MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY

University Committee on Undergraduate Education

 MINUTES

Thursday, October 22, 2015

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

Board Room, 4^th Floor Administration Building

Attending:  Wayne Askew, Rich Bellon, Giles Brereton, Andrew Corner, Jan Eberle, Kathy Forrest, John Gaboury, Michael Giles, Gary Hoppenstand, Austin Jackson, Peter Magyar, John Merrill, Richard Miksicek, Helene Pazak, Matt Pontifex, Fred Rodammer, Lorenzo Santavicca, Jessica Sender, David Shaft, Cassandra Shavrnoch, Emily Tabuteau

Absent:  Eva Almenar, Walter Buhro, Doug Estry, Colleen Tremonte

The agenda was approved.

The minutes were approved from October 8, 2015.

Comments from the Chairperson

Chairperson Hoppenstand updated UCUE members regarding the October 20^th University Council meeting.  Mark Hollis reported on the various academic support systems in place for student athletes. 

Comments from the Associate Provost for Academic Services and Enrollment Management

Associate Provost Gaboury reported that MSU recently joined the University Innovation Alliance (UIA).  The UIA is an elite group of research universities looking at student success and retention. 

Request to Phase Out and Discontinue the Specialization in Postcolonial and Diaspora Literature and Culture (Action Item)

Stephen Deng, Associate Chairperson, Dept. of English, College of Arts & Letters

The committee unanimously granted voice to Associate Chairperson Deng.

Associate Chairperson Deng reported that the Specialization has been in moratorium and due to extremely low enrollment, there is no interest from faculty for converting it to a minor.  Only three students have enrolled in the specialization from fiscal year 2006 to current.  Chairperson Deng indicated that if students are interested in diaspora studies, the department has other programs available. 

One UCUE member noted that the language was misleading in the agenda entry in the request to UCUE from Dr. John Gaboury.  Item #1, paragraph 2 states that “Student who have not met the requirements… Spring 2017 will have to change their major.”  The member stated that this is not a major, but rather a Specialization.

Voice was withdrawn from Associate Chairperson Deng.

The following motion passed unanimously. 

The University Committee on Undergraduate Education duly considered and endorsed the request to phase out and discontinue the Specialization in Postcolonial and Diaspora Literature and Culture.

Request to Phase Out and Discontinue the Specialization in Spatial Information Processing (Action Item)

Steve Kautz, Associate Dean, College of Social Science

Alan Arbogast, Chairperson, Dept. of Geography, College of Social Science

The committee unanimously granted voice to Associate Dean Kautz and Chairperson Arbogast.

Associate Dean Kautz indicated the Specialization in Spatial Information Processing has been in moratorium and no new students have been added.  Chairperson Arbogast indicated that the department would like to discontinue the Specialization due to curriculum changes that eliminate all Specializations.  A Geographic Science Education minor is available if students are interested. 

One UCUE member noted that the language was misleading in the agenda entry in the request to UCUE from Dr. John Gaboury.  Item #1, paragraph 2 states that “Student who have not met the requirements… Spring 2017 will have to change their major.”  The member stated that this is not a major, but rather a Specialization.

Voice was withdrawn from Associate Dean Kautz and Chairperson Arbogast.

The following motion passed unanimously.

The Committee on Undergraduate Education duly considered and endorsed the request to phase out and discontinue the Specialization in Spatial Information Processing.

Request to Change Department Name from Department of Geography to the Department of Geography, Environment, and Spatial Sciences (Action Item)

Steve Kautz, Associate Dean, College of Social Science

Alan Arbogast, Chairperson, Dept. of Geography, College of Social Science

The committee unanimously granted voice to Associate Dean Kautz and Chairperson Arbogast.

Chairperson Arbogast indicated the reason for the name change is to provide alignment of the department name with the current work of the department.  Also, there has been a growing consensus within the faculty to include the term “environment” in the department name.  There is also a growing trend to rebrand Geography departments at Universities in order to portray a more modern image and reflect new initiatives.  Chairperson Arbogast stated that often people think of maps when referring to the Department of Geography.  However, much of the department’s work is in the area of the environment, such as research on sand dunes, the space they occupy, and how they are formed.  The work of the department also includes climate, physical geography, medical geography, and toxic chemicals.  More than 40% of the faculty in the department do research. 

Associate Dean Kautz indicated there is strong endorsement for the name change from alumni, Dean’s offices, campus departments, and from the College’s interim Dean, Neal Schmitt.

UCUE members commented that the research for this name change has been well documented and adequately explained.

Voice was withdrawn from Associate Dean Kautz and Chairperson Arbogast.

The University Committee on Undergraduate Education duly considered and endorsed the request to change department name from Department of Geography to the Department of Geography, Environment, and Spatial Sciences.

Request to Change Department Name from Department of Geological Sciences to the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences (Action Item)

Dave Hyndman, Chairperson, Dept. of Geological Sciences

The committee unanimously granted voice to Chairperson Hyndman.

Chairperson Hyndman indicated the reason for the name change is to more accurately reflect the department’s intellectual focus and mission.  The proposed name change reflects the growth of areas of expertise in the department over the last 40 years.  People often think the current department name indicates only the study of rocks.  However, the department does work on the environment, hydrogeology, water flow, nutrient flow, modelling of plant systems and how they are related to crops.  Over half of the members in the CIC have a similar name to the proposed name change.  The proposed name change will more clearly communicate to prospective students, employers of current students, alumni, and the general public about the actual work of the department.

UCUE members expressed concern over possible confusion for the students between the Department of Geography and the Department of Geological Sciences.  Chairperson Hyndman indicated this name change will clarify the work of the department and eliminate confusion for students.  The environment is the main focus, followed by climate. 

UCUE members expressed concern to keep students interested in the work of the department and that advising staff will need to be familiar with the program in order to accurately advise students.  Concern was expressed at removing “geology” out of the department name.  Chairperson Hyndman felt it was necessary because most people have an inaccurate perception of what geological sciences entails.

Chairperson Hyndman indicated an advantage to the name change is that it will attract more females to the program.  A barrier for some female applicants is removed by eliminating the word “geology” from the department name.

Voice was withdrawn from Chairperson Hyndman.

The University Committee on Undergraduate Education duly considered and endorsed the request to change department name from Department of Geological Sciences to the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences.

Roundtable

Lorenzo Santavicca reported that the subcommittee for exploring a mid semester feedback met last week and will meet with Faculty & Organizational Development (F & OD) on how to improve the system.

Fred Rodammer reported that the Athletic Council met this morning and a main topic of discussion was the health of student athletes with a focus on mental health.  He also mentioned the Institutional Honor Statement and it was well received by the Athletic Council.

Richard Miksicek reported that the roll out of using a “preferred name” is now complete and has gone smoothly.  The student’s preferred name is now the default in D2L and Office of the Registrar instructor systems.  Richard also commented on the two-factor authentication process that the University is now using. A UCUE member questioned if the two-factor authentication would be required to use D2L.  Some UCUE members expressed concern that this would be too cumbersome if it was implemented for using D2L.

Meeting adjourned at 11:00 am.

Respectfully submitted by Lynne Frechen.