ASCRC Policy Changes, Presented to the Senate 2/9/06

Internships:

Students may count toward university graduation requirements up to 6 total credits of internship credit in 198, 298, 398, and 498 courses.

All 198, 298, 398, and 498 courses will be titled “Internship.”

Justification: ECOS asked ASCRC to study internships offered through UM’s Internship Services office. We looked at the various courses offered under X98, the recent numbers of students taking these internships and the number of credits they took. We heard from the Director of Internship Services, Terry Berkhouse, and faculty in the School of Business. We determined that the maximum number of credits for graduation should be 6. This is a reasonable number, given the needs of individual departments across campus to offer their students internship opportunities.

Declaration of major:

Students must declare a major prior to completion of 45 credits or after three semesters, whichever occurs first.

Justification: The deans asked the Faculty Senate (ASCRC) to consider requiring students to declare a major after 30 credits or two semesters as a means of improving student retention. We determined that 45 credits or three semesters was a more realistic, flexible requirement that will still help improve student retention.