University Archives of Virginia Tech

Virginia Tech
Governance Minutes Archive

October 28, 1991

                                    MINUTES

                      COMMISSION ON UNDERGRADUATE STUDIES

                            President's Board Room

                               October 28, 1991

 

  PRESENT:  Dr. E.F. Carlisle, Chair; Deans J. White, M. Ogliaruso, D. Egger,

                N. Spencer, J. Marchman, R. Purdy, J. Crunkilton for M.

                Lewis; Drs. C. Shoulders, J. Taper, B. Reed, M. Murray, L.

                Geyer, K. Eschenmann, B. Sgro; C. Burch-Brown; W. Dean, Uni-

                versity Registrar; D. Bousquet, Admissions; M. McGuire, SGA.

 

 

  ABSENT:   Drs. M. Deisenroth, D. Morris, P. Feret; E. Fox, D. Lubin, B.

                Haddican, SGA.

 

 

  VISITORS: Elizabeth Guertin, Joyce Williams-Green, William Snizek

 

 

 

  1.  CALL TO ORDER AND ANNOUNCEMENTS:

      Dr. Carlisle called the meeting to order at 3:00 p.m.

 

  2.  The AGENDA was approved with the deletion of item 6.  Dr. Carlisle ex-

      plained that the item will be restored to the agenda when Dr. Joseph

      Pitt can attend.

 

  3.  The MINUTES of the October 14, 1991 meeting were approved as edited.

 

  4.  COURSE CRITERIA COMMITTEE REPORT  - J. White

      Dr. White offered for first reading the October 28, 1991 report.

 

      A motion was made and seconded to approve for second reading the Octo-

      ber 14, 1991 report.  The motion CARRIED.

 

      Courses approved effective Spring 1992:

 

      o   Biol 4634 Molecular Biology

      o   Rel  4324 Topics in Religion and Culture, request for cross-listing

                          with Humanities, with Religion as home department

 

 

  5.  DISCUSSION, ACADEMIC ADVANCEMENT PILOT PROGRAM - Dr. William Snizek

      Dr. William Snizek, Director, presented an overview of the pilot pro-

      gram approved by the Board of Visitors in April 1990.  He explained

      that our program, patterned after the Project Advance Program at

      Syracuse University, will facilitate a working relationship between the

      commonwealth's high schools and the university.  It affords senior high

      school students the opportunity to enroll in regular Virginia Tech

      courses in their own schools at a reduced cost and provides an in-

      service training program for the high school instructors.  He noted

      that the courses are monitored by our faculty, assuring that the

      courses are identical to those taught by faculty on our campus.  Stu-

      dents will receive college credit and will have an academic transcript

      of the work.  He stressed that students wishing to request regular ad-

      mission to the university must do so via a separate application.

 

      Some college representatives cautioned that the university be mindful

      of the concerns that may emerge from the community colleges.  That is,

      a concern that we are trespassing in their "territory."  As Dr. White

      related, the initiation of the two year Agriculuture Technology program

      prompted at least one community college to voice strong objections.

      Other members of the commission discussed some procedural issues, in-

      cluding grading practices and teaching methodology.  Elizabeth Guertin

      asked Dr. Snizek of plans to evaluate the success of the program.  He

      replied that he plans a study that would compare a cohort sample of Va

      Tech students with students participating in the program.  Dr. Carlisle

      suggested that there were two key issues.  One, the issue recently

      raised by the community colleges regarding their perceived

      "entitlement" to dual enrollment.  He noted that this issue is resolv-

      able.  And two, the issue of general education policy.  That is, how

      will the dual enrollments affect AP courses and how well do the dual

      enrollees succeed in higher education?

 

  6.  REVIEW OF ADMISSIONS POLICY - Dr. Carlisle

      Dr. Carlisle announced that he would forward to the commission a memo

      detailing the charge of the subcommittee as well as its composition.

      He suggested that the membership of the subcommittee be selected from

      the commission with faculty college representatives, a faculty senate

      representative, a college dean, and a student representative.  In re-

      sponse to a request for comments, Dr. Geyer affirmed the inclusion of

      faculty on the committee, noting that admission is within the purview

      of the faculty.  Dr. Spencer also suggested that the committee be bal-

      anced with those who have academic interests as well as with those who

      have practical experience in dealing with these issues. Ms. McGuire

      also indicated support for the inclusion of student representatives on

      the sub-committee.

 

  7.  OTHER BUSINESS

      Carol Burch-Brown announced that members of UFLE 's steering committee

      had met with the Council of College Deans.  They discussed suggested

      changes to the university core curriculum report.

 

  8.  Meeting adjourned at 4:10 p.m.

 

                                     Respectfully submitted,

 

 

                                     Wanda Hankins Dean

                                     University Registrar

Current Virginia Tech Governance Minutes Archive

Return to Virginia Tech Governance Minutes Archive

VT History | Digital Library and Archives | Special Collections | University Archives

Send questions or comments to:

Tamara Kennelly, University Archivist
University Libraries
Virginia Tech
P.O. Box 90001
Blacksburg, VA, 24062-9001

URL: http://spec.lib.vt.edu/minutes/cus/1991/October+28++1991.html
Last modified on: Tuesday, 25-Sep-2001 13:57:34 EDT