Approved: 11/7/06

Minutes

Academic Council

October 3, 2006

Present: Aide, Ball, Beard, Bertrand, Buis, Hathaway, Hinkle, Janzow, McDougall, McGowan, Prater, Reinheimer, Shaw, Shepard (late), Starrett, Stephens (late), Strange and Syler

Guests: Gloria Green, Janet Weber, Desma Reno, Linda Little, Beverly Petch-Hogan, and Kathy Conway

Janzow chaired meeting until Stephens arrived.

A. Minutes of September 12, 2006

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

B. Action Items

1. New Option: B.S. Industrial Technology – Facilities Management

Shaw moved for approval of a new option – Facilities Management – to the B.S. in Industrial Technology; Aide seconded. Shaw stated that this new option was one that had developed with the successful growth of the Construction Management and Design option. The new option would prepare individuals to coordinate physical workplaces, integrating people and the work of the organization to provide a safe, healthy, and efficient work environment. He stated they are generalist who supervise and coordinate a team of specialists and consultants. Shaw stated two new courses would be developed and one in Master’s program and would be co-numbered. The new option would be submitted for accreditation at the next re-accreditation visit in 2010. McDougall suggested rather than dual numbers to use the 500 level numbers instead. Shaw agreed the numbering change would be good. The motion passed unanimously.

2. Revision: B.S. in Elementary Education: Science Concentration

In the absence of Shepard, McGowan moved for approval of the Science Concentration to be added to the B.S. in Elementary Education; Shaw seconded. Petch-Hogan and Conway presented the new proposal. Conway distributed a corrected front page of the proposal. Conway stated this revision addresses the need for elementary teachers to have extra hours in science and is the reason for adding more course choices. It was noted that due to a state mandate, elementary education programs are called concentrations and not options as with other SE programs. After discussion and because of the critical publication timing issue to approve, a motion by McDougall, seconded by Starrett; was made to eliminate the UI372 Earthquake & Society as a course option due to the policy to not have more than one UI course from the same department. Motion failed. The original motion to approve as presented passed unanimously.

3. 56-Credit Hour Rule

(Since these items were discussed at the last meeting, Provost asked that the following two items be included as Action items although omitted on published agenda.)

Shaw moved that the 56-credit hour rule be dropped while retaining the 30 hour “in residence” hours and 39 hours taken from the upper division level. Prater seconded. Motion passed. Effective Spring 2007.

4. 50% Rule

Janzow stated that the committee had no recommendation at this time. McDougall moved acceptance of the rule that 50% of an academic major be completed at Southeast; Starrett seconded. Several deans expressed concerns for programs in their colleges. McDougall stated that although he supported the concept, the College of Business could accommodate whatever is decided; he was more concerned with what makes up a Southeast degree. Prater expressed concern that she felt rushed to vote on this particular rule when she still had concerns. After further discussion, Provost expressed concern about voting to accept a rule that several colleges had expressed that it would take major curriculum changes and exceptions to make this work. Motion failed. Council agreed there will be further action on whether or not 50% of the upper level courses within the major should be at Southeast

C. Discussion Items

1. Associate degree in Nursing – transfer students

Prater introduced the nursing faculty and HHS advisor who were in attendance. Prater expressed concerns that students transferring in from the Southeast Hospital AA degree program are being asked to take UI100 and not treated as other transfer students. She stated that there are several articulation agreements with other community colleges and there is not a problem with not taking UI100 but it appears that this group of students is being penalized. Janzow stated that every student must take 42 credit hours of lower division general education courses; otherwise State policy would be violated. After much discussion, Janzow asked that Prater, McGowan, Starrett, Hinkle and Shaw to meet as a committee; look at the issues discussed; take into account other associate degree transfers/programs; and bring back a recommendation to the Council for action.

2. Late Drops

McDougall discussed the possibility of requiring a Dean’s signature/approval on all late drops in an effort to control concerns of not adhering to policies. It was suggested that a uniform statement could be added to all syllabi. Ball also suggested that via e-mail (or letter) a statement could be added and sent to students who have failing mid-term grades. After discussion of incompletes, drop dates, withdrawals, enforcement procedures and exceptions. It was also noted that a future agenda item would be the usage and policy of incompletes. Hinkle was asked to bring back to Council data regarding the number of incompletes during the spring. It was determined that “University policies will be followed and drop date deadlines will be adhered to.”

3. Two Semester Registration Subcommittee Report

Stephens asked that the report of the subcommittee be given at the next meeting.