THESE MINUTES WILL NOT BE PRESENTED FOR APPROVAL UNTIL OCT. 12, 1998. University of Minnesota, Morris Campus Assembly Minutes May 4, 1998 The Campus Assembly met on Monday, May 4, 1998 at 4 pm in the Science Auditorium. I. Chancellor David Johnson called his last Assembly meeting to order at 4:35 pm. He spoke for the need for heroic funding for the Regional Fitness Center and encouraged pledges by May 15. Jim Togeas spoke on behalf of the NCA Task Force about the plan to submit a Special Emphasis Self-Study Report that would address critical, timely issues. Two public forums will be held to present the plan to the campus. Gary McGrath reviewed projected enrollment figures for next year, including an enrollment goal of 1938 (1298 returning students, 550 freshmen, 90 transfers, and 30 UMTC Transfers/UMM re-admits). Bert Ahern asked about deficits and Dave Johnson assured him we're on budget for the year. II. Sam Schuman noted that Semesters Advising Day, May 5, would be the second significant hurdle to a smooth transition to semesters and encouraged everyone to turn out for the opening convocation at 9 am in the PE Center. III. The minutes of the April 13, 1998 Assembly meeting were approved as distributed. IV. The Assembly reviewed the slate presented by the Functions and Awards Committee for Scholars of the College. Bert Ahern wondered whether the criteria that independent work be at a level recognized by the professional field" resulted in discipline discrimination. Jack Imholte countered that disciplines validate the significance of work from within. Nic McPhee noted that one failed application included three publications at professional conferences and wondered how much more evidence was necessary. Imholte wondered if perhaps the involvement levels of project participants was not clearly delineated. Eric Klinger also noted a rejected applicant who had presented at a meeting in Chicago. Imholte noted that the Functions and Awards Committee cannot be aware of the level of prestige of all professional conclaves, nor can the Assembly move to add additional award recipients to the slate without additional material due to the confidentiality of the applications. Dian Lopez also described a failed applicant who wrote a National Science Foundation grant for a summer residency at Dartmouth. Vicky Demos found the discussion troubling and inquired about the committee process, specifically means of obtaining clarification. Imholte admitted that submitters were not queried and reminded the Assembly of time constraints on the selection process due to program printing deadlines before the ceremony. Dwight Purdy suggested the process needs a critique step and Roland Guyotte wondered about adding a petition process for grievances. Eric Klinger made a motion that nominated individuals not forwarded to the Assembly should be reviewed forthwith and resubmitted to the Assembly in time for the May 13 ceremonies. Mary Elizabeth Bezanson seconded. Dimitra Giannuli suggested that if the committee followed designated procedure, its work should not be second-guessed. Ty Buckman wondered how the deadline could be circumvented. Johnson emphasized that the ceremony program is an historic document and must be graceful, not riddled with errata. The motion passed by vocal vote. V. David Johnson noted that Jim Cotter will replace Bert Ahern as Chair of the Assessment of Student Learning Committee on the proposed 1998-99 Assembly and Adjunct Committee slates. Eric Klinger will serve on that committee as well. The slate was approved and Johnson thanked the 1998-99 Executive Committee for its work. VI. Jeri Mullin was elected USA representative to the Executive Committee. VII. Concerning the Curriculum Committee recommendations on its adjunct committees, presented previously for discussion, Sam Schuman reminded the Assembly that the recommendations were those of the adjunct committees themselves: Continue Academic Support Services, Teacher Education, International Programs, and Minority Experience Committees. Discontinue General Education and Honors Program Committees. Delete sections C-1-a&b and C-5-a&b from the By-Laws. Dwight Purdy made a motion to amend the motion as follows: Continue Academic Support Services, Teacher Education, International Programs, and Minority Experience Committees. Discontinue General Education Committee. Have Curriculum Committee construct a new adjunct committee to oversee UROP, MAPs, and the Honors Program. Amend By-laws accordingly. Ferolyn Angell seconded the motion. Michael O'Reilly reminded the Assembly that the Honors Committee requested disbanding because of conflict with a student advisory group. Also, the program is well-established given the dearth of faculty available to teach it. Unless changes are forthcoming, no new committee is necessary. If one is established, it will need clear lines of authority. In addition, the Honors Program would not be assisted by the committee's incorporation of MAPs and UROP responsibilities. Bert Ahern favored the amended motion, insisting that Honors should have a faculty committee. Angell confirmed the need for a committee in light of a lack of staffing. Fred Farrell also supported the amended motion. Brent Heeringa encouraged the Assembly to do whatever would facilitate the Honors Program because it is valued by students. Jason Anderson agreed, noting it would be beneficial to have a committee that could review what is being done with honors (GPA) designations in the University Senate. Greg Thorson suggested an infusion of more people and fresh ideas in place of disbanding. O'Reilly wondered if a continued committee would simply go over the same ground again. The Purdy amendment carried and the motion to continue four committees, disband one, and have the Curriculum Committee create a new adjunct committee passed vocally. VIII. The following material from the Curriculum Committee was approved without discussion: QUARTER PROPOSALS ¥ WSS 1513, Varsity Soccer ¥ WSS 3207, Soccer Coaching SEMESTER PROPOSALS ¥ Sociology requirements for the major ¥ IS 1301-1302, Dakota Language I-II SEMESTERS GENERAL EDUCATION ¥ ED 1011-1012, Beginning Sign Language I-II as "FL" ¥ Ed 2011-2012, Imtermediate Sign Language I-II as "FL" ¥ IS 1301-1302, Dakota Language I-II as "FL" The follow were discussed prior to voting and eventually approved. SEMESTER PROPOSALS ¥ Transition Curriculum course catalog ¥ Campus-wide policy, Topics course template Schuman explained that the Topics courses will carry an overall or umbrella designation (say, Engl 3110) with specific listings falling under it (say, 3111). The umbrella course designation will indicate whether it meets general education requirements and that indication will apply to all specific listings that fall under the umbrella. The term "topics" should apply only to topics courses and not to used elsewhere in the catalog. Concerning the Transition catalog, Gordon McIntosh made a motion to add the following text: Courses designed or expected to use undergraduate teaching assistants in charge of classroom, discussion or laboratory instruction should indicate this use of undergraduate teaching assistants in the course catalog and course schedule. Nic McPhee seconded. Jeff Ratliff-Crain wondered only one mode of instruction was being singled out for a disclaimer, particularly when the practice can be advantageous. McIntosh answered that the catalog mustn't mislead readers about which courses involve instruction from non-ranked faculty and that advantages to using teaching assistants should be delineated in the course description. Chris Cole added that the motion addresses classes where students are in charge, not merely enhancing instruction. Fred Farrell disapproved of disclaiming something we don't actually do but Kristin Kaster praised the amendment's forthrightness. Eric Klinger suggested that scripted discussion sessions led by a student who learns from the process actually enhance lectures but the student is not in charge and the proposed labeling would require extensive expense. Klinger made a motion to amend the amendment such that each application of the disclaimer must reflect the proportion of class hours to discussion time. There was no second. Barbara Burke further questioned the attack on teaching methods, noting that different faculty frequently teach the same course via different methods. Roland Guyotte made a motion to refer the McIntosh motion to the Curriculum Committee, which passed vocally. The Transitional catalog was then approved. IX. Bert Ahern made a motion to extend the meeting for fifteen minutes, which was seconded by Nic McPhee and approved. X. Jim Olson reviewed policy material for advising under semesters, noting the reduced number of opportunities to register. Unofficial mid-term grades will be provided for freshman. Bert Ahern asked whether advisers will receive them and Olson explained that instructors will have the option to deal with the student only or to involve the adviser. Tom Johnson asked whether the C minimum included the C-. Karla Klinger said it hadn't been discussed but Kaster suggested that if an instructor was worried about a C- minus student, he or she should take the initiative to discuss the situation. Ahern asked whether adviser/advisee matching was discussed and Olson said yes but no improvements were suggested. Mario French noted the injustices of the matching process such as requiring minority students to be advised by MRC personnel. Ken Crandall asked if the policies applied to freshmen only or transfers and Olson explained it applies to all students in their first two years on campus, including post secondary students. Bert Ahern indicated his intention not to support the action, which he found lacking, because a lacking advising policy will negatively impact retention. The material was approved. XI. David Johnson thanked the community for its use of communal governance so similar to New England town meetings. He discouraged fractionalization and praised the community's ability to change direction as indicated by such initiatives as requiring 2 science courses and a 3000 level course outside the major. There was no further business and the meeting adjourned at 6:15 pm. Rebecca Webb