be exempt from using this procedure.  If the request for grief absence turns out to be false, this would be considered an act of academic dishonesty.

A motion was made and seconded to endorse the Grief Absence Policy with a friendly amendment to remove the words “(page 25)” in paragraph two of the Policy.

Roundtable

Lorenzo Santavicca provided an update on the Institutional Honor Code.  ASMSU has passed a motion to endorse a Code.  Another update will follow in April.

Teresa Bitner provided an update on mid semester feedback.  The mid semester feedback committee will be placing an advertisement in the State News to ask for opinions from faculty regarding the mid semester feedback.

Ron Perry asked about the possibility of developing a student judiciary to provide advisement regarding the honor codes.  Lorenzo stated he has met with Dr. Estry and discussed the purpose of a student judiciary.

Meeting adjourned at 11:10 am.

Respectfully submitted by Lynne Frechen.