ASCRC Minutes 10/2/07

Members Present: J. Burfeind, I. Crummy, L. Economides, S. Gauthier, J. Graham E. Henderson, S. Lodmell, J. Luckowski, K. Nalty, M. Nielsen, H. Thompson, P. Silverman, L. Tangedahl, G. Weix

Members Absent/Excused: J. Cox, M. Hoell, P. Muench, T. Hunter

Ex-Officio Present: D. Micus, A. Walker-Andrews

Guest: Randy Skelton, Lynn Stocking, J. Tompkins

Chair Thompson called the meeting to order at 2:10 p.m.

The minutes from 9/25/07 were approved.

Communications:

Certificate Guidelines Discussion

· Randy Skelton, the director of the Forensic Studies Certificate Program in Anthropology shared his ideas about certificates. There are three types of certificates. 1) College of Technology Applied Science certificates that are intended to make students employable; 2) Certificates that are intended to draw students to the University; and 3) Certificates that are a complement to a student’s major. The three types have different goals and requirements and shouldn’t be treated the same. The Forensic Studies Certificate is the second type. He was directed by the previous Provost to create this certificate as a means to interest students all over the country in UM through the online forensic studies courses. The certificate does not qualify students to get a job in a lab, but it does help students complete their general education in a coherent fashion. He is not sure how many students are in the program or how many have completed the program.

Lynn Stocking, the Associate Dean at the College of Technology commented that the Certificate of Applied Science should be recognized separately. The language that excludes the policy from applying to these certificates is acceptable, but not ideal. These students also have the opportunity to go on to get an associate of applied science. Another issue is the potential for contract training certificates that are designed for specific industries in the state according to workforce initiatives. The College is sometimes contacted by employers to create short term training programs. This should also be recognized as a type of certificate in the policy.

The workgroup will be reconstituted to revise the draft to include all certificate types. Professor Weix, Lynn Stocking, a member from Business Administration and the Graduate Council will work on a revised draft.

The committee agreed to remove the language that requires students to apply for the certificate 6 months in advance of completion.

· The open meeting on General Education is Wednesday, October 3 at 3:10 p.m. in Skaggs 169. Associate Dean Tomkins’ requests to consider collapsing Group 9: American and European Perspective and Group 10: Indigenous and Global Perspective with Group 6: Historical and Cultural Perspective was considered. The Committee agrees that GROUP 9 and 10 could be included in many of the other groups not just Historical and Cultural Studies. The framework does not specify how many general education designations a course can have.

· Chair Thompson informed the committee that there may be future curriculum proposals related to the Energy Policy that the President endorsed. The policy relates to universities providing leadership in balancing green house gas with other activities. He sent an implementation guide to her.

· There was a brief discussion regarding the Service Learning Course Designation proposal. The Carnegie Foundation created a new classification in Community Engagement. UM applied for the classification but was denied because it does not have a special designation for service learning courses in the catalog. The Service Learning Advisory Board reviewed the issue and recommends that UM establish a service learning course designation. The individuals involved with Community Outreach and student volunteer programs are interested in attaining the classification. These courses have a reflective component for academic credit. The Chair of the Advisory Board will be invited to next weeks meeting to discuss the proposal. The Director of Internship Services will also be invited.

· The Committee was asked to consider whether there was a need for a limit to how many times a course could be cross-listed. Registrar Micus indicated that there is not a problem of proliferation. It was agreed that as long as all the departments agree then the course can be cross-listed. The listing courses in several places in the catalog may attract more students. It also functions as a way of preventing duplication in courses.

The meeting was adjourned at 3:50 p.m.