The University Senate
of Michigan Technological University
Amended Minutes of
Meeting 524
24 October
2012
Synopsis: Presentation: “Update
on AQIP, Assessment, and Gen Ed” by Associate Provost Christa Walck
1. Call to order and roll call. President Bill
Bulleit called the University Senate Meeting 524 to order at 5:30 pm on
Wednesday, October 24, 2012. The Senate Secretary Brian Barkdoll called roll.
Absent was a representative of the Army/Air Force ROTC, Materials Science and
Engineering, Auxiliaries, and Undergraduate Student Government.
Recognition of visitors. Guests included
Max Seel (Provost’s Office), Christa Walck (Provost’s
Office), and Pat Martin (Social Sciences).
2. Approval of agenda. Bulleit
asked if there were any changes; there being none there was a voice vote approving the agenda.
3. Approval of minutes from Meeting 523. Bulleit
asked if there were any changes; there being none there was a voice vote approving the minutes.
4. Presentation on “Update on
AQIP, Assessment, and Gen Ed” by Associate Provost Christa Walck
Walck gave an update on
the last AQIP accreditation. Regarding a
decision to gain accreditation in the future from AQIP or Open Pathways (OP)
she compared the two, stating that OP had a closed evidence file and was not
transparent. She stated that AQIP is not
used by our peers, however, but that many may follow later. She gave some updates on AQIP new features
such as criteria that emphasize teaching and learning and integrity, system
portfolios, and projects. The three AQIP projects for this year are
building assessment structure, reforming general education (already underway),
and data-driven decision making. She
further stated that it is necessary to assess competencies, not courses and
that annual assessment reporting will be required. Each program will identify two things to
assess, state the assessment methods, and close the feedback loop on an annual
or bi-annual basis.
Regarding general
education Walck stated that learning goals will be emphasized, HASS and STEM credits will be looked at and
that two committees have been formed, namely the Communication and Global Literacy Committees.
Regarding advising, an Advising
Syllabus has been developed that tells what students should do in each year of
study to aid department advisers in an effort to increase retention and
graduation time.
Mullins expressed
concern that our peer institutions do not use AQIP and that we should not
either to which Walck stated that these peer institutions may follow later and
that we need to do what is best for us and not be worried about other
institutions.
5. Reports
a. Senate President
Bulleit showed email
from President Mroz regarding health care, stating that dental and eye care
will mostly remain the same but be slightly improved. In addition, he stated that the Senate room
may only have 50 occupants due to fire code.
b. Senate Standing Committees
Barr
stated that the Fringe Benefit Committee is preparing a survey of Senate
Constituents regarding Fringe Benefits and asked for questions for the survey
to be submitted to her.
6. Old Business:
a.
Proposal
1-13: “Proposal to rename the Interdisciplinary Minor in Hydrogen Technology to
the Interdisciplinary Minor in Alternative Energy Technology” (Voting Units: Academic)
presented by Curricular Policy Committee
Gierke
stated that the Committee approved. Mullins stated that there were no concerns
from the Finance Committee. The proposal
was approved.
b.
Proposal 2-13:
“Change of Name of an Established Academic Program from Bachelor of Arts
in Liberal Arts with a Concentration in History to Bachelor of Arts in
History” (Voting Units: Academic)
presented by Curricular Policy Committee
Gierke stated that the Committee
approved. Mullins stated that there were no concerns from the Finance Committee. The proposal was approved.
7. New Business:
a.
Proposal
3-13: “Proposal to Amend Senate Policy 312.1: Syllabus Requirement for all
Courses at Michigan Technological University” (Voting Units: Academic)
presented by Instructional Policy Committee
Hamlin
stated that the committee is in favor.
Scarlett asked if the additional language is necessary to which Seel responded that is it
needed to be safe. Hamlin concurred,
stating that the use of this information may be exempt from IRB approval, but
stating this in the syllabus is safe.
b.
Proposal
4-13: “Proposal to Shelve Advanced Certificate in Modern Language and Area
Study” (Voting Units: Academic)
presented by Curricular Policy Committee
Gierke stated that there are no students in the
program anymore and that there are similar programs.
c.
Proposal
5-13: “Proposal to Change Degree
Title” (Voting Units: Academic)
presented by Curricular Policy Committee
Gierke stated that the new title more accurately
reflects the content and matches an existing PhD program title.
d.
Discussion
on Amending Proposal 16-94:
Recommendation for a Smoke-Free Campus
presented by Administrative Policy Committee
Bulleit reviewed an
existing Senate policy (Policy 16-94) stating that smoking be prohibited in
buildings and reminded the Senate that Les Cook presented details of a
tobacco-free campus and wants to move ahead.
Bulleit said that the Senators should have polled their constituents and
that a UAW survey resulted in 72% being in favor of keeping the present
situation. After a lengthy discussion of the
various issues involved, Bulleit asked for responses from the constituents to
which various Senators gave feedback.
Based on that feedback Bulleit stated that he and Caneba will draft some
language for a Senate proposal. The video of the entire Senate meeting is available here until the end of the academic year.
8. Adjournment.
President Bulleit adjourned the
meeting at 6:55pm.
Respectfully submitted
by Brian Barkdoll
Secretary of the University Senate