March 14, 2013
Minutes
Academic Affairs Committee
DUC 211
March 14, 2013
3:00 - 5:00 PM
Present: A. Brown, Q. Dong, M. Draheim, L. Fox, J. Haffner, L. Matz, A. Richard, G. Rohlf, E. Typpo, J. Uchizono, A. Gillen
Guest: L. Boles
Not Present: A. Boboc, P. Rosson
Called to order @ 3:03 pm
I. Approval of Minutes
February 7, 2013
Approved
II. Program Changes
School of Pharmacy & Health Sciences
Speech-Language Pathology
Revision
M.S. Speech-Language Pathology
Larry Boles presented the change. He stated that this is in response to suggestions from their accrediting body. They are adding a medical speech pathology course and reconfiguring their neurological courses, as well as changing course titles to match the current titles in the field.
E. Typpo moves to approve, motion passes.
III. Consent
School of Pharmacy & Health Sciences
Pharmacy Practice
Addition
PRAC 159 Pharmaceutical Care for Ambulatory Care Clinic Patients
Revision
PRAC 142 Basics & Structure of Medicare Benefit (change in units)
Speech-Language Pathology
Addition
SLPA 203 Clinical Methods I
SLPA 253 Medical Speech Pathology
Revision
SLPA 205 Adult Neurological Disorders (title change)
SLPA 219 Phonological Disorders (title change)
SLPA 222 Neurological Disorders Treatment (title change)
E. Typpo moves to approve, motion passes.
IV. New Program Proposal Review Process/Intent Form
After the last Academic Affairs meeting, the consensus was to request that the provost provide written feedback if she is not going to allow the proposal to go forward at either the intent stage or the full proposal stage. The Council of Deans agreed to written feedback at the full proposal stage, and oral feedback at the intent stage. They also recommended one combined intent form for both the major and minor.
A question was raised regarding the required signatures on the intent form and where this fits in with the flowchart. There are inconsistencies. It was confirmed that a discussion needs to take place with the provost, dean of graduate studies and associate provost for enrollment at the intent stage. The committee recommends adding the need for the required signatures to the first bubble in the flowcharts, with the language "in consultation with Provost, Associate Provost for Enrollment and Dean of Graduate Studies (if applicable)."
Some members continue to have concerns that the provost can still stop the process after the full proposal stage. The faculty should have control after it's deemed to have enough value to go to the full proposal stage. They find it problematic that one entity (provost) has continuous review. However, the process is more transparent than in the past. They also identified efficiency issues with the process. The total process will take about nine months.
For new minors, the question was raised if it is necessary to have the same process as minors do not apply to Graduate Studies or have financial aid issues. The Deans want the same criteria to apply, but it may not have to be as extensive as for the new major or degree program proposal.
A process question was raised regarding the process for the approval by the Board of Regents, and if the minutes from their meetings are public. The Academic Affairs Committee of the Board of Regents recommends to the full board whether to seek approval for a new program, and then it is voted on by the full board. The Board Books are public and they are located in the library.
E. Typpo moves to approve with the addition as noted above to the first bubble in the process flowchart, motion passes with 2 against and 1 abstention.
V. Degree Completion Initiative - C. Lehman, B. Shaw
This is being brought to Academic Affairs as an information item. They are proposing an outreach project to bring back to Pacific students that have left the university and are 12 or fewer units shy of graduation.
Are they shy units in the Major or General Education? Since January, the registrar has started recording the data of missing requirements for graduation when someone goes inactive. Many of the courses required are offered on-line in the summer. If there are degree requirement issues, they would need to be in contact with the department. A. Gillen provided a sampling of students inactivated in the fall. There were 33 students - fairly even distribution of students that only need electives, only need GE's, needing PACS3, major units or specific courses. The goal is to attract this base of students to return to Pacific and receive a Pacific degree. There is nothing "new" being offered, just bundling and promoting what we already offer in a different way.
They are informing Academic Affairs, asking for support and will be presenting to Academic Council next week. They have already met with the General Education Committee and they were very supportive.
Is the Admissions Office aware of this outreach project? There is a significant re-admission process. And there may be FERPA issue if parents are notified, instead of students.
What is going to be the impact of summer enrollment? The courses are already offered, but they are considering offering PACS 3 as a possible on-line course in the future.
Many times there are graduation issues due to a GPA below 2.0.
This is an exclusive summer program, and they will introduce it as a pilot. The tuition structure will remain as summer tuition. They will come back to Affairs to share the results of the pilot.
VI. Graduate Course Syllabus Requirements
The Graduate Studies Committee has approved an updated Course Syllabus Required Elements, similar to the update made for the undergraduate program. The School of Education wants to ensure that the proposed template for the syllabus is optional. It is optional. This is an information item for Academic Affairs. This is a Faculty Handbook change that requires approval by the Graduate Studies Committee, Academic Council and the Provost.
VII. Course Classifications and Definitions (subcommittee)
This subcommittee met and they are continuing to simplify and reduce the number of classifications (they are down to 10). No recommendation is forthcoming for today's meeting.
VIII. Credit Unit Policy (subcommittee report) - Jim Uchizono
Jim reported that the subcommittee (L. Fox, Lou Matz, E. Typpo, J. Uchizono) met to discuss the Credit Unit Policy and the increase to 5 units for Biology courses that Academic Affairs already approved. The provost and the biology department have agreed to delay the implementation of the increase in units by one year to give other units that are affected by this change an opportunity to determine what changes are needed in their programs as a result of the increase in units. When the changes were submitted to Academic Affairs, the forms were marked as not impacting other units.
Jim met with Craig Vierra and Joan Lin-Cereghino from Biological Sciences to address the issues, and discussed the one year delay and the impact to Pharmacy. The School of Pharmacy, Pre-Dental and Earth and Environmental Sciences have been identified as being impacted by the increase in units. This change affects students by having their course load go beyond 18 units, and incur increased fees as a result. The School of Pharmacy has to make structural changes to their programs, or not offer the 3+2 or 3+3 accelerated programs in the future.
We should anticipate other units submitting proposals to change the unit value of their courses in the future.
IX. What's on your mind?
Was the calendar change that was forwarded to Academic Council last month approved? Yes, the calendar has been changed. The Deans of a few schools had issues with not being consulted, however, the appropriate process was followed and the new calendar has been approved. Committee members are encouraged to share decisions with their Dean's.
Why doesn't CAPP calculate the GPA for the major? Because of course grade averaging for repeated courses in the major. This is a COP issue.
When is the implementation date for the CourseLeaf project? It will be ready for fall 2013 semester.
Meeting Adjourned at 4:35 pm.