MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY

University Committee on Undergraduate Education

 AGENDA

Thursday, January 28, 2016

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

Board Room, 4^th Floor Administration Building

1. Approval of the Agenda (Action Item)

2. Approval of the January 14, 2016 UCUE Minutes (Action Item)

3. Comments from the Chairperson

4. Comments from the Associate Provost for Academic Services & Enrollment Management

5. Request for a New Bachelor of Science Degree in Integrative Biology (Action Item)

Susan Hill, Assistant Professor, Dept. of Integrative Biology, College of Natural Science

Priscilla Walker, Specialist, Dept. of Integrative Biology, College of Natural Science

6. Request for a New Entrepreneurship and Innovation Experiences Option (Action Item)

John Wagner, Associate Dean, Eli Broad College of Business

Neil Kane, Specialist, Department of Marketing

7. Request to Add a Grade Requirement in the Bachelor of Science Degree in Economics (Action Item)

Thomas Jeitschko, Associate Dean, College of Social Science

Timothy Vogelsang, Chairperson, Department of Economics

8. Request to Add a Grade Requirement in the Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics (Action Item)

Thomas Jeitschko, Associate Dean, College of Social Science

Timothy Vogelsang, Chairperson, Department of Economics

9. Request for a Moratorium on Admission to the Bachelor of Science Degree in Media and Information (Action Item)

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

10. Request for a Moratorium on Admission to the Linked Bachelor of Science Degree and Master of Arts Degree in Media and Information (Action Item)

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

11. Code of Advising Responsibility (Discussion Item)

12. Roundtable

MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY

University Committee on Undergraduate Education

MINUTES

Thursday, January 28, 2016

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

Board Room, 4^th Floor Administration Building

 Attending:  Eva Alemanar, Wayne Askew, Rich Bellon, Giles Brereton, Andrew Corner, Jan Eberle, Kathy Forrest, John Gaboury (for Doug Estry), Michael Giles, Gary Hoppenstand, Peter Magyar, John Merrill, Richard Miksicek, Helene Pazak, Fred Rodammer, Lorenzo Santavicca, Jessica Sender, Cassandra Shavrnoch, Emily Tabuteau

Absent:  Walter Buhro, Doug Estry, Austin Jackson, Matt Pontifex, David Shaft, Colleen Tremonte

 The agenda was approved.    

The minutes were approved from January 14, 2016.

Chairperson Hoppenstand checked with the fall semester break subcommittee regarding their progress on fact finding for a fall semester break.  The subcommittee indicated they are continuing to look at past data and are working with Dr. Rovig in the Registrar’s Office.

Associate Provost Gaboury stated that he is filling in for Dr. Estry who is travelling.  He stated his appreciation for the work the committee does. 

Susan Hill, Assistant Professor, Dept. of Integrative Biology, College of Natural Science

Priscilla Walker, Specialist, Dept. of Integrative Biology, College of Natural Science

The committee unanimously granted voice to Assistant Professor Hill and Priscilla Walker.

Assistant Professor Hill stated MSU has a long history of attracting students in the zoology programs.  Recently, the Department of Zoology changed its name to the Department of Integrative Biology.  The request for the new BS Degree in Integrative Biology aligns with the new department name.  The Department of Integrative Biology will offer three bachelor’s degrees – the new BS degree in Integrative Biology, the BS degree in Zoology and the BS degree in Environmental Biology/Zoology.  The proposed BS Degree in Integrative Biology provides a broader foundation requiring courses in physiology, plant biology, microbiology, morphology, cell biology, in addition to a core curriculum in genetics and evolution.  The proposed new degree prepares students for graduate school and provides the skillsets necessary for employment.

Voice was withdrawn from Assistant Professor Hill and Priscilla Walker.

The following motion passed unanimously.    

The University Committee on Undergraduate Education duly considered and endorsed the request for a new Bachelor of Science Degree in Integrative Biology. UCUE made the following friendly amendment: Remove the text on page 5 of 6, #3i and replace with the following text

i. Experiential Requirement:

One additional course in upper (300+) level lab bench work or field experience. This course may be chosen from: IBIO 306, 320, 328, 355L, 360, 365, 384, 390, 408, 425, 490, 494, 496; ANS 313; FW 471; MMG 302. Courses taken to meet requirements in h. may not be used to meet this requirement. Other experiential courses may be chosen through consultation with the student’s academic adviser.

Request for a New Entrepreneurship and Innovation Experiences Option (Action Item)

John Wagner, Associate Dean, Eli Broad College of Business

Neil Kane, Specialist, Department of Marketing, Director of Undergraduate Entrepreneurship

The committee unanimously granted voice to Associate Dean Wagner and Neil Kane.

Neil Kane distributed a folder about the proposed Entrepreneurship and Innovation Experiences Option (E & I Option).  He stated that a couple of years ago, the Provost created a task force to create a culture of entrepreneurship on campus.  An Entrepreneurship minor now consists for any student with any major. 

The proposed E & I Option will be modeled after the H-option that is available to students in the Honors College. The E & I Option would be listed on the student’s transcript and would be open to all undergraduates.  The E & I Option would add an experiential component to any major and allow students to be entrepreneurial without the commitment of completing the Entrepreneurship minor.  Forty to fifty students have already indicated interested in the new Option.

Mr. Kane explained that a student and faculty would agree on a project at the beginning of a semester and it would be reviewed for approval.  Until the E & I Option becomes familiar to faculty, they would have to be trained to know what constitutes an Option.  A letter would be sent to all deans from the Provost asking departments to assign an E-advisor for students to consult as they design a proposed Option.

UCUE members expressed the following concerns regarding the E & I Option.

• Training that will be necessary for faculty to recognize a suitable Option for credit as well as the need for quality control on the projects chosen. 

• What if a student did not pass a course however still received credit for the Option in the course.

• Some faculty are not entrepreneurial and how would they supervise an entrepreneurial project?

   

  Mr. Kane assured UCUE members that he will provide oversight/mentorship of projects when they are proposed at the beginning of the semester.  He stated that as students complete more E & I Options, there may be some set options that faculty can offer.  Workshops will be offered to assist faculty.

   

  One UCUE member requested a friendly amendment be made that a requirement for implementation be that faculty are required to attend a workshop on the E & I Option. 

   

  Voice was withdrawn from Associate Dean Wagner and Neil Kane.

   

  The following motion passed unanimously.

   

  The University Committee on Undergraduate Education duly considered and endorsed the new Entrepreneurship and Innovation Experiences Option and added the following friendly amendment:  Faculty will be required to attend a workshop on the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Experiences Option in order to recognize what constitutes an acceptable Option.

Request to Add a Grade Requirement in the Bachelor of Science Degree in Economics (Action Item)

Thomas Jeitschko, Associate Dean, College of Social Science

Timothy Vogelsang, Chairperson, Department of Economics

The committee unanimously granted voice to Associate Dean Jeitschko and Chairperson Vogelsang.

Associate Professor Jeitschko indicated that the reasons for adding a grade requirement in the Economics degree programs are similar, so he spoke about both requests on the agenda regarding the degrees in Economics.  However, UCUE will vote separately on each Request.

Associate Professor Jeitschko stated that there has been a large increase in undergraduates pursuing a degree in Economics and many students have trouble fulfilling all of the requirements.  He noted that the Economics Department has designated staff in the help rooms in the Neighborhoods.

Dr. Vogelsang stated that research has shown that students who succeed in the introductory level courses with a gpa of 2.0 or higher take less time to graduate than students who receive a grade below a 2.0 in the same courses. Patterns indicate that there are some students who don’t have the skills needed that the upper level courses require.  This may indicate that some students should choose another major early in their undergraduate career where their success will be higher.

Dr. Vogelsang stated that the department is only allowing a one course repeat for Economics 201, 201, 251H, and 252H.  This is due to the fact that research has shown that students who struggled in EC 201/202 have to repeat upper level courses and they quickly reach the number of credits the University allows for retakes.  Research also shows that students who did not have to retake EC 201/202 usually succeed in the major.

Discussion ensued among UCUE members regarding students who transfer credits into the Economics program as well as how this may affect international students.  UCUE members felt the 2.0 requirement has to be a part of the syllabus and professors should announce it to the class.  UCUE members were concerned for students currently in the program who have not met the 2.0 requirement in EC 201/202.  Dr. Vogelsang stated if necessary, advisors will contact students and let them know they have not met the 2.0 requirement.

Voice was withdrawn from Associate Dean Jeitschko and Chairperson Vogelsang.

The following motion passed by a hand vote of 13 approved and 4 opposed.

The University Committee on Undergraduate Education duly considered and approved the request to add a grade requirement in the Bachelor of Science Degree in Economics.

Request to Add a Grade Requirement in the Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics (Action Item)

Thomas Jeitschko, Associate Dean, College of Social Science

Timothy Vogelsang, Chairperson, Department of Economics

The committee unanimously granted voice to Associate Dean Jeitschko and Chairperson Vogelsang for purposes of questions.

There were no further questions.

Voice was withdrawn from Associate Dean Jeitschko and Chairperson Vogelsang.

The following motion passed by a hand vote of 13 approved and 3 opposed.

The University Committee on Undergraduate Education duly considered and approved the request to add a grade requirement in the Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics. 

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

The committee unanimously granted voice to Assistant Dean Hoffman.

Assistant Dean Hoffman stated the department would like to move to offering a BA Degree in Media and Information opposed to have a BA and a BS Degree in Media and Information.  A revised BA in Media and Information contains a new modular design better suited for the students.  Existing students in the BS Degree in the Media and Information program will be grand fathered in and have the option of completing the BS Degree.

Voice was withdrawn from Assistant Dean Hoffman.

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 Media and Information.

Request for a Moratorium on Admission to the Linked Bachelor of Science Degree and Master of Arts Degree in Media and Information (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 BA and BS options to the major currently exist.  The two options have caused confusion for the students and advisors.  There are currently no students in the Linked Bachelor of Science Degree and Master of Arts Degree in Media and Information.

Voice was withdrawn from Assistant Dean Hoffman.

The following motion passed unanimously.

The University Committee on Undergraduate Education duly considered and endorsed the request for a moratorium on admission to the linked Bachelor of Science Degree and Master of Arts Degree in Media and Information.

Code of Academic Advising Responsibility (Discussion Item)

Associate Provost Estry is requesting UCUE members read the Proposal and consider three questions:

• More than the basis for student complaints, could, in your estimation, a Code of Advising Responsibility serve as the standard for best practices in advising and guide student’s expectations for what they should gain from working with advisors?

• What if any concerns would you highlight?

• What are your recommendations for moving forward with the development and implementation of a Code of Advising Responsibility?

   

  UCUE members indicated the following concerns: 

• The data referenced is 10 years old.

• Advisors were not consulted in the creation of the document.

• Run a survey and pull data from the survey.

• Distinction should be made between faculty advisors vs. professional advisors vs. specialist advisors.

• The report is too general.

• Caution should be taken so advisors are not overloaded.

• Students are not required to consult advisors.  Unless students are required to see an advisor, how would the Code be enforced?

• Document should reflect more of a partnership between the student and the advisor.

• Consider renaming the document to include “rights and responsibilities” in the document name

• Does the “Code” have an effect on the Unions that advisors belong to?

UCUE members stated they would like to invite Shannon Burton to an upcoming UCUE meeting to ask questions regarding the Proposal to Create a Code of Academic Advising Responsibility.

There were no items reported at Roundtable.

Meeting adjourned at noon.

Respectfully submitted by Lynne Frechen.