MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY

University Committee on Undergraduate Education

 MINUTES

Thursday, February 25, 2016

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

Board Room, 4^th Floor Administration Building

Attending:  Eva Almenar, Wayne Askew, Rich Bellon, Andrew Corner, Doug Estry, Kathy Forrest, Michael Giles, Gary Hoppenstand, Peter Magyar, John Merrill, Richard Miksicek, Helene Pazak, Fred Rodammer, Lorenzo Santavicca, Jessica Sender, Cassandra Shavrnoch, Emily Tabuteau, Corbin Wagner

Absent:  Giles Brereton, Walter Buhro, Jan Eberle, Austin Jackson, Matt Pontifex, David Shaft, Colleen Tremonte

The agenda was approved as amended by adding “Honor Code Language” after agenda item #9. 

The minutes were approved from February 11, 2016.

Comments from the Chairperson

Chairperson Hoppenstand stated that due to the complexity of some of the Motions, there has been a request to record the Minutes and to clearly state Motions when they are being made.  The recording will be used to clarify Motions when particular language is in question.  Chairperson Hoppenstand asked UCUE members if there were any objections to the meetings being recorded.  No one indicated any objections.  Since some members were absent at this meeting, Emily Tabuteau requested this announcement be repeated at the next meeting.

Comments from the Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education

Associate Provost Estry had no comments.

Subcommittee Report regarding Fall Semester Study Break (Discussion Item)

The subcommittee of Kathy Forrest and Andrew Corner showed a PowerPoint presentation indicating their findings regarding a Fall Semester Study Break.  The third subcommittee member, Jan Eberle, was unable to attend the meeting. 

The subcommittee reported that they had done a literature review on the topic of a fall semester break, however very little information was available.  It was determined that there was no negative impact on exam performance whether an exam was given before or after a break.

Discussion ensued about the pros and cons of having a fall break and UCUE members pointed out that a fall break would have a domino effect in regard to the organization of the fall academic calendar.  A change in the academic year calendar could affect welcome week, academic orientation, the number of days off for thanksgiving break, midterms, spring break, the number of required classroom, lab, and recitation hours, and the final exam schedule. A change in the fall academic calendar could also affect the spring academic calendar.  A balance is needed during the academic year between giving students too much time on their hands vs. a calendar that allows ample study and rest time.

Some UCUE members stated that it is difficult to get students to focus the day before and the day after any type of break during the academic year which makes it difficult to be productive.  Some UCUE members indicated their departments fully supported a fall break which would give students a much needed mental break and time to catch up on assignments.  It was determined that many advisors and the University’s health care professionals support a fall break since it fosters physical and mental well-being among students.

It was determined that although the majority of MSU’s peer institutions have a fall break, their academic year calendar most likely begins before MSU’s academic year. 

Associate Provost Estry and Chairperson Hoppenstand thanked the subcommittee for the extensive research they did regarding a fall semester break.  Chairperson Hoppenstand made a recommendation to have Kathy and Andrew present their findings to the Steering Committee.

The subcommittee’s recommendation is that a fall break has merit and should be considered. 

Ad Hoc Committee on Inclusiveness in the Classroom (Discussion Item)

Associate Provost Estry referred to the Draft document regarding creating inclusiveness in classrooms that had been distributed at the February 11^th meeting.  He stated that the Steering Committee has asked UCUE to establish an ad hoc committee for the discussion of the issue of inclusiveness in the classroom.

Discussion ensued about inclusiveness in the classroom and that students should be given ways to think about how diversity impacts their careers and the ways they will interact with people after graduation.  Ways of dealing with and thinking about diversity should be embedded throughout curriculums in all degree programs.

Lorenzo Santavicca indicated that ASMSU recently passed a motion endorsing inclusiveness in the classroom and stated that students, perhaps students from CORES/COPS should be included on this committee.  One UCUE member recommended representation on the ad hoc committee should include someone from the human health colleges.

Associate Provost Estry is recommending Kirk Kidwell, Director of the Center for Integrative Studies in the Arts and Humanities, and Jim Lucas, Assistant Dean, Global Education and Curriculum, as Chair and Co-Chair of the ad hoc committee.  He asked if there were any comments, clarifications, or requests for changes to the Draft document.  Associate Provost Estry indicated he has received recommendations for Jessica Garcia (Sociology and OIII), Erica Wehrwein (Physiology) and Pero Dagbovie (Graduate School/History) to serve on the committee.  He asked UCUE members to email him names of people to serve on the subcommittee as soon as possible.

Chairperson Hoppenstand will be recommending to the Steering Committee that we have cochairs and UCUE will recommend ad hoc members to sit on the committee. 

Request for a New Minor in Comics and Visual Narrative (Action Item)

Fred Rauscher, Associate Dean, College of Arts and Letters

Chris Corneal, Chairperson, Art, Art History & Design

The committee unanimously granted voice to Associate Dean Rauscher and Chairperson Corneal.

Associate Dean Rauscher indicated that the College of Arts and Letters (CAL) and the College of Communication Arts and Sciences (CAS) have recently proposed complementary minors.  He indicated that the two colleges have worked closely together to be sure that the two minors are not clashing, but are complimentary and appeal to different students.  This proposed Minor focuses on comics and the creative elements of drawing.  The Minor in the CAS focuses on animation and media related political cartoons.  Creative media will be used in both Minors however the Minor in the CAL will have more of a traditional focus.  The CAL would like to change the name of the proposed Minor to “Comic Art and Graphic Novels” to be more focused on art and also would like to add a course, “JRN 313 Political Cartoons.”

Voice was withdrawn from Associate Dean Rauscher and Chairperson Corneal.

The following motion passed unanimously. 

The University Committee on Undergraduate Education duly considered and endorsed the request for the new minor and the name change to “Comic Art and Graphic Novels” and has no concerns regarding the addition of “Journalism 313 Political Cartoons.”

Request for a New Minor in Indian and South Asian Languages and Cultures (Action Item)

Fred Rauscher, Associate Dean, College of Arts and Letters

Sean Pue, Associate Professor, Dept. of Linguistics & Germanic, Slavic, Asian, and African Languages

The committee unanimously granted voice to Associate Dean Rauscher and Associate Professor Pue.

Associate Professor Pue indicated that this Minor was developed for students to demonstrate their linguistic and cultural proficiency in the Indian and South Asian cultures through a combination of language and cultural courses. He indicated that this model is similar to the language programs for Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Arabic within the Linguistics and Languages Department.  This type of Minor is common at many of the peer institutions in the CIC.  He indicated there is strong support for the Minor from the department as well as the Asian Studies Center.

Students would take the equivalent of 2.5 years of language classes and then fulfill a credit requirement of 17 units.  Courses after the first year could count toward the 17 units.   The goal of the Minor is to open it up to multiple languages.  Associate Professor Pue indicated that faculty is looking forward to working across the colleges and with other departments.  There is currently a Minor in Asian Studies in Social Science but it has no language component.

A UCUE member commented on the conservative projection for enrollment. 

Emily Tabuteau had comments about the language requirement and about how proficiency is demonstrated through placement testing.  Dr. Pue commented that students can do course exchanges through a course shared system through CIC institutions and that study abroad opportunities exist.  It was noted that native speakers can take advanced classes.

Voice was withdrawn from Associate Dean Rauscher and Associate Professor Pue.

The following motion passed unanimously.

The Committee on Undergraduate Education duly considered and endorsed the request for a new Minor in Indian and South Asian Languages and Cultures.

Code of Advising Responsibility (Discussion Item)

Shannon Burton, Assistant Ombudsperson

Assistant Ombudsperson Burton was unable to attend today’s meeting.  This item will be discussed at the March 17, 2016 meeting.

Honor Code of Language (Discussion Item)

Lorenzo Santavicca distributed documents with revised language for the Spartan Code of Honor and asked for a recommendation to forward the Spartan Code of Honor to the University Council for a vote.  When implemented, the Spartan Code of Honor will appear in three places in the Spartan Life Handbook; Integrity of Scholarship and Grades, Students Rights and Responsibilities (SRR), and the General Student Regulations.

A Motion was made by Lorenzo Santavicca to approve the language for implementation of the Spartan Code of Honor to the Integrity of Scholarship and Grades, the SRR, and the General Student Regulations.

UCUE approved the Motion.

Higher Learning Commission Assurance Argument (Discussion Item)

Associate Provost Estry stated that at the February 23 Academic Council meeting, Provost Youatt recommended that UCUE allow time on today’s agenda for a discussion of the Higher Learning Commission Assurance Argument, which is part of the MSU accreditation process.  A brief email was sent to UCUE members on February 24^th with a link to the Assurance Argument.  Feedback should be sent to Kelly Funk through Monday, February 29^th.  Emily Tabuteau commented that she had minor stylistic comments that she will send to Kelly.  The document will be sent to the Higher Learning Commission on March 2.

Roundtable

Fred Rodammer reported that Athletic Council met last week and discussed the inconsistencies that student athletes experience when missing classes due to a University sanctioned event such as sports, marching band, debate. 

Associate Provost Estry commented that students should speak with their faculty as early as possible if they know they will need time off from classes due to a University sanctioned event. 

The Meeting adjourned at noon.

Respectfully submitted by Lynne Frechen.