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Governance Minutes ArchiveSeptember 10, 1990
MINUTES COMMISSION ON UNDERGRADUATE STUDIES Burruss Hall Board Room September 10, 1990 PRESENT: Dr. E. F. Carlisle, Chair, Deans D. E. Egger, M. A. Ogliaruso, N. B. Spencer, M. A. Lewis, J. F. Marchman, R. S. Purdy, Drs. L. Geyer, R. Daniel, K. Eschenmann, D. Morris, J. Taper, E. Brown, W. Etgen, M. Murray, J. Williams-Green; C. Burch- Brown; D. Bousquet, Admissions; W. Dean, University Registrar; B. Kuster, P. McConnell, J. Hansbrough, SGA ABSENT: Dr. M. Deisenroth; A. DeHart, SGA VISITORS: Elizabeth Guertin, Jack Dudley 1. CALL TO ORDER AND ANNOUNCEMENTS: Dr. Carlisle called the meeting to order at 3:01 p.m. 2. The AGENDA - was approved as distributed. 3. The MINUTES of the May 2, 1990 meeting were approved as corrected. 4. WELCOME TO NEW MEMBERS AND ROLE OF THE COMMISSION - E. F. Carlisle Dr. Carlisle discussed the broad responsibilities of the commission -- which include the review and recommendation to the University Council of new or existing general policies relative to undergraduate studies and academic affairs. Dr. Carlisle stressed the important value of the work of the commission to students, faculty, and the administration. For the benefit of the new members, he also detailed the composition of the commission: the University Provost as chair, each college dean, (currently represented by an assistant or associate dean), one faculty representative from each undergraduate college, three Faculty senators, and four student representatives. 5. UNIVERSITY HONORS PROGRAM - Dr. C. J. Dudley Due to the Academy of Teaching Excellence's desire to broaden its role in the Honors Program, Dr. Carlisle has suggested that the academy co- ordinate any further developments in the program. Therefore, Dr. C.J. Dudley, a member of the Academy, has agreed to coordinate the office as well as evaluate and suggest initiatives in the Honors Program. Dr. Dudley presented to the commission an "agreement in principle" -- de- tailing several initiatives for revitalizing the program: o development of the Commonwealth Scholar Program and the "In Honors" Degree Program. o Commonwealth Scholars will involve all eligible students currently enrolled who have a 3.4 or greater quality point average; the "In Honors" students will be involved in a program of enhanced and/or advanced study o use of a Program of Study for students in the "In Honors" degree program. (Colleges and Programs to maintain control over the pro- gram of study as well as retain the right of approval). o creation of Honors Counselors for advice concerning scholarships and fellowships. Dr. Carlisle asked what Dr. Dudley was seeking through this "agreement in principle." He explained that the timing of the first Univesity Expo prompted his request so as to be able to inform prospective stu- dents of the new program possibilities. He will, as the semester progresses, bring to the commission each point as proposed legislation for the commission's approval. After further discussion of each point, a motion was made and seconded to endorse the "agreement in principle." Motion CARRIED. 6. LIBERAL EDUCATION FORUM - C. Burch-Brown Carol Burch-Brown reviewed for the commission the work of the Forum over the previous summer. Much effort was placed in communicating to returning students the offerings in the expanded core and other avail- able humanities courses. The Forum is continuing its review of issues surrounding the core and will be in discussion with many groups of in- dividuals in the university this year who have a connection with the core curriculum. In addition to a study of current writing practices in core courses, the Forum will use several pilot programs in the Spring, which will emphasize small study groups, writing, and cross- departmental connections among core courses. This pilot program is supported by a grant from SCHEV. Dr. Ogliaruso asked for guidance when departments seek approval to add courses (new or existing) to the university core. The moratorium on changes to the core expired this semester. The commission's consensus was to extend the moratorium on additions to the core for at least one more academic year so as to allow the Forum sufficient time to offer new guidelines for the university core. 7. FIRST WEEK OF SCHOOL - Open discussion. Wanda Dean shared with the commission some statistics relative to the undergraduate experience during the first week. 6,475 undergraduates did not receive complete schedules via the batch process. 2,566 of those were sophomores -- expected due to the changing of registration of incoming Freshmen during orientation. Also, the university core ex- pansion over the summer led many to believe that registration week would be chaotic. However, while there were students who needed to visit the add/drop terminals, several colleges reported many "pleasant surprises" -- students, informed during the summer of the core expan- sion and of the budget crisis, reacted with a positive attitude toward their individual registration problems. Bill Kuster, SGA represen- tative, expressed thanks to all offices at the university for being ex- tremely helpful to the students as they attempted to resolve their registration problems. Dr. Brown also indicated that though the Math Department experienced long lines for requests for force adds, the stu- dent population was very understanding and patient. Dr. White indi- cated that the production of the lists of available seats in the Humanities and Social Sciences Division, available the first three days of the semester were very helpful to the students in his college. Dr. Carlisle observed that, regardless of the reasons, frequent communi- cation obviously helped this Fall and we should continue this philoso- phy in the future. Dr. Ogliaruso questioned whether the current budget problems will forestall movement towards the purchase of a telephone registration system. Dr. Carlisle indicated that the budget crisis will not prohibit further discussion of a purchase of a telephone, or other, system to aid in the registration process. 8. ACADEMIC CONTINUANCE POLICY - J. F. Marchman Dr. Marchman, as chair of the Academic Undergraduate Appeals Committee, expressed concern to the commission regarding the existing academic el- igibility policy. The recent University Self-Study suggested that a subcommittee review the existing policy. However that subcommittee ad- vised the commission to wait until the university had experienced a few years under the semester system before altering the policy. The general consensus of the commission was to form a committee of faculty, stu- dents, and administrators to review existing policy and suggest any changes. 9. RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT - M. A. Ogliaruso Dr. Ogliaruso introduced a resolution (90-91 A) for discussion relative to the university current requirement that students may not transfer more than 10 semester hours of their final 40 hours toward graduation. The threshold was converted from its quarter equivalent and the policy was never reviewed for applicability under the semester system. Dr. Ogliaruso explained that this was a particular hardship on students in- volved in a study abroad program. Students who enroll full time at other institutions can not transfer all of the hours to Virginia Tech under the current policy. The commission agreed to review the resol- ution and to suggest either adoption or formulation of a subcommittee for further review at the next meeting. 10. Meeting adjourned at 4:25 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Wanda Hankins Dean Secretary
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