ASCRC Minutes 4/7/15
GBB 205, 2:10 p.m.
Call to Order
Members Present:, C. Chestnut, D. Coffin J. Deboer, L. Gillison, A. Lawrence, T.
Thibeau, E. Uchimoto, N. Vonessen, G.G. Weix
Ex-Officio Present: B. Hollzworth, B. Howard, N. Lindsay, J. Zink
Members Excused: M. Boller, J. Hickman, B. Hillman, T. Manuel, C. Meixner
Guests: Jane Baker-MC Intirim Dean, Tammy Freimund-MC Academic Advisor, Rosi
Keller- Admin & Finance, Robert Squires- UM Online
Minutes: The minutes from 3/24/15 were approved.
Communication

The guests were welcomed to the committee and members introduced themselves.
Business Items

Interim Dean Baker introduced the late request to consider an online offering of the
existing Associate of Arts degree. The degree would be particularly attractive to
active duty military that are eligible for Department of Defense scholarships to take
online courses during their down time. Rosi Keller helped to negotiate a rate of $250
per out-of -state credit. This was made possible because of a new Board of Regents
policy that allows fully online programs to charge non-resident students different
rates. Students completing courses through the Defense Critical Language and
Culture Program may have up to 18 credits that can be applied toward the AA. This is
a recruitment opportunity to entice these students into pursuing a four-year degree.
The online option could also be attractive to non-traditional students.
The program is designed around individual students’ interests. Students are mostly
advised to complete the UM General Education program, unless for some reason their
transfer credits are more suited to the MUS Core. Missoula College students are
allowed to take up to 6 credits of mountain campus credits per semester.
There is concern that given the current funding situation and the reduction of online
courses being offered by the College of Humanities and Sciences that there will not
be courses available in all the general education categories. The Committee felt that
the funding was a separate issue. The program could actually create a demand for the
courses to be offered. If necessary the students could take online courses within the
MUS system and transfer them to UM to meet the AA degree. The University may
need to look at its transfer policies. There could come a time when the College will
need to weigh the priorities between online and face-to-face courses.
The proposal was approved.

There was also a late request from Dance to reinstate a course DANC 108, Dance
Forms that was previously deleted. It was still listed in the CCN matrix and the
program negotiated fees to use this course number for off campus dance classes. The
form was approved.

ASCRC briefly discussed the revised guidelines for MUS New Academic Programs.
Some clarification is needed with regard to terms such as MUS Leadership and what
would be grounds for disapproval. Is the approval of the Notice of Intent by OCHE
simply intended to prepare the document for system-wide review? Chair DeBoer will
communicate these to the Chair of the Faculty Senate. It is still unclear what happens
if unfavorable feedback is given by any of the campuses.

The motion approved by the General Education Committee in 2012 to provide a
comparable path to students transferring outside of the Montana University System to
students transferring within the MUS system. Any mechanism will need to be
carefully considered and based on course equivalencies. It would be helpful to have
more flexibility. This would allow all transfer students to have three options, the AA,
UM general education, or the MUS Core. Students would still need to meet a
threshold of credits. Draft language may look something like: If at the time of initial
registration, a fully matriculated degree seeking student has 20 credits counting
toward the MUS Core then the student may take this option. Currently transfer
students are exempt from an approved writing course if they transfer with 27 or more
credits. ASCRC tasked the General Education Committee with working out the
details.

The revised language for the Hospitality certificate was provided as information. It is
much improved from the original proposal.

ASCRC briefly reviewed the form in Qualtrix and prefers PDF forms to comply with
accessibility requirements at this point. They will need to include a statement that
additional documents can be submitted as necessary. Camie will work on finalizing
the forms and get them posted as soon as possible.

The Committee will not meet next week. Chair DeBoer hopes to get a revised draft of
the Dual Enrollment Policy and Annual Report prepared before the meeting on April
21st. He will also work on an Annual Report for the Graduation Appeals Committee.
.
Good and Welfare

Early alert notice was received just before spring break. This is too late. It should be
received in fifth week not 9th week. Part of the delay was due to faculty requesting an
extension. In the future it may be possible to send notices at various intervals.
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 3:40 p.m.