Date Approved: 5/1/07

Minutes

Academic Council

February 13, 2007

Present: Aide, Ball, Beard, Buis, Cron, Hathaway, Hinkle, Janzow, McDougall, McGowan,

Prater, Reinheimer, Shaw, Starrett, Stephens, Strange, and Syler

Guests: A. Zaidy MohdZain (for Shepard), Fred Jones, and Stuart Towns

A. Minutes of December 5, 2006

Upon a motion by McDougall, seconded by Shaw, the minutes were unanimously approved.

B. Action Items:

1. Program Changes

a. Change in option and title: BS in Mass Communication – Television & Film Option

Stephens noted that this proposal was being brought back from the December meeting. McGowan moved acceptance of the changes in title and option of the BS in Mass Communication. McDougall seconded. Stuart Towns introduced Fred Jones, faculty member in Department of Communication. Towns explained that there is an increase of student interest in the field of broadcast news and film making. Since there would be a need for part-time adjunct faculty, the motion was tabled at the December meeting in order to provide Council with the proper CBHE Financial Projection Form (FP) which reflects salary figures for the part-time faculty. Towns stated that one class in spring and one in fall would be taught for the broadcast news option. The motion passed unanimously.

C. Discussion Items:

1. Issues with Southeast Hospital’s AAS degree in Nursing

Prater distributed comments from the subcommittee that reviewed the issues with students transferring in credits associated with the AAS degree in Nursing. Prater acknowledged that with the pending review of University Studies and curriculum revisions in the Department of Nursing that the committee had agreed to recommend to the Council that no action be taken while awaiting the outcome of the actions of the University Studies Council on the 24-hour rule for UI100. The University Studies Council will make a recommendation to Academic Council before the end of the semester. Stephens clarified that the issue is if the AAS degree from Southeast Hospital is considered a transfer degree since they use the general education courses they purchase from Southeast and are transcripted as Southeast Hospital courses. Hinkle noted that any student transferring in with fewer than 24 hours is required to take UI100. Janzow noted that the AAS degree is not a transfer degree and for state compliance it demands a 42 hour core. Starrett noted that the Southeast hospital students are counted in Southeast enrollment headcounts, have ID cards, and all of the privileges of Southeast students, and enroll through the Southeast system. After much discussion regarding reasons UI100 should or should not be waived; McGowan made a motion that UI100 be waived for any student coming to SE with AAS degree. Syler seconded. Shaw stated they currently do not require their students transferring in with an AAS degree to take UI100. It was suggested that University Studies Council could bring their recommendation to this Council. Starrett pointed out that the UI100 course is given to ensure the quality of education and is an introduction to the major and to the general liberal arts education offered at Southeast. The motion was amended by Shaw; seconded by McDougall, to waive UI100 specifically for Southeast Hospital AAS degree students only. By a voice vote the amended motion was accepted. The vote to accept the amendment to the motion was 14 for; 2 against, and 1 abstention. The effective date is summer 2007. The Council agreed that if the University Studies Council abolishes or alters the 24-hour transfer rule and Academic Council approves their action, the above stated amendment may become moot and void. Shaw stated that this Council should encourage all students to take UI100.

2. Incomplete Grades

Hinkle distributed a copy of the academic policy from the undergraduate Bulletin on Grades for incomplete work. Hinkle gave the figures for fall and summer of the numbers of incompletes (‘I’) that were later changed to F’s and how many were extended to an ‘I’. She stated there is a misconception on the part of faculty that think the grade will not change to an ‘F’ after one semester and do not bother to make appropriate change. It was noted that at the graduate level an ‘I’ will stay for one year. It was determined that Dean’s need to tell Chair’s and faculty at college council meetings about the appropriate use of ‘I’ on a student’s grade record.

3. International Policy – Student Admission Policy

McDougall presented the following proposal: For admission purposes allow an international student who has successfully completed at least a year of study at an accredited U.S. high school to substitute an appropriate ACT or SAT score for the TOEFL score. Council endorsed this proposal.

4. Two Semester Registration Subcommittee Report

McGowan presented the report. The initial problem presented was that students are being lost because they cannot register for fall and spring classes during First Step process of their first academic year. After discussion, Provost asked for input from chairpersons and faculty that serve on the Council. It was noted that chairs are obstinately opposed to preparing schedules two-at-a-time. After further discussion the Provost stated that she accepted the Committee’s report and thanked them for their good work. She stated this concern arose from Student Success Initiatives and the content of the report would be used in context to that success for freshmen getting priority.

Provost announced that Council should be aware of Senate Bill 389 and its contents because it has tremendous implications for higher education.