ASCRC Minutes 3/11/14
Poetry Corner, Mansfield Library, 2:10 p.m.
Members Present: J. Deboer, C. Henderson, L. Gillison, S. Samson, T. Thibeau, M. Triana, E.
Uchimoto, N. Vonessen, G. Weix
Members Absent/ Excused: L. Eagleheart, K. Easwaramurthi, J. Laine, T. Manuel, M. Triana
Ex-Officio Present: J. Hickman,N. Hinman, B. Holzworth, B. Howard, J. Laine
The minutes from 3/4/14 were amended and approved. The meeting began with the UM Minute.
Communication Items:

Chair Henderson confirmed that several committee members (Professors DeBoer,
Gillison, Uchimotto, Samson, Weix, Henderson, Eagle-heart Thomas, and Interim
Director Howard, and Interim Associate Provost Hinman) will visit the Defense Critical
Language Program next Tuesday. The Chair-elect of the Faculty Senate, Professor Steve
Lodmell will also attend. The group will meet in front of the library at 2:10p.m. to
carpool.
Business Items

The additional information regarding dual credit courses was reviewed by ASCRC. The
committee agreed that it would be a good idea to have a report once a year. The
Committee should review the BOR policy and consider creating an internal procedure.
There is concern that the College designated to give dual credit for the high school course
have the appropriate expertise to oversee the course. The item will be discussed again
when there is more time.

The General Education Committee approved the form for review of symbolic systems exemptions
from the language requirement with one small modification – the term foreign was replaced by
modern in the last section of the form. The General Education Committee also agreed that the
review should take place next fall.

The Committee discussed the draft memo clarifying terms. It was revised and approved
(appended below). Chair Henderson will discuss the memo with ECOS and ask for
guidance with regard to how it should be disseminated to departments. The intent is for
common language to be used across to avoid confusing students.

The General Education Committee Consent agenda was approved with two modifications. Only
the course listed in the CCN matrix will be listed on the document (appended below).

The Registrar’s Office discovered an issue with ITS 289 Professional Certification. The course
is not set up as repeatable in Banner, but it has this statement, “Course can be repeated for
different industry-based professional certifications.” in the description. Because of this students
taking the course more than once were being charged a repeat fee. It is unclear whether the
original form requested repeatability. ASCRC agreed that it would consider a late form to
correct the problem and recommend that the course number be changed to 297 which is reserved
for Educational methods courses within disciplines.

The late form requesting a prerequisite change for Political Science, 325 was approved.
The Department discovered that restrictions were no longer available through the
schedule. The form was approved.

ASCRC also approved an exception to allow EDU 491 Classroom Management and Field
Experience to be offered again. Camie contacted the program because the course had
been offered 4 times which exceeds the policy.

ASCRC discussed the English Proficiency policy draft. The earliest in can be implemented is fall
2015. Several recommendations for clarity were suggested. The subcommittee will need to
consider whether academic support courses should be required, whether they must be passed with
a c- or greater, and whether passing the course would be listed as a prerequisite for other courses.
It will also need to consider the implication of conditional admission and review the current
policy to assure consistent use of the term defined by the Board of Regents.
There was concern that the pending Pathway program was included in the language when it does
not yet exist. It could be that the Pathway courses will be offered experimentally next fall.
Courses should be available for fall registration at the end of the month. A revised draft will be
available in two weeks. It will need to go to the Executive Committee of the Faculty Senate on
March 27th in order to be on the April 10th Faculty Senate meeting. Other universities define
admission with required academic support courses for admitted international students as a Bridge
program.
The meeting adjourned at 3:35 PM
MEMORANDUM
DATE:
March 4, 2014
TO:
Department Chairs and Program Directors
FROM:
ASCRC
SUBJECT:
Clarification of “options” and other terms
There are currently a variety of terms used interchangeably in the catalog to describe areas of study within
majors (e.g. concentration, option, track, specialization, focus area, etc.). The term Option, in particular,
is a reserved term defined by BOR policy (303.1); other terms are used inconsistently with the potential to
confuse students about the actual degree/minor/option that will appear (or not) on their transcript. To
ensure that students are advised appropriately and to conform with Board of Regents’ policy, ASCRC has
prepared the following clarification of the correct use of such terms.
Options
 Options must be approved by ASCRC and the BOR. They are listed in the MUS Academic
Inventory and the University of Montana’s degrees and majors inventory.
o Any changes to the option (deletion, renaming) must also be approved by the BOR.
o Any new options or significant changes (including termination) require submission of a
Level I form.
o Minor changes to options require program modification forms.
o The number of graduates in each option can be tracked and is reported to the BOR every
seven years as part of program review.
 Options appear on the student’s transcript.
The Board of Regents defines an option as:
…. a core of required courses in the program plus required and/or elective courses in the
specialty area indicated by the title of the option. The core of required courses must constitute at
least one-third of the hours required for the program. (BOR policy 303.1)
Other terms: Advising Tracks, Specializations, Areas of Study, etc.
 Are not submitted for approval by the BOR
o Any changes made to these advising tracks do not require BOR approval.
 Do not appear on the student’s transcript
o Often, a program will have ways of organizing coursework that allows students to focus
on a particular area of study. If such a track has not been formalized as an option, it
should be very clear to students that it will not appear on their transcript.
We appreciate your help in alleviating the confusion surrounding these terms.
General Education Committee Consent Agenda, 3/13/14
Group V: Literary and Artistic Studies
IRSH 345
Introduction to Irish Gaelic Literature
New
Group VI Historical and Cultural Studies
SOCI 212
Social Issues in Southeast Asia
Remove (still retains Social
Science designation)
Group VIII Ethics
CHMY 302 E
Chem Lit and Science Writing
Renew
Group XI: Natural Science
NRSM 210N
Introduction to Climate, Water and Soils
Renew
PHL 241 N
History and Philosophy of Science
Renew