University of Minnesota, Morris
November 28, 2006
The Campus Assembly met on Tuesday, November 28 at 4:30 p.m. in the Science Auditorium.
Before beginning her remarks, Chancellor
Johnson invited Bert Ahern, chair of the search committee for the vice
chancellor for academic affairs and dean, to update the assembly on the
progress of the search. Ahern
named the members of the search committee and gave a brief update. There will
be a website available for the campus to view the status of the search. Bill Franklin, from the search
firm that has been hired to work with the search, will be on campus this week
to meet with groups and individuals about the search. The committee is optimistic that a candidate will be found
to fill the important role.
I. Chancellor's Remarks.
Chancellor
Johnson called the meeting to order and expressed appreciation for the
wonderful cooperation and collaborative spirit of the campus in taking on the
task of program reviews. The vice
chancellors will begin the process of completing the reviews and summarizing
the reports. Her intention is to
make them available on reserve in the Library. She reminded the assembly that she will work with the
governing system and plans to present a preliminary report by mid December. The
campus will be invited to respond in January. The outcome is expected to include a potential
reorganization and realignment of programs and positions that could be in
effect as early as February 2007.
Chancellor
Johnson announced that the UMM Strategic Plan has been submitted. The next steps include soliciting
feedback from the campus governance.
The next discussion will include the manner in which to prioritize the
items, create a timeline, and identify the funds required to carry out initiatives. She anticipates the formation of two
working groups (not task forces), linked to the governing process. Her hope is that they will begin
working spring semester 2007.
Their charge will consist of two essential items. The first is to rethink and
rearticulate ÒLiberal ArtsÓ and ÒLiberal Learning in the 21st century.Ó This is a challenge that the Twin
Cities has given UMM. The second
is to further examine the meaning and relevance of the words ÒHonorsÓ and
ÒHonors College.Ó The working
group will identify benchmarks and key indicators of the experience students
can expect to have. The marketing
question will also be considered, including a review of other institutions.
A meeting of the
chairs of all assembly committees was held. The intent was to ensure that groups are not duplicating
actions and efforts. The meeting
was productive, and she hopes to continue to schedule future meetings on a
semester basis.
II. Minutes
from 10/24/06 meeting were approved as presented.
III. From the
Executive Committee. Committee replacements were approved as presented.
Jong-Min Kim replaces Bert Ahern on
Faculty Development Committee.
Joel Vanderheyden replaces LeAnn Dean on
Activity Fee Review Committee.
IV. Curriculum
Committee
The course changes were approved for
the 2007-2009 course catalog as proposed (with the exception of Anth 3201. See discussion below.)
Division of Education:
Motion by Gwen Rudney to accept the course proposals in Education passed.
Division of the Humanities:
Motion by Jenny Nellis to accept the course proposals in the Humanities passed.
Chris Cole asked why the
Dance program had been moved from Continuing Education (CE) to the Humanities
Division. He recalled that dance
courses had been offered through CE because it was required for Education
licensure. It is now no longer
required for licensure, but is now a program in the Humanities Division. He stated that it was his understanding
that creating a Dance program in the Humanities Division was done by the former
dean without going through the Campus Resource and Planning Committee review
process. He asked why we are
continuing to staff a Dance program.
Nellis answered that staffing only consists of a 40% position in
Humanities, and all courses are taught through CE.
Division of Science and
Mathematics: Motion by Michael Korth to accept the course proposals in
Science & Math passed.
Division of the Social
Sciences: Motion by Jooinn Lee to accept the course proposals in the Social
Sciences passed (with the amended motion below).
Margaret Kuchenreuther moved
to pull aside Anth 3201 and vote on it separately. The motion was approved.
Kuchenreuther strongly agreed
with the need for the course, but asked why the General Education Requirement
designator of ENVT had been chosen.
Dennis Templeman, instructor and designer of the course, explained that
the course emphasizes the cultural environment. Making a living means exploitation of natural or domestic
resources or other humans.
Kuchenreuther stated that ENVT should be used for courses that involve
interaction with people and the natural environment. This course seems to be more about interaction with humans
on humans. Jooinn Lee recalled
that the Curriculum Committee also had a concern about the designator, which
resulted in the split vote of 7-3 in favor. Nancy Carpenter concurred with Kuchenreuther. Templeman stated that the course had
already been approved with the ENVT designator. This discussion is old. Kuechle explained that when a course
comes back with any changes, it is fair game to consider all aspects of
it. Cole stated that he also felt
it was an important course.
However, he could not see how ENVT fits the spirit or letter of the
description. Strand asked what
message the assembly is telling students if a course carrying the ENVT
designator all these years is now changed. Cole answered that if they took the course under the ENVT
designator, it fulfilled the requirement.
ThatÕs a contract we had with the student.
Templeman suggested that the
discussion was getting into a debate of territoriality, i.e., only science can
fit the definition of environment.
Kuchenreuther answered that anthropologists need a strong understanding
of the non-human environment. ItÕs
not territoriality; it is her passion that people need to understand something
besides human beings. Cole added that studying the social environment is
critical, but there is a distinction.
Dan Moore reminded the committee that voting against the course change
would not accomplish the goal of those who disagree with the ENVT designator,
because the course would then remain as ENVT.
Templeman stated that he would not object
to changing it to IP (International Perspectives). Blair Jasper was concerned that changing the GER designator
now would adversely affect anthropology majors in their third or fourth year of
study. Templeman mentioned that
the course had not been taught last year, would not be taught this year, and
will not be taught next year.
Roland Guyotte advised the Assembly not to make a change that was
hastily considered, overruling the instructor, the discipline, the Division,
and the Curriculum Committee. Jim
Cotter answered that the Curriculum Committee asked the question about ENVT;
the Curriculum Committee has looked at it; and the Curriculum Committee got it
wrong. Mary Elizabeth Bezanson
added that the Assembly has ultimate responsibility over the Curriculum
Committee, and suggested that it assert its responsibility and change the GER
designator.
Thorson called the question and the vote
to end the debate passed.
Bezanson moved to amend the proposal by
replacing the ENVT course designator to IP. The vote passed.
The vote to approve the revised course
passed.
Interdisciplinary Studies:
Motion by Kuechle to accept the course proposals in I.S. passed.
Continuing Education: Motion by Bezanson to accept the course
proposals in C.E. passed.
Min GPA Requirements
in Major/Minor/Licensure
1. All majors or areas of
concentration/minors or areas of emphasis/licensure should include the following:
ÒA
minimum GPA of 2.0 (or higher if indicated by the discipline) is required in
the major or area of concentration and in the minor or area of emphasis in
order to graduate. Grades of ÒFÓ are included in GPA calculation until
they are replaced.
(Note:
this excludes transfer courses from other institutions and includes ÒtransferÓ
courses from other campuses of the University.)
2. Any
specific limitation that refers to the D grade should be amended to say: ÒD or D+.Ó
3. Where
D grades are not allowed, catalog text should read: ÒNo grades below C- are
allowed.Ó
Rationale:
Degree-related requirements need to be explicit in the Catalog. Our current
Catalog is not clear on GPA requirements in the minor. Our current
Catalog mentions only D grades and assumes disciplines that allow D grades also
allow D+ grades.
A motion to accept the
changes was passed.
Foreign Language (FL) Designations in UMM
Catalog and Class Schedule
Proposal to change the statement of the foreign
language (FL) requirement of the GER in the 2007-2009 Catalog and remove the FL
designation from all 1001 Beginning I foreign language courses.
Rationale:
The FL designator should be removed because 1) 1001 courses do not fulfill the
requirement and the FL requirement cannot be partially met; 2) listing FL for
1001 courses is inaccurate; 3) information for students and advisors needs to
be stated as clearly as possible.
Proposed
Statement: 2007-09
Catalog
II.B. Foreign
Language (FL)—Two
courses in a single language.** One course or other proficiency.
Students are
required to demonstrate proficiency in a second language at the level of one
year of college foreign language study by a) successfully completing a UMM
course designated FL; b) passing the appropriate placement test; c) passing a
special examination, such as AP or CLEP; or d) proving that they have a native
language other than English.
[delete
corresponding footnote at end of Expanding Perspectives section of General
Education Requirements]
**Students are
required to demonstrate proficiency in a second language at the level of one
required for successful completion of the first year of college foreign
language study by a) successfully completing a UMM course designated FL; b)
passing the appropriate placement test; c) passing an examination for credit,
such as AP or CLEP; or d) proving that they have a native language other than
English.
Dan Moore asked if the reason for the
change was because APAS cannot differentiate between the two courses if they
have the same designator. Kuechle answered
that students who take the first course should not receive the FL until they
have finished both courses or have demonstrated proficiency in some other
manner. A student asked if you
could take the Italian course in Rome (ITAL 1331) or the July in Paris course
(Fren 1021) and fulfill the FL requirement. Tammy Berberi answered that the student is required to have
taken the first semester course in the language for either one of those courses
to fulfill the requirement. Sarah
Buchanan stated that the July in Paris program doesnÕt have the same
experience. The students are
evaluated when they return. They are not guaranteed the FL after completing the
course. Kuchenreuther asked if it
might be better to have a hard and fast prerequisite that students must have
taken the first language course in order to register for Fren 1021. Len Keeler stated that we have problems
enforcing prerequisites, and asked whether students couldnÕt just ask for
permission numbers. Berberi
answered that it would be a good idea good for all FL courses. Van Gooch added that it can be
done. He has done it for years. A
student asked if the change would increase the probability of a student
enrolling in the second level course because they will see the FL
designator. Buchanan asked where
the proposal came from. It did not
come from the foreign languages.
Kuechle answered that it came from the GenEd area of the RegistrarÕs
Office because the Scholastic Committee has received so many petitions
regarding FL designators. Korth
replied that the Curriculum Committee had been told that the Scholastic
Committee did not see any petitions.
OÕLoughlin added that this is a sticky wicket and it might be a good
idea to figure out a way APAS can accept FL1 and FL2 as designators.
Thorson called the question. The vote to
end discussion passed. The vote on
the motion to accept the proposed changes failed.
V. Scholastic
Committee
Nic McPhee, chair of the Scholastic
Committee, presented the following revision of the Probation and Suspension
section of the catalog.
Probation
and Suspension
Students
who do not earn a cumulative or term GPA of 2.00 are placed on probation.
Students
are placed on academic probation if either the term GPA or the cumulative GPA
falls below 2.00. Students on probation
remain eligible for financial aid.
Students
whose term GPA is less than 2.00 for two consecutive terms AND whose cumulative GPA falls below 2.00 are
suspended.
[Above is the statement
of probation and suspension policy, with the suspension consequences moved up
from under Suspension, below to make students more aware of the consequences of
continued low GPA. Below is the
revised Probation implementation statement.]
Probation
A Students is are
placed on Scholastic Committee probation if either the term GPA or the
cumulative GPA falls below 2.00. A student remains on probation if the term
GPA is below 2.00, whether or not the cumulative GPA
is above 2.00. A hold
is placed on the studentÕs record and they are sent probation
letters from the Scholastic Committee including that
include information about resources for
improvement. Advisers
receive copies of probation letters. Students on probation need their adviserÕs signature on a
registration form and must register in person. will be
allowed to register for a maximum of 14 credits and must meet with their
adviser to discuss appropriate courses; following that meeting the adviser will
contact the RegistrarÕs Office to release the probation hold. The adviser may approve registering for
more than 14 credits: the approved maximum credits must be stated in the hold
release. forfeit their self-registration privileges. An adviserÕs signature implies that the
student and adviser have discussed the registration. Students on
probation return to good standing once their most recent term GPA and their
cumulative GPA are 2.00.
McPhee explained the changed statement
does not alter how it happens. It
only changes how students register.
Previously, they were required to talk to an adviser and register by
paper in person. With the change,
the adviser can send an e-mail notice to the Registrar rather than sign a paper
form. A 14-credit limit for
students returning from probation is also included in the changes. Advisers can e-mail an exception to
that limit. The intent is to try
to cut back on the number of credits a student can take when they return from
probation, so that they donÕt get behind or in academic trouble again. Jeff Wencl, MCSA vice president for
academic affairs, and member of the Scholastic Committee, endorsed the proposed
changes. Nancy Carpenter asked if
the words Òor aboveÓ could be added at the end of the last sentence. McPhee replied that, historically, the
catalog does not use the words Òor above.Ó Dan Moore asked if it means that advisors would have to
email the RegistrarÕs Office if they want the student to be allowed to take 16
credits. McPhee answered that the
option will be included in the probation letter that goes to the student and
adviser.
The
proposed changes passed.
Motion was
made to extend the meeting until 6:10.
Motion passed.
VI. Assessment
Update.
Jim Togeas, chair of the Assessment of
Student Learning Committee (ASLC), presented an update on the progress of
Assessment. The Assessment Report
is due to NCA by November 1, 2007.
The Task of the ASLC is to: 1) describe assessment in majors and general
education, 2) describe data on assessment of student learning, and 3) report on
how the data is used to improve student learning. The short-range goals of the ASLC are to receive a minimum
assessment report from 1 course in each major, 1 course in each GE category,
and GenEd learning objectives. The
work is getting done by capstone course measurements. The NCA is not looking for student opinions of teaching, but
a report on how the faculty knows the students are learning. The ASLC has contacted individual
disciplines and has compiled available data. The areas where we seem to be lacking assessment reports is
in the GE categories of FA, Hum, and The Global Village. People involved in assessment should
report it over semester break. The
Draft of the report will be written during the summer of 2007.
VII. Constitutional Revision Task Force Update.
Mary Elizabeth Bezanson presented an
update of the work of the task force and invited people to attend the forums
(next one on 11/29), and give feedback either online or via e-mail. It is important that the campus become
engaged. The task force awaits the
feedback of the campus.
VIII. New Business. None.
IX. SenatorsÕ
Reports.
Peh Ng reminded
faculty of a meeting on 11/30 at 2:30, where the topic of the 7.12 statements
in the tenure code will be discussed.
She intends to speak on the senate floor and invites interested UMM
faculty to attend. The floor will
be opened to faculty members as well.
The meeting adjourned at 6:10
p.m.