Tuesday, 20 March 2007

Committee chairs: Brenner (Student Affairs), Gerard (Advancement), Frierson (ITC)

Chancellor DePaolo, Provost Hosier

February minutes were approved as posted.

Individual Reports

1. Chancellor’s Report: The Chancellor and the Provost both had a previous commitment.

2. President’s Report

1. President Spaulding reminded the Senate that the ad hoc committee on AA reorganization is receiving input.

2. Next, he discussed applied learning, noting that the existing structures within the College are not adequate for the initiative— a significant curricular initiative from the dean—that is in front of us. We have not had a case like this before, but the system has to be able to accommodate it. We are outgrowing current structures and have to find our way forward, thinking not just of this action, but of long-term solutions. There must be a way for the faculty to review applied learning and see if we should adopt it as a college wide value. The existing structure is the UCC, although it is not a perfect match for this task.

Other option: Turn it over to the CAS committee. Concerns with this option: it is not an elected body. This has not been an issue in the past because curricular initiatives have come from the faculty. Another option: have an ad hoc committee with CAS members from UCC.

Q: Do we wish to have a representative body from the faculty discuss this issue?

Motion: That UCC report to the Senate regarding a definition of applied learning and report with recommendations on whether CAS should adopt applied learning as a college wide value.

Problem: A member of UCC suggested that UCC might not be adequate for this task—UCC already has a mandate. Perhaps another committee could report on this in a more complex fashion. Another concern: faculty from other schools will be making decisions about an initiative from the College.

Amendment to the motion: change UCC to “CAS members of the current UCC.”

One item of discussion: should this decision be put in the hands of just four people?

Amendment to the motion carried.

Amendment to the motion: substitute requirement for value in the motion.

Amendment to the motion carried.

The motion now reads: That CAS members of the current UCC report to the Senate regarding a definition of applied learning and report with recommendations on whether CAS should adopt applied learning as a college wide requirement.

Motion, as twice amended, carried.

Thus, in the short run, President Spaulding remarked, we have a way for deans to suggest initiatives and the faculty has a way to review it. What about a long-term solution?

A motion was brought forward by a member of the senate: That the CAS Curriculum Committee be an elected committee of the CAS faculty.

Amendment to the motion: to change the motion to read: “That the curriculum committees of all colleges and schools be elected by their faculty.”

Amendment to the motion carried.

Discussion: Can the Senate direct how committees are elected? Perhaps this should be prefaced with “the Senate recommends.” Another senator remarked that we meet in the Senate under the aegis of the university. There is no mechanism for shared governance within the college. The Schools, deans noted, already have mechanisms in place for handling similar situations, if not specifically initiatives from the dean.

Carol Pilgrim clarified the structure of the CAS Curriculum Committee: First, there is a call to chairs for nominations; nominations are balanced in terms of areas and new and returning members. All course actions are sent forward by departments and are considered by the 10-person CAS. CAS has not, at this stage, looked at applied learning.

Motion: That we add the words the “Senate recommends” and proceed from there. The motion now reads: “The Senate recommends that the curriculum committees of all colleges and schools be elected by their faculty.”

Motion, as amended, carried.

3. Ken Gurganus reported that there would be more information next meeting regarding the rights/duties of Associate Deans and Academic Directors.

4. Elections to Autonomous Committee: Gene Tagliarini is serving as elections officer.

All faculty should make sure to look at the verification ballot.

5. Kemille Moore is available if there are questions on the common reading experience.

6. Plans by Division of Student Affairs for a Convocation were reported. See agenda for information on this.

Committee Reports

1. Basic Studies Committee has been meeting. See agenda for information.

2. Academic Standards Committee offered the following motions.

[MOTION 07-07-27] carried. Motion: That the following changes be made: DECLARATION OF MAJOR – page 75 of the 2006-2007 Undergraduate Catalogue

Undergraduate students admitted as freshmen may ~~must~~ declare and be accepted into a major field of study after completing a minimum of 24 semester hours at UNCW. They must declare a major before or during the semester that they complete 45 semester hours of credit. Students will not be allowed to preregister or register for the following semester until a major or a pre-major has been declared. Additional advising may be required prior to registration for continuing students who have completed 30 hours or more and have not declared a major or a pre-major.

ADMISSION TO DEGREE PROGRAMS – page 114 of the 2006-2007 Undergraduate Catalogue

Admission to the College of Arts and Sciences

University College Sstudents wishing to declare a major within the College of Arts and Sciences will request to have their records transferred to the appropriate department ~~no earlier than the end of the second semester of the freshman year~~ after earning 24 credits at UNCW but before or during the semester that they complete 45 semester hours of credit. See departmental requirements for any prerequisites to declaring a major.

Admission to the Professional Schools

University College Sstudents wishing to declare a major within a professional school will request to have their records transferred to the appropriate school ~~no earlier than the end of the second semester of the freshman year~~ after earning 24 credits at UNCW but before or during the semester that they complete 45 semester hours of credit. These students will then be assigned to that school for pre-professional advising.

[Motion 07-07-28] carried after the following discussion and an amendment. Motion: That the following changes be made:

Explanatory Note: The Academic Standards Committee offers a motion concerning re-enrollment of former UNCW students. It establishes an academic review of formerly ineligible students, which currently does not happen. Also, the Registrar’s Office will be handling Re-Enrollments starting Summer 2007. This motion affects the working in two sections of the catalogue.

ADMISSIONS-FORMER STUDENT (Re-enrolling) – page 35, Undergraduate Catalogue 2006-2007

Former UNCW ~~All~~ students who left in good academic standing must apply for re-enrollment before May 1 for fall semester and December 1 for spring semester. Former UNCW students who had been declared academically ineligible to return to the university must complete the Re-enrollment Review Process prior to these deadlines as described below.

Re-enrollment Review

Former UNCW students who had been declared academically ineligible to return to the university must make their case in writing in their Re-enrollment Application. The Re-enrollment Review forms must be obtained from the Registrar’s Office and submitted by March 1 for fall semester and October 1 for spring semester. The Registrar will forward all documentation for review to the Re-enrollment Review Committee, selected by the deans. The results of the review will be passed on to the Registrar’s Office with a determination of the acceptance, or rejection, of the applicants depending upon their potential for academic success. Students who are allowed to re-enroll may be required to meet with their dean to discuss their academic plans.

Addition as per amendment below: Decisions of the Re-enrollment Review Committee are final.

RETENTION, DISMISSAL AND READMISSION, pg 82-83. , Undergraduate Catalogue 2006-2007

Students who do not meet the minimum grade point requirement for retention at the conclusion of the spring semester will be declared academically ineligible. The student will be allowed to make up deficiencies during this university's summer sessions immediately following the spring semester in which the ineligibility was declared. If such deficiencies are not removed after the completion of the summer sessions, the student will not be permitted to enroll for two consecutive regular semesters (fall and spring). ~~be suspended from the university and must sit out the following fall and spring semesters. A suspended student may apply for re-enrollment for the following fall semester.~~ Readmission is contingent upon ~~the availability of space.~~ the results of the Re-enrollment Review. ~~Suspended~~ Academically ineligible students may enroll in any summer session. Re-enrollment forms are available in the Admissions Registrar’s Office. To ensure enrollment consideration, students should submit the forms to the Admissions Office by May 1 for the fall semester or December 1 for the spring semester. If a student is allowed to re-enroll, he/she must see an academic advisor before registering for classes. See also ADMISSIONS-FORMER STUDENT (Re-enrolling).

Discussion: The likelihood of students appealing is exceptionally high. At least some recommendation should be made in terms of this. Response to this point: there will be a good deal of paperwork that students will have to undertake. Clarification: “dean” refers to the office of the dean.

Amendment: That “Decisions of the Re-enrollment Review Committee are final.” be added as the last sentence under “Re-enrollment Review.”

Amendment to the motion carried.

3. University Curriculum Committee has come to Senate to ask: Do UCC duties include reviewing department name changes? Question boils down to whether or not this constitutes “general curricular policies and changes which have total university impact.” Historically, it has been a matter of the department and permission of the dean.

Discussion: It is more than just a title: the name change may have a larger impact on the university. This is a governance change and so far the Steering Committee hasn’t been instructed enough; they will solicit more information. Reminder from OIR that name changes can have serious beyond this campus and this may be something to consider.

Old Business:

[Motion 07-06-26] did not come to a vote. Motion: The Department of Geography and Geology offers the following: That the Dean of Students’ Office require the Wellness Center to provide written verification of the time and date of student visits to the Wellness Center, upon request by the individual students.

Discussion: Because of the potential legal complexity of this issue, might the Wellness Center and others have better ideas about how to do this?

Motion: that [Motion 07-06-26] be referred to the appropriate committee as determined by the Steering Committee. Motion carried.

New Business: none

Meeting adjourned 3:49.

Minutes by Meghan Sweeney, Senate Secretary