The University Senate of Michigan Technological University

 

PROPOSAL 18-07

(Voting Units: Academic Departments)

 

 

Departmental Name Change from Department of Education

To

Department of Cognitive and Learning Sciences

 

 

 

Proposal:  

 

Change the name of the Department of Education to the Department of Cognitive and Learning Sciences.

 

 

Rationale:

 

The Department of Education incorporates both the teacher education function and the psychology program of the university.  The current name gives no indication that psychology is part of the department.  It implies that the sole function of psychology in the department is to provide courses in educational psychology for the teacher certification program, even though there are now approximately 70 psychology majors and a faculty with active research programs.

 

The faculty of the Department of Education sought a name which would indicate both areas of expertise and which would simultaneously describe the commonalities between education and psychology.  After extensive discussions, the department decided that Department of Cognitive and Learning Sciences accomplished both objectives and will be more representative of the department's activities and programs.


Introduced in Senate: 17 January 2007
Adopted by Senate: 31 January 2007

Approved by Administration: 8 February 2007
Approved by Board of Control: 4 May 2007