Faculty Senate: Undergraduate Curriculum and Academic Policy Committee

Present: Jeanne Fraker, Scott Graham, Brian Happy, Eric Harris, Frank Ciarallo (for Nathan Klingbeil), Joe Law, Henry Limouze, Carol Loranger, KT Mechlin, Richard Mercer, Tom Sav, Karen Wilhoit. Guest: Jackie Collier.

Approved Minutes of February 8, 2005.

UCAPC Subcommittee Reports

Writing Across the Curriculum Committee: No Report
University General Education Committee: Henry Limouze, UGEC Chair, reported on committee's actions per the minutes of

February 4, 2005
February 18, 2005

and announced that there is now a moratorium on GE Program changes while WSU prepares for and undergoes the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA) accrediting process. The moratorium will be lifted in the Fall 2006. In the interim, departments and colleges can take the opportunity to review GE Program course offerings and structures and prepare modification and addition proposals for submission to the University General Education Committee (UGEC).

Course Inventory and Modification Requests

CECS

Approved Inventories: EE 481, EE 482 and deletions EE 418, EE 448, EE 455, EE 476.

CEHS

Approved Inventories: deletions EDE 317, EDT 436, EDT 445, EDT 463, EDT 485, EDT 487.
Approved Modifications: EDE 200, EDE 221*, EDE 223*, EDE 225*, EDE 227*, EDE 321*, EDE 323*, EDE 401*, EDE 419, EDE 440, EDL 411*.
* The committee found problems with these proposals in regard to Title for Student Record, Enrollment Restrictions, and the noted Other modifications. It was agreed that the proposals are approved subject to the CEHS making the necessary corrections and submitting such to the committee chair for processing without resubmitting them for additional review by the full committee.

COLA

Approved Modifications: TH 106, TH 107, TH 108.

COSM

Approved Inventories: deletions PHY 121, PHY 122, PHY 123, PHY 124, PHY 125, PHY 131, PHY 132, PHY 133, PHY 134, PHY 135, PHY 201, PHY 210, PHY 211, PHY 214, PHY 215, PHY 241, PHY 243, PHY 402.
Approved Modifications: PHY 111, PHY 112, PHY 113, PHY 245, PHY 260, PHY 346, PHY 371, PHY 372, PHY 420, PHY 425, PHY 426, PHY 450, PHY 451, PHY 452, PHY 480, PHY 481, PHY 482.
Returned Modifications: PHY 400 and PHY 401 were returned to the COSM upon the announcement that they are co-listed with EP 400 and EP 401, respectively. Hence, modifications for co-listed courses need to accompany modifications for these courses.

Program Changes

COSM

Approved each of the following:

B.S. in Physics
B.S. Dual Major in Physics and Math
B.S. in Physics: Geology Option
B.S. in Physics: Biology Option
B.S. in Physics: Computing Option
B.A. in Physics
B.A. in Physics: Physics Licensure Program
B.A. in Physics: Physical Sciences Licensure Program
B.A. in Physics: Life Sciences/Physics Licensure Program*
B.A. in Physics: Earth Sciences/Physics Licensure Program

*the committee corrected the total degree credit hours from 201. 5 to 200.5

CEHS

Approved:

Early Childhood Education Licensure Program

COLA

Approved:

B.A. Acting-Musical Theatre

Sociology/Anthropology Program Changes -- withdrawn by the COLA

Academic Policy

WSU Second Degree Policy

Prompted by a faculty memo to UCAPC via the Provost's Office, the committee discussed the issue of the treatment of native vs transfer students in G.P.A. calculations for the awarding of second degrees. Although the committee did not have complete or necessarily accurate information on the current policy and/or the current practice of the Registrar's Office in the matter, the committee discussed that which was available and/or brought to its attention. In general the issue appeared to be that a native WSU student who was awarded a baccalaureate degree and returned to WSU to earn a second baccalaureate degree is treated differently than a so-called transfer student who earned a baccalaureate degree at another institution and who enrolls at WSU to earn a second baccalaureate degree. In the native case, it was suggested that the second degree G.P.A. is calculated based on all (first and second degree) course work at WSU. In the transfer case, it was suggested that the second degree G.P.A. is calculated based on only (second degree) WSU course work. At first blush, the committee felt that the issue (if the information was accurate) was a matter of semantics being that both students could report for resume or job application purposes the G.P.A. earned in the second degree. Yet, aside from the matter of vanity, it was noted that official transcripts could raise a discrepancy issue. Thereafter another issue arose in the awarding of Latin Honors. While it appears that a policy states that Latin Honors will be awarded to second degree native students based on all WSU course credit hours and to transfer students (herein interpreted as meaning previously awarded a baccalaureate degree at another institution) based on a recalculated WSU and transfer course credit hour, there was some indication (but not confirmed fact) that the transfer student is or could be awarded Latin Honors based only on the WSU second degree course credit hours. If that is the case, then the committee felt that native and transfer students are put on a completely different playing field. That generated the question as to how WSU differs in policy and/or practice from other institutions. The committee did not have sufficient data to draw a conclusion on other institutional practices. Finally, it was noted that WSU compared to some other institutions has a different Latin Honors requirement. While the committee did not have time to conduct any exhaustive research on the issue, it was found that some institutions require a minimum G.P.A. of 3.5 for the awarding of Latin Honors and that WSU requires a minimum of 3.4 for the awarding of Latin Honors, cum laude. For summa cum laude, WSU is 3.8 while some institutions are 3.9 G.P.A. A quick look at websites, while quite unreliable, indicated that Ohio State University, Miami University, University of Cincinnati, Bowling Green State University, and Ohio University set the bar at a 3.5 G.P.A. The University of Akron set the bar at the 3.4 G.P.A. like WSU. All of course may be inaccurate, but the committee felt that the issues raised are worthy of consideration and will continue to research such, including invitations of individuals from the Registrar's Office and other degree granting experts to attend future committee meetings.

Reminder: Remaining Academic Year UCAPC and Faculty Senate deadlines.

UCAPC Meeting	UCAPC Submission Deadline (No Exceptions: receipt after forwards to the next meeting)	Faculty Senate Meeting New Business	Faculty Senate Meeting Old Business
April 12	March 31, 12:00 Noon	May 2	June 6
May 12	May 2, 12:00 Noon	June 6	Fall 2005 Meeting

Proposals that must go before the General Faculty for approval at the May 17 meeting must be approved by the Faculty Senate in time for inclusion on General Faculty Meeting Agenda (departments and colleges should consult their Senator(s) for deadlines). Otherwise the next consideration is at the November 2005 General Faculty Meeting.