MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY

University Committee on Undergraduate Education

AGENDA

Thursday, February 9, 2017

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 12, 2017 UCUE Minutes (Action Item)

3. Comments from the Chairperson

4. Comments from the Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education

5. Request for a Moratorium on Admission to the Agricultural Technology Certificate in Applied Plant Science (Action Item)

Kelly Millenbah, Associate Dean, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources

Randy Showerman, Institute Director, Agricultural Technology

6. Request for a Moratorium on Admission to the Agricultural Technology Certificate in Beef Cattle Management (Action Item)

Kelly Millenbah, Associate Dean, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources

Randy Showerman, Institute Director, Agricultural Technology

7. Request for a Moratorium on Admission to the Agricultural Technology Certificate in Grounds Management (Action Item)

Kelly Millenbah, Associate Dean, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources

Randy Showerman, Institute Director, Agricultural Technology

8. Request for a Moratorium on Admission to the Agricultural Technology Certificate in Landscape and Lawn Management (Action Item)

Kelly Millenbah, Associate Dean, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources

Randy Showerman, Institute Director, Agricultural Technology

9. Request for a Moratorium on Admission to the Agricultural Technology Certificate in Swine Management (Action Item)

Kelly Millenbah, Associate Dean, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources

Randy Showerman, Institute Director, Agricultural Technology

10. Request to Change the Admission as a Junior Requirement in the Bachelor of Arts Degree in Interior Design (Action Item)

Kelly Millenbah, Associate Dean, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources

Pat Crawford, Associate Director, Planning, Design, and Construction

Eunsil Lee, Associate Professor, Planning, Design, and Construction

Suk Kyung Kim, Associate Professor, Planning, Design, and Construction

11. Request for a New 3 + 3 Option for the Residential College in the Arts and Humanities in Collaboration with the MSU College of Law (Action Item)

Carolyn Loeb, Associate Professor, Residential College in the Arts and Humanities

Theresa Enders, College of Law

12. Request to Change the Graduation Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science Degrees in the College of Social Science

         (Action Item)

Steve Kautz, Associate Dean, College of Social Science

13. Request for a New Bachelor of Arts Degree in Global History  (Action Item)

Steve Kautz, Associate Dean, College of Social Science

Walter Hawthorne, Chair, History Department, College of Social Science

14. Request for a New Minor in International Development (Action Item)

Steve Kautz, Associate Dean, College of Social Science

Rob Glew, Director, CASID and Associate Dean for Academic Programs, ISP

15. Request for a New Minor in Environment and Health (Action Item)

Steve Kautz, Associate Dean, College of Social Science

Request was tabled at 9/22/16 UCUE meeting with a recommendation for College of Social Science to explore option of opening this minor to students outside of the College.

16. Roundtable

MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY

University Committee on Undergraduate Education

MINUTES

Thursday, February 9, 2017

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

Board Room, 4^th Floor Administration Building

Attending: Rich Bellon, Giles Brereton, Marcos Caballero, Sekhar Chivukula, Andrew Corner, Jan Eberle, Kathy Forrest, Nicole Geske, Carolyn Loeb, Richard Miksicek, Laura Nelson, Jessica Sender, Dylan Westrin, Mary Kay Smith, Jacob Snyder, Jordan Stomps, Emily Tabuteau

Absent: Eva Almenar, Sheng-Mei Ma, Matt Pontifex, Fred Rodammer, Colleen Tremonte

The agenda was approved.

The minutes were approved for January 12, 2017.

Comments from the Chairperson

Chairperson Miksicek informed UCUE members that although they had voted and approved the revised catalog language for the request to change the University’s Graduation Requirements – Writing Requirement at the January 12, 2017 meeting, this request was subsequently withdrawn at the request of the Department of Writing, Rhetoric, and American Cultures and the College of Arts and Letters to permit consideration of further changes that might be necessary to maintain compliance with university policy on the classification of R-P-D courses (see https://reg.msu.edu/AcademicPrograms/Text.aspx?Section=110#s235). 

Chairperson Miksicek also stated the he is working on scheduling a subcommittee to review the student evaluation of teaching.

Comments from the Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education

Associate Provost Chivukula stated that MSU is carefully reviewing Executive Orders that affect students travelling abroad.  The Office of Study Abroad will be scheduling information sessions and those will be announced as soon as information is available. 

Request for a Moratorium on Admission to the Agricultural Technology Certificate in Applied Plant Science (Action Item)

Kelly Millenbah, Associate Dean, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources

Randy Showerman, Institute Director, Agricultural Technology

The committee granted voice to Associate Dean Millenbah and Dr. Showerman.

Dr. Showerman stated that the five certificate programs requesting a moratorium on admission are all two-year certificate programs with advisory committees that partner with colleges across the state.  After working with the partner colleges and going through a curriculum review process, requests for moratorium were put forward for five certificate programs in the Agricultural Technology Institute.  In place of the certificate in Applied Plant Science, updated certificate programs, Landscape Management and Fruit and Vegetable Management, were made available in the Fall of 2015.

Voice was removed from Associate Dean Millenbah and Dr. Showerman

The following motion passed unanimously.

The University Committee on Undergraduate Education duly considered and endorsed the request for a Moratorium on Admission to the Agricultural Technology Certificate in Applied Plant Science.

Request for a Moratorium on Admission to the Agricultural Technology Certificate in Beef Cattle Management (Action Item)

Kelly Millenbah, Associate Dean, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources

Randy Showerman, Institute Director, Agricultural Technology

The committee granted voice to Associate Dean Millenbah and Dr. Showerman.

Dr. Showerman stated that the advisory committee for the certificates in Beef Cattle Management and Swine Management suggested that this program was too narrowly focused which resulted in minimal interest among students.  The certificate program, Livestock Industries, was developed in the Fall of 2015 which included combined aspects of the Beef Cattle Management and Swine Management programs.  Consequently, this certificate opened up a wider range of interest for students interested in the livestock industry.  No students were negatively affected. 

Voice was removed from Associate Dean Millenbah and Dr. Showerman

The following motion passed unanimously.

The University Committee on Undergraduate Education duly considered and endorsed the request for a Moratorium on Admission to the Agricultural Technology Certificate in Beef Cattle Management.

Request for a Moratorium on Admission to the Agricultural Technology Certificate in Grounds Management (Action Item)

Kelly Millenbah, Associate Dean, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources

Randy Showerman, Institute Director, Agricultural Technology

The committee granted voice to Associate Dean Millenbah and Dr. Showerman.

Dr. Showerman stated that originally this certificate was offered to address the needs of urban centers as it related to sports turf management.  However, no students were ever enrolled in the certificate.

Voice was removed from Associate Dean Millenbah and Dr. Showerman.

The following motion passed unanimously.

The University Committee on Undergraduate Education duly considered and endorsed the request for a Moratorium on Admission to the Agricultural Technology Certificate in Grounds Management.

Request for a Moratorium on Admission to the Agricultural Technology Certificate in Landscape and Lawn Management (Action Item)

Kelly Millenbah, Associate Dean, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources

Randy Showerman, Institute Director, Agricultural Technology

The committee granted voice to Associate Dean Millenbah and Dr. Showerman.

Dr. Showerman indicated that there is minimal interest in this certificate.  There are currently four students in the program and two will be graduating.  The other two students will be pursuing certificates in Landscape Management.

Voice was removed from Associate Dean Millenbah and Dr. Showerman.

The following motion passed unanimously.

The University Committee on Undergraduate Education duly considered and endorsed the request for a Moratorium on Admission to the Agricultural Technology Certificate in Landscape and Lawn Management.

Request for a Moratorium on Admission to the Agricultural Technology Certificate in Swine Management (Action Item)

Kelly Millenbah, Associate Dean, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources

Randy Showerman, Institute Director, Agricultural Technology

The committee granted voice to Associate Dean Millenbah and Dr. Showerman.

Dr. Showerman stated that the advisory committee for the certificates in Beef Cattle Management and Swine Management suggested that this program was too narrowly focused which resulted in minimal interest among students.  The certificate program, Livestock Industries, was developed in the Fall of 2015 which included combined aspects of the Beef Cattle Management and Swine Management programs.  Consequently, this certificate opened up a wider range of interest for students interested in the livestock industry.  No students were negatively affected. 

Voice was removed from Associate Dean Millenbah and Dr. Showerman.

The following motion passed unanimously.

The University Committee on Undergraduate Education duly considered and endorsed the request for a Moratorium on Admission to the Agricultural Technology Certificate in Swine Management.

Request to Change the Admission as a Junior Requirement in the Bachelor of Arts Degree in Interior Design (Action Item)

Kelly Millenbah, Associate Dean, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources

Pat Crawford, Associate Director, Planning, Design, and Construction

Eunsil Lee, Associate Professor, Planning, Design, and Construction

Suk Kyung Kim, Associate Professor, Planning, Design, and Construction

The committee granted voice to Associate Dean Millenbah, Dr. Crawford, Dr. Lee, and Dr. Kim.

Dr. Lee provided a brief summary of changes for admission as a junior to the program.  Dr. Lee stated that the number of students admitted as juniors to the major in interior design is limited and to be considered, a student must have an overall gpa of 2.5 or better.  Also, a gpa of 3.00 or better is required in core courses.  She stated that Math and CSE requirements need to be updated.  In addition, a portfolio review requirement will be implemented since a gpa cannot be an appropriate measure for artistic talents.   

Dr. Lee provided a brief summary of requested changes for the Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts Degree in Interior Design.

1. Delete the statement, “The completion of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources mathematics requirement may also satisfy the University mathematics requirement,”

2. Add the statement, “An approved computer skills course may be substituted for CSE 101.” 

3. ATD 231 (Textile Materials) will be offered in place of HED 231 since HED no longer exists.

4.  For the History of Art option, additional course choices have been added in order to give students more options.

    

   UCUE members asked that advisors be properly informed of these changes so they can advise students appropriately.  It was noted that this program is externally accredited which justifies the admission requirement.

    

   Voice was removed from Associate Dean Millenbah, Dr. Crawford, Dr. Lee, and Dr. Kim.

    

   The following motion passed unanimously.

    

   The University Committee on Undergraduate Education duly considered and endorsed the request to Change the Admission as a Junior Requirement in the Bachelor of Arts Degree in Interior Design.

    

    

   Request for a New 3 + 3 Option for the Residential College in the Arts and Humanities in Collaboration with the MSU College of Law (Action Item)

   Carolyn Loeb, Associate Professor, Residential College in the Arts and Humanities

   Theresa Enders, College of Law

    

   The committee granted voice to Dr. Loeb and Theresa Enders.

    

   Dr. Loeb explained that the 3 + 3 option would give selected students the opportunity to complete an undergraduate degree in the Residential College of Arts and Humanities (RCAH) after satisfactory completion of 91 credits (with at least 52 of those credits in the RCAH) and a minimum of 29 credits through enrollment at the MSU College of Law.  She indicated that the requirements for the program are completion of all university-level graduation requirements, including integrative studies, writing, and mathematics; completion of the RCAH required courses, language proficiency, and elective pathway; and completion of a minimum of 29 credits at the MSU College of Law. 

    

   Discussion followed on the importance of students interested in the 3 + 3 option to speak with an advisor as early as possible in their undergraduate career.  It was noted that this option is appealing to students with an interest in social justice and intellectual properties.

    

   UCUE members commented that a 3 + 3 option is a good recruiting tool.  It allows the College to retain strong talent who may otherwise apply to different law schools.    

    

   Discussion focused on the language proficiency requirement and it was noted that students could complete the requirement outside of a class setting as an independent, individual activity.  Discussion also took place regarding flexibility in scheduling law courses during years two and three of the program even though students enter the program as a cohort.

    

   Voice was removed from Dr. Loeb and Theresa Enders.

    

   The following motion passed unanimously.

    

   The University Committee on Undergraduate Education duly considered and endorsed the request for a New 3 + 3 Option for the Residential College in the Arts and Humanities in Collaboration with the MSU College of Law.

   Request to Change the Graduation Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science Degrees in the College of Social Science (Action Item)

   Steve Kautz, Associate Dean, College of Social Science

    

   The committee granted voice to Associate Dean Kautz.

    

   Associate Dean Kautz gave background and rationale on the request and stated that a package of undergraduate minors was submitted to UCUE in September related to a curriculum change that the College has been considering since 2009.  UCUE has approved five of these and two are on today’s agenda. 

    

   The College has concluded that the 30-credit distribution model was not sustainable and that 30 credits are too many credits for the College requirement.  It was stated that as the University moves in the direction of enhanced assessment of undergraduate majors and enhanced assessment of the learning goals related to the University requirements, it made sense to review this.

    

   It was determined that the 30 credit distribution would be discontinued and replaced with a 15 credit interdisciplinary minor and a 3 credit experiential learning experience which could be completed in any part of the undergraduate program – it could be in the major, a minor or an elective.  Also required will be 6 credits in the arts and humanities for BS students, and 6 credits of science, technology engineering and math for BA students.  It is structured in a way that these are not additional credits.

    

   Associate Dean Kautz summarized the rationale for the changes:  1) Intellectual coherence and integrity; 2) marketable credentials that are transcriptable; 3) faculty engagement with the curriculum and the flexibility to change it as topics come and go; 4) flexibility toward degree for the students.  It was noted that all minors have an assessment plan.

    

   Discussion took place regarding advising needs.  Associate Dean Kautz stated that after this meeting, the College hopes to have nine minors approved and five entering into governance this spring.  He indicated some of the challenges are curriculum discipline and centralizing advising.

    

   Discussion took place regarding the demand for these minors and if the minors are meeting the needs of the students.  Associate Dean Kautz indicated that student governance bodies were consulted and it was determined that there is demand for these minors.  In some cases, non-credit experiences such as participation in UURAF would be counted toward the experiential learning component of the minors.

    

   Voice was removed from Associate Dean Kautz.

    

   The following motion passed unanimously.

    

   The University Committee on Undergraduate Education duly considered and endorsed the request to Change the Graduation Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science Degrees in the College of Social Science.

    

    

   Request for a New Bachelor of Arts Degree in Global History (Action Item)

   Steve Kautz, Associate Dean, College of Social Science

   Walter Hawthorne, Chair, History Department, College of Social Science

    

   The committee granted voice to Associate Dean Kautz and Dr. Hawthorne.

    

   Chairperson Hawthorne stated that the history department currently has two BA degrees – General History and History Education.  The request for a new BA in Global History came from the interest of students and faculty and the recognition that the History Department is globally focused.  He indicated that there are faculty experts in specific areas such as Africa, Asia, Latin American and Europe.  The existing history majors are broadly focused however do not give students the opportunity to learn about one part of the world.  Chairperson Hawthorne stated that students are attracted to the major for the global focus and this gives students a chance to pursue a passion for one area and develop depth and gain expertise in a specific part of the world. 

    

   Discussion took place on the difference between the standard History BA and the BA in Global History being that the standard History BA does not require a language.

    

   Voice was removed from Associate Dean Kautz and Dr. Hawthorne.

    

   The following motion passed unanimously.

    

   The University Committee on Undergraduate Education duly considered and endorsed the request for a New Bachelor of Arts Degree in Global History.

    

    

   Request for a New Minor in International Development (Action Item)

   Steve Kautz, Associate Dean, College of Social Science

   Rob Glew, Director, CASID and Associate Dean for Academic Programs, ISP

    

   The committee granted voice to Associate Dean Kautz and Dr. Glew.

    

   Associate Dean Kautz provided background stating that in some cases programs and departments choose to develop parallel minors that are targeted to different student audiences or serve different roles within the College and University.   The Center for Advanced Study of International Development (CASID) has a Global Studies in Social Science minor that is open to students across campus planning for careers with a global focus. The proposed new minor in International Development is designed primarily to meet the curricular needs of the College of Social Science by providing its students with an additional minor option focusing on international development, which could then be used to satisfy the interdisciplinary minor requirement for their CSS degree.  This was done to address changes in graduation requirements for the College, while still enabling programs to maintain the intellectual integrity of minors that they had already developed.   

    

   Associate Dean Glew stated the new minor has been developed with the goal of offering students the opportunity to understand issues of international development from the perspective of social sciences while also emphasizing the necessity for integrated understanding of these key issues in the context of international development with the goal of giving them both broad and in-depth exposure to some of the key topics in this area.

    

   Discussion took place on how to define international development.  Associate Dean Glew stated that CASID works to promote teaching, research, and outreach on issues of development.  CASID thinks about global, political, social, economic, and technological change from the perspective of the developing world.

    

   Voice was removed from Associate Dean Kautz and Dr. Glew.

    

   The following motion passed unanimously.

    

   The University Committee on Undergraduate Education duly considered and endorsed the request for a New Minor in International Development.

    

    

   Request for a New Minor in Environment and Health (Action Item)

   Steve Kautz, Associate Dean, College of Social Science

   Request was tabled at 9/22/16 UCUE meeting with a recommendation for College of Social Science to explore option of opening this minor to students outside of the College.

    

   The committee granted voice to Associate Dean Kautz.

    

   Associate Dean Kautz provided background stating that some minors are limited only to students in the College of Social Science.  In the early stages of the initial launch of the new curriculum, he indicated the need to manage enrollment.  He also indicated that by nature, some minors should be open University wide.  At UCUE’s suggestion during the September meeting to open this minor to students outside of the College of Social Science, the College has agreed and would like to open the minor to all students.  Associate Dean Kautz stated that the department’s goal is to open all minors University wide within two years.  The fact that there are more minors and therefore more capacity makes this a possibility. 

    

   Discussion took place regarding the title of the minor and that perhaps it should be more detailed to reflect the focus of the program. 

    

   Voice was removed from Associate Dean Kautz.

    

   The following motion passed unanimously.

    

   The University Committee on Undergraduate Education duly considered and endorsed the request for a New Minor in Environment and Health with a request to delete the sentence, “The minor is available as an elective to students who are enrolled in bachelor’s degree programs in the College of Social Science” in Section 1.b., 2^nd paragraph, and a suggestion that the College consider revising the title to emphasize the Social Science focus of the minor.

    

    

   Roundtable

    

   Giles Brereton reported that CEM 141 for freshmen is no longer a suitable requirement for engineering majors and this is causing accreditation problems.  Faculty are frustrated and are pursuing corrective actions.  He asked if there are other colleges that share the same frustration with the freshmen chemistry course.  CEM 141 and CEM 151 are treated by the University as equivalent courses, however recent changes in CEM 141 make this no longer the case.  He stated that all programs in engineering would like to have CEM 151 replace CEM 141 as a college wide pre requisite chemistry course within engineering.

    

    

   Meeting adjourned at 11:30 am.

    

   Respectfully submitted by Lynne Frechen.