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Governance Minutes ArchiveMarch 25, 1991
MINUTES COMMISSION ON UNDERGRADUATE STUDIES Burruss Hall Board Room March 25, 1991 PRESENT: Dr. E.F. Carlisle, Chair; Deans M. Ogliaruso, D. Egger, M. Lewis, N. Spencer, J. Marchman, R. Purdy; Drs. L. Geyer, R. Daniel, C. Shoulders, D. Morris, J. Taper, E. Brown, W. Etgen, M. Murray; B. Sgro, Dean of Students; C. Burch-Brown; W. Dean, University Registrar; D. Bousquet, Admissions; P. McConnell, SGA. ABSENT: Drs. J. M. White, M. Deisenroth, K. Eschenmann; W. Kuster, A. Dehart, J. Hansbrough, SGA. VISITORS: Elizabeth Guertin, H. M. McElrath (CT) 1. CALL TO ORDER AND ANNOUNCEMENTS: Dr. Carlisle called the meeting to order at 3:00 p.m. Carol Burch- Brown announced the visit of Dr. Walter Vincenti, Professor Emeritus, College of Engineering, Stanford University, on April 2, 1991. He will discuss Engineering and Undergraduate Education. 2. The AGENDA was approved as distributed. 3. The MINUTES of the February 11, 1991 meeting were approved as distrib- uted. 4. RESOLUTION 90-91. E, INCOMPLETE GRADES, FIRST READING - N. Spencer Dr. Spencer explained that the charge of the subcommittee was to review the current university procedure of calculating the "I" grade as an "F" in the overall grade point average (QCA). She noted that the subcom- mittee unanimously agreed that the purpose of the "I" grade was for ex- tenuating circumstances and that the student should not be penalized for receiving this grade. She also noted that a great concern of the group was the issue of re-educating the faculty in the appropriateness of awarding the "I" grade. Also, Dr. Spencer reported a request from Student Systems Computer Services (SSCS) to change the effective date of the resolution to Spring, 1992. SSCS had indicated that programming resources were not sufficient to ensure implementation of the policy Fall term. Dr. Spencer agreed, as chair, to change the implementation date of the resolution. Dr. Marchman noted that there was some concern in his college that the new policy may lessen the "urgency" in correct- ing the incomplete grade. However, he also observed that the biggest problem is in educating the faculty in the proper use of the "I" grade and he reported that the College of Engineering had launched such an effort during this year. Dr. Brown also observed some concern in the College of Arts and Sciences. In sharing his opinion, Dr. Brown noted that though he can understand arguments for and against the resolution, he believed that no work should be counted until it is complete. Dr. Shoulders noted that the current policy lacks fairness since it penal- izes all students. He stressed that it is important to re-educate the faculty in the awarding of the "I" grade. Dr. Ogliaruso indicated that there was great concern in his college regarding this proposal. He suggested that further review by the Faculty Senate or the Commission on Faculty Affairs seemed appropriate. Also, he shared the concerns of some of his faculty that students may pressure faculty to award an "I" grade so as to avoid academic probation. Dr. Murray responded that she does not believe that there would be wholesale abuse of the policy since many students are not aware of current policy. Dr. Spencer also stated that it is better to risk abuse to help the many students who would benefit from this resolution. Dr. Geyer reported that the Fac- ulty Senate had endorsed this resolution at an earlier date and that the Commission on Faculty Affairs also had discussed the issue. He suggested that it was important to keep the resolution on track. Dr. Ogliaruso moved that the resolution be referred to the Commission on Faculty Affairs for further discussion. The motion died for lack of a second. 5. COURSE CRITERIA COMMITTEE REPORT - M. A. Lewis A motion was made and seconded to approve for second reading the Febru- ary 11, 1991 report. The motion CARRIED. Courses approved effective Fall 1991: . o EE 3305-3306 Electrical Power Engineering (revised) o EE 3254 Industrial Electronics (revised) o EE 3714 Circuits, Signals, and Systems (revised) o EE 4205-4206 Electronic Circuit Design (revised) o EE 4334 Power System Analysis and Control o HIDM 1104 Two-Dimensional Design Application o HIDM 1114 Design Appreciation (revised) o MATH 1504 Precalculus Courses approved effective Spring 1992: o CSES 4444 Advanced Crop Management Action on Curriculum Checklists and Options: o Agriculture Technology, Class of 1992, 1993 o CSES minor, Class of 1992 Courses dropped: o CSES 3304 Meteorology of the Biosphere, Fall 1991 o EE 3364 Principles of Electrical Machinery, Fall 1991 o EE 4344 Power System Dynamics and Control, Fall 1991 A motion was made and seconded to approve for first reading the March 25, 1991 committee report. Motion CARRIED. 6. ACADEMIC CALENDARS - W. H. Dean Wanda Dean discussed with the commission the composition of the Sched- uling and Registration committee and explained that one of its charges was to suggest academic calendars to the University Provost. She shared with the commission the struggle that the committee had experi- enced in designing an academic calendar that meets the many needs of all the university's constituencies. Recently, the committee decided that it would attempt to establish criteria from which all future cal- endars can be modeled. (Reference handout from March 25, 1991 for spe- cific criteria.) Ms. Dean pointed out that the initiation of the Fall break and the shortening of the Thanksgiving holiday were two of the more significant changes. She also reported that the committee had reached tentative agreement with Radford University concerning alter- nate Spring Commencement dates. Dr. Spencer queried the rationale for scheduling the universities' commencement ceremonies on separate week- ends. Dr. Carlisle responded that it seemed reasonable to alternate weekends. He noted that the business community was very critical and that the universities should be responsive to the lodging needs of par- ents. Dr. Marchman distributed a letter, forwarded earlier to Dr. Carlisle, from the College of Engineering Faculty Organization. He stressed that the major concern of the organization was the "erosion of the number of class days in the academic year calendar." He also ob- served that the inclusion of Monday holidays adversely impacts on the Monday laboratories. Also, he shared the concerns of the Commencement Committee in regards to the scheduling of the Fall Commencement Cere- mony prior to the end of the term. Dr. Etgen also shared his concerns in relation to the loss of class days and the scheduling of laborato- ries, especially during the Fall semester. Some members observed that though the Thanksgiving break is shortened the students will "take" the entire week nevertheless. Dr. Taper responded that students are adults and that the university should treat them as such; she further stated that if students stretch the Thanksgiving break by cutting class then they are responsible for that decision. Ms. Dean informed the commis- sion that their comments and concerns would be shared with the Schedul- ing and Registration Committee before final approval is sought from the University Provost. 7. Meeting adjourned at 3:50 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Wanda Hankins Dean University Registrar
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