ASCRC Minutes 3/6/12
GBB 202, 2:10
Members Present: B. Borrie, D. Dalenberg, W. Davies M. Grimes, C. Henderson, C. Knight, L. Tangedahl, C. Springmeyer, D.
Stolle
Members Absent/Excused: N. Greymorning, J. Staub, B. Holzworth
Ex-Officio Present: E. Johnson, S. O’Hare, A. Walker-Andrews
Chair Tangedahl called the meeting to order at 2:10 p.m.
The minutes from 2/14/12 were amended and approved
Communication Items:

Chair Tangedahl investigated the technology issues and joined the meeting between the Executive Committee of the Faculty
Senate and Roger Maclean, Dean, School of Extended and Lifelong Learning. The decision to transition to Moodle was made by a
committee that included faculty members. The decision had a large emphasis on expense, but also considered the learning
environment. According to Robert Squires there is an advisory group with representation across campus that recommends
improvements to Moodle. The Moodle platform can be modified and the administration is interested in faculty input.
Modifications to import grade files into Banner can be programed by John Thunstrom. The programming is not simple and there
are several options, one that includes CSV files. He would need to be directed to make the modification and stop working on
current projects. It is currently not a priority. In the past there was a committee that resolved faculty problems with technology. It
has not been functioning for some time. Dave Beck Faculty Senate Chair indicated that he would bring the matter to the attention
of the Provost. It is likely the Provost will discuss the matter with Loey Knapp, Interim Chief Information Officer.

The General Education Committee approved the following motion at its meeting last week. The Chair of the Committee will
attend ASCRC next week to answer questions.
Effective autumn semester of 2014, undergraduates must fulfill the general education modern and classical language
requirement unless enrolled in a program of study requiring more than 48 credits leading to a first baccalaureate degree.
Credits for the program of study include all requirements for the primary major including options and designated pre-requisite
courses, excluding general education courses unless required by the major.
ASCRC discussed the ramifications of the motion. It is unclear how many additional language sections would be needed to
service the affected departments (Anthropology, Communication Science, Computer Science, Economics, Geography,
Geosciences, Psychology, and Sociology). The General Education Committee was very concerned that the motion not be an
unfunded mandate for the College of Arts and Sciences. Last year 50% of freshman students had taken 2 years of a language. So
the impact on students would likely not be 10 credits of language. The new admission standards are effective fall 2014 as well.
It was suggested that programs be contacted and invited to require their students to take a language. This would be a more
collegial diplomatic approach. It would be helpful to have the data in terms of how many additional students would need to take a
language and the funding consequence. The Office of Student success is collecting this data. It may also be the case that students
would prefer to take a language for which MCLL does not have tenured faculty. Another consideration regarding language
courses is the non-adherence to course scheduling guidelines. The Registrar recommends a committee be put together to develop
new guidelines and possibly consider offering evening classes.
Business Items:

The Global Leadership courses which were approved for general education designations by the General Education sub-committee
were approved by ASCRC with the stipulations that it is a one-time only designation and the courses may not be crosslisted. Next
year the review will take place in the regular cycle. Because the courses are interdisciplinary they don’t always fit neatly within
the general education groups. The general education credit is thought to be a practical necessity to assure enrollment in the
classes.

The Procedure Review Workgroup is still working, but needs some direction from the full committee. ASCRC reviewed the
revisions to the course form instructions. It was suggested that the instructions include links to the full procedures. Members
would also like to transition to electronic signatures if possible. This will likely require full endorsement by the administration.
There are also workflow concerns regarding final versions.

The Academic Oversight Workgroup will have a discussion paper for members to review next week. The issue is complex. The
paper will outline different approaches to the problem.

The Graduation Appeals Committee has numerous appeals where students have not met general education requirements. There
needs to be a better way of informing students. One suggestion was to have a special general education section on the website.
Improved advising might also help and Associate Provost Walker- Andrews said the Office for Student success may take on more
of general education advising burden. The implementation of degree audit may help as well. Registrar Johnson indicated that his
office is working to update the catalog so that course descriptions are linked to Banner. This will result in one authoritative
source. UM requires that general education courses be listed in the schedule and the catalog. When departments fail to apply for
renewed general education status, students are caught in the middle.
Another common appeal is late withdraw. Associate Provost Walker-Andrews suggests a subcommitee of the Graduation Appeals
Committee that includes staff from the Registrar’s Office and Student Affairs that handles the mechanical appeals and then reports
to the full committee.
The meeting was adjourned at 4:06 p.m.
Global Leadership Initiative Courses, Fall 2012
Department
Course Number
Title
General Education Group
HHP
HHP 191 S
Exercise is Medicine
Social Science
Geography
GPHY 191 X
Green cities for the 21st Century
Indigenous and Global
Sociology
SOCI 191 S
Who Am I? Identity and Our Social World
Social Science
Journalism
JOUR 191 Y
Social Media and Global Change
American & European
Media Arts
MAR 191 A
Making the Philosophic Film
Expressive Arts
Political Science
PSCI 191 S
Political Regimes and Societies
Social Science
Mansfield Center
MANS 191 X
Global Challenges in the 21st Century
Indigenous and Global