ASCRC Minutes 9/13/11
Members Present: M. Beebe-Frankenberger, B. Borrie, D. Dalenberg, W. Davies, M.
Grimes, C. Henderson, J. Staub, D. Stolle, L. Tangedahl,
Members Absent/Excused: J. Austin, N. Greymorning, C. Knight, B. Holzworth, T.
Rogers, C. Springmeyer, A. Walker-Andrews
Ex-Officio Present: E. Johnson, S. O’Hare
Chair Tangedahl called the meeting to order at 2:10 p.m.
The minutes from 9/6/11 were approved.
Communication Items:

Membership
Although student members have been appointed and notified of the meeting, none
were in attendance.
Business Items: Procedures

Academic Forgiveness (203.1)
ASCRC revised the first bullet on the policy to clarify the intent of a three-year
period. The language now reads:
A University of Montana – Missoula undergraduate who returns to the university
after a minimum absence of three calendar years since the last attendance and then
completes 30 credits of academic study with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 is
eligible for Academic Forgiveness.
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Service Learning Course Designation (201.85)
After discussion the procedure was approved. The information was taken directly
from the materials presented to ASCRC when the designation was approved
(appended below).
Reserved Course Numbers (201.80)
The procedure was revised to include studio under x95 and to link to the Special
Topics / Experimental course procedure. ASCRC discussed whether the reserved
courses were appropriatly listed in terms of which could be entered into the catalog
by the Registrar’s Office without ASCRC review.
Special Topics / Experimental Courses (201.90)
The draft procedure was discussed, revised and approved (appended below). ASCRC
removed the section that required departments to ensure experimental courses did not
have the same title as existing courses, but rather stipulated that all special topics or
experimental courses include “ST:” as the title prefix. Language was also added that
x91 course not be part of specifed requirements for a major or minor, but may be
counted as electives.
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
Compressed Courses (201.40)
The draft procedure was reviewed and approved with several deletions (appended
below). Language removed included the rationale section of the Board of Regents
policy that provides a breakdown of contact and outside preparation time required per
credit as well as the statement that “Programs that offer courses that do not comply
with this policy will be asked to provide justification to ASCRC for an exception”. It
was the seniment that ASCRC should not micromanage pedogogy.
Crosslisting Discussion
There was a brief discussion about the cross-listing dilemma. Time ran out before an
action could be taken.
The meeting was adjourned at 4:04 p.m.
Procedure Number:
Procedure:
201.85
Service Learning Course Designation
Date Adopted:
2/14/08
Last Revision:
Approved by:
x/xx/xx
Faculty Senate
Service Learning Definition:
Service Learning is a method of teaching and learning in which students, faculty and
community partners work together to enhance student learning by applying academic
knowledge in a community-based setting. Student work addresses the needs of the
community, as identified through collaboration with community or tribal partners, while
meeting instructional objectives through faculty-structured service work and critical
reflection meant to prepare students to be civically responsible members of the
community. At its best, service learning enhances and deepens students’ understanding
of an academic discipline by facilitating the integration of theory and practice, while
providing them with experience that develops life skills and engages them in critical
reflection about individual, institutional, and social ethics.
Courses based upon the service learning instructional method are designated as Service
Learning courses in each semester's Schedule of Classes.
Service Learning Course Criteria
The University of Montana-Missoula has established the following criteria for Service
Learning courses. In order to receive the Service Learning course designation, a course
must clearly exemplify all of the following criteria:
 Students in the course will provide a needed service to individuals, organizations,
schools, or other not-for-profit or tax-exempt entities in the community.
 The service experience is directly related to the subject matter of the course.
 Knowledge from the discipline informs the service experiences with which the
students are to be involved.
 Activities in the classroom will provide opportunities for students to actively reflect
upon what they have learned through the service experience and how these
experiences relate to the subject matter of the course. Reflection should be imbedded
as course assignments and in-class time should be scheduled to do reflection – both
should be clear on the syllabus. Reflection should incorporate discussion/assignments
that help students understand the importance of meeting community needs through
service and civic engagement in a democratic society.
 The course offers a method to assess the learning derived from the service. Credit will
be given for the learning and its relation to the course, not for the service alone.
 Service interactions in the community will recognize the needs of service recipients
and represent reciprocal partnerships between the campus (class) and community
partner organization(s). Community partner(s) should have the opportunity to provide
advice and feedback in class on the nature and value of the service performed by the
students.
 Training (by the service agency) and preparation (by the course instructor) ensure that
students perform service activities in a professional manner and that vulnerable
populations are not harmed.
 Service options ensure that no student is required to participate in a service placement
that creates a religious, political, or moral conflict for the student.
In a 3-credit service learning course, students should be required to perform a minimum
of 15 hours of community service per semester (i.e. 5 hours of service per academic
credit.) Service hours may include hours spent in training, preparation, and direct contact
with clients.
Application for Service Learning Designation
Faculty wishing a course to be designated as service learning must complete the service
learning course form by the curriculum deadline (typically the 3rd or 4th week in
September). The form is reviewed by the Service Leaning Subcommittee of ASCRC.
The subcommittee chair will create a summary list of points for discussion or approval at
ASCRC. The subcommittee chair will follow-up with requestors as necessary.
Review of existing courses
All Service Learning courses are reviewed every four years to determine whether the
courses still conform to the criteria.
…………
Procedure Number:
Procedure:
201.90
Special Topics / Experimental Courses
Date Adopted:
2/23/99
Last Revision:
Approved by:
3/9/10
ASCRC/ Graduate Council
Maximum Offerings
A specific Special Topics course may be offered a maximum of three times. Each
semester, the Registrar will run a report of special topics courses offered three times. The
report will be submitted to ASCRC. The Faculty Senate Administrative Associate will
format the report and notify departments that the courses may not be offered a fourth time
unless a justification for compelling special circumstances is approved by ASCRC .
Catalog Language
The following Standard catalog Language will be entered into the catalog at the request
of departments wishing to add a special topics course to the catalog. Departments may
change the repeatability or the wording by submitting a course form by the standard
curriculum review deadline.
U x291 Special Topics Variable cr. (R-6) Offered intermittently. Experimental
offerings of visiting professors, experimental offerings of new courses, or one-time
offerings relating to current problems or new developments in the discipline.
Special topics/ experimental courses may not be part of specifed requirements for a major
or minor, but may be counted as electives.
Schedule Language
All special topics or experimental courses will include“ST:” as the title prefix.
…………..
Procedure Number:
Procedure:
201.40
Compressed Courses
Date Adopted:
9/13/11
Last Revision:
Reference:
Approved by:
9/13/11
BOR Policy 309.1
ASCRC
Compressed courses (i.e. courses which do not meet at the standard scheduled times for fall
semester, wintersession, spring semester, or one of the summer sessions) must adhere to
BOR Policy 309.1- Course Credits: Short Courses and Workshops. This policy states that
“The method for awarding credit for short courses and workshops should be consistent
with the method used in the regular academic programs”.
If pre- or post-session work is required of students, the amount of credit awarded may be
adjusted accordingly. Any such requirements should be clearly articulated in the course
description and marketing materials. A student who has not completed pre-session work
must drop the course.