MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY

University Committee on Undergraduate Education

MINUTES

Thursday, March 16, 2017

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

Board Room, 4^th Floor Administration Building

Attending:  Eva Almenar, Rich Bellon, Giles Brereton, Marcos Caballero, Sekhar Chivukula, Andrew Corner, Jan Eberle, Kathy Forrest, Nicole Geske, Sheng-Mei Ma, Richard Miksicek, Matt Pontifex, Fred Rodammer, Joshua Sanchez (for Jessica Sender), Jacob Snyder, Emily Tabuteau, Janette Vani (for Laura Nelson), Scot Yoder (for Carolyn Loeb)

Absent: Carolyn Loeb, Laura Nelson, Jessica Sender, Mary Kay Smith, Jordan Stomps, Colleen Tremonte

The agenda was approved.

The minutes were approved from February 9, 2017.

Comments from the Chairperson

Chairperson Miksicek stated that at the February 14 Steering Committee meeting, President Simon expressed concerns regarding current budget constraints affecting the University as well as budget uncertainty at the national level.  A rollout during Fall, 2017 for an integrative behavioral health system for students was discussed that will involve a proactive and integrated system to better triage students for health concerns. 

Comments from the Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education

Associate Provost Chivukula indicated that the first piece of the new integrative behavioral health system that Chairperson Miksicek mentioned is to combine MSU’s Counseling and Psychiatric services.  The unit will be called CAPS.  The physical move has not yet happened.  Visit caps.msu.edu for additional information.  Associate Provost Chivukula also stated that regarding federal budget concerns, the Administration has proposed a large cut in the Department of Education, which will have implications for students on work-study.  So far, Pell grants have not been cut. 

Michigan Transfer Network and Degree Pathways Enhancement Proposal (Information Item)

John Gaboury, Associate Provost for Academic Services & Enrollment Management, reported on the Michigan Transfer Network and Degree Pathways Enhancement Proposal.  Associate Provost Gaboury defined the Michigan Transfer Agreement (MTA) stating that it was signed in Fall 2014 and allows students from participating institutions to transfer up to 30 credit hours in general education requirements to participating 4-year Michigan colleges and Universities.   

Associate Provost Gaboury stated the Transfer Steering Committee met in the Fall to kick off a statewide effort to coordinate existing transfer initiatives and focus on new opportunities to improve transfers.  The three phases are (1) Statewide Course Equivalency Database, (2) MTA Integration and Expansion of the Course Equivalency Database, and (3) Degree Transfer Pathways.  He stated that in phase 3 the committee would like to align course requirements so that students can complete up to 60 credits and an associate degree at a community college, then transfer and complete the remaining bachelor’s degree requirements.  Associate Provost Gaboury discussed reasons why MSU would not agree with a 60-credit block of credits being transferred.  Discussion took place on the fact that MSU’s curriculum changes often depending on student and industry needs.  Associate Provost Gaboury stated that the big issue is not accepting the credit, but the lack of consistency among courses from different colleges.  He asked UCUE members to inform faculty within their colleges and provide input to him regarding this issue.  He also noted that this is a work in progress.  Examples at other colleges were briefly discussed.  Associate Provost Chivukula stated that 25% of MSU undergraduate degrees that are granted go to transfer students.  The preference is to work together to make this a degree pathway opposed to a course articulation agreement.

Request to Change the Graduation Requirements for All Majors in the College of Engineering (Action Item)

Neeraj Buch, Associate Dean, College of Engineering

Amanda Idema, Assistant Dean, College of Engineering

The committee granted voice to Associate Dean Buch and Assistant Dean Idema.

Associate Dean Buch stated that the College would like to add MTH 235 as a graduation requirement for all Applied Engineering Sciences (AES) graduates.  Prior students in the program took either COM 225 or MGT 325 and the current requirement is to take one or the other.  He stated that this request aligns well with other AES required courses and that the Professional Advisory Board approves this change.  He noted that this change does not add to the students’ credit load.

Associate Dean Buch also requested that Zoology 141 be removed from the Academic Programs book since the course is no longer offered.  This course was replaced with Integrative Biology 150; however, Zoology 141 was never removed from the catalog language. 

Voice was removed from Associate Dean Buch and Assistant Dean Idema.

The following motion passed unanimously.

The University Committee on Undergraduate Education duly considered and endorsed the Request to Change the Graduation Requirements for All Majors in the College of Engineering with a suggestion that Integrative Biology should be added to section 1.a., under Graduation Requirements for All Majors.

Request to Change the Requirements for Admission to the College in the Eli Broad College of Business (Action Item)

Prior to today’s UCUE meeting, Kathy Petroni, Associate Dean, Eli Broad College of Business, inquired if her attendance was necessary since this request is to update catalog language.  Chairperson Miksicek and Associate Provost Chivukula agreed that her attendance was not necessary. 

Chairperson Miksicek provided background for the request stating that students in the College of Business are admitted on a competitive basis primarily as sophomores upon completion of 28 credits.  These credits include Computer Science and Engineering 101, which is computing concepts and competencies, Math 103 or 124, and the Tier 1 writing requirement.  This Request is to update the listing for the Tier 1 writing requirement since it has been consolidated into two courses – Writing 101 and Writing 195H.   

The following motion passed unanimously.

The University Committee on Undergraduate Education duly considered and endorsed the request to Change the Requirements for Admission to the College in the Eli Broad College of Business.

Roundtable

Fred Rodammer reported that the Athletic Council met on February 23 and that they are active in light of the issues facing campus athletics.  Mark Hollis requested that the Athletic Council arrange for a special retreat.

Giles Brereton commented that some transfer students are extremely well qualified and MSU should continue to give students the opportunity to transfer in if they desire.  He stated that his experience from people in Ann Arbor indicate that students can receive a better education at a local community college, such as Washtenaw, in regard to the large classes that freshmen have to take.  He believes this is due to the instructors at the Community Colleges. 

Sheng Mei-Ma commented that if the transfer student population is generally less diverse than an entering freshmen class, is it an indication that they are less diverse in terms of socio economic status?  Or does the diversity lie in another area?  Fred Rodammer commented that in his experience with transfer students, the reason they are a transfer student is mainly driven by economics. 

Meeting adjourned at 10:50 am.

Respectfully submitted by Lynne Frechen.