ASCRC Minutes 5/3/11
Members Present: M. Beebe-Frankenberger, B. Borrie, D. Dalenberg, M. Grimes, C.
Henderson, C. Knight, P. Muench, L. Tangedahl, K. Zoellner,
Members Absent/Excused: S. Greymorning, K. Hoggatt, J. Sanders, K. Spika, J. Staub,
E. Uchimoto, A. Williams
Ex-Officio Present: B. Holzworth, E. Johnson, S. O’Hare, A. Walker-Andrews
Guests: Dean Roger Maclean, School of Extended and Lifelong Learning
Chair Knight called the meeting to order at 2:13 p.m.
The minutes from 4/26/11 were amended and approved.
Discussion Items:
Compressed Courses Issue
 Chair Knight and Professor Muench provided the history of ASCRC’s compressed
course concerns. Last year a memo was sent to the academic deans informing them
of BOR policy 309.1. Unfortunately the policy should be re-written for clarity and to
include alternative formats. The committee is concerned about equity and quality.
There should be an agreement of what amounts to a credits worth of work. It is not
sure the academic oversight structure is adequate with regard to summer and winter
courses. For example, it appears summer film studies course offerings do not follow
the programs internal guidelines for film viewing /contact time. ASCRC approves
new courses based on the submitted syllabus. It does not review an existing course
when offered in a compressed format. The compressed format should not alter the
expectations of faculty / student effort. A possibility might be to have a section on the
proposal form that requires an explanation of how the content will be covered in the
compressed course format so that it is equivalent to the course approved.
The School of Extended and Lifelong Learning sends notice to the Colleges and
Schools regarding allocations and requests proposals. The proposals are signed by
the Department Chair and the Dean. The School does not have input regarding
content or academic oversight. It may answer questions regarding financial issues.
The School of Extended and Lifelong Learning focuses on non-traditional students,
professionals, and students located in other parts of the state. The School administers
programs that don’t fit in other departments, so it inherently contains many
exceptions.
Dean Maclean asked whether the committee had data that indicates students are not
learning from the existing compressed course format. He cautioned implementing a
stringent policy as it could be viewed as micromanagement. If we make it too
difficult for students, they may go elsewhere. Students today, have different
pressures than students twenty years ago. Most of them are working while going to
school. This is a larger issue that is not unique to The University of Montana. He
suggests that the academic deans and students be involved in exploring the issue and
discussing an appropriate policy. Deans are accountable to enrollment trends and
give directives to the department chairs. He would be interested to attend as well.
Perhaps we should be thinking of students needs and how film viewing could be
delivered via the internet rather than adding additional hours to the course.


Multicultural Freshmen Seminar
Executive Director O’Hare informed ASCRC of a pilot program that may take place
this fall. It will involve a Multicultural Freshman Seminar course associated with a
Native American Living and Learning Community. Students are being recruited on
the My-Academics page. The Chair of Native American Studies is on the planning
committee, and Lucy Franz and David Aronofsky are being consulted as well.
Writing Committee Recommendations on Writing Assessment
After deliberation ASCRC passed the following motion:
ASCRC appreciates and endorses the Writing Committee’s recommendations
regarding writing assessment. However, the implementation of the recommendations
will require more information regarding how program level assessment will work.
Therefore, ASCRC directs the Provost’s Office in collaboration with the Office of
Student Success and the Writing Committee to develop pilot project proposals by fall
2011. These proposals should indicate how assessment will be conducted, who will
conduct the assessment, how much faculty time will be involved, and actions that
might be taken to improve students’ writing as a result. The Provost’s Office should
present the pilot project proposals to ASCRC early in the fall in order to report results
in the spring.
There is concern that if word gets out regarding the eminient elimination of the
UDWPA students will request to be excempted from the requirement now. It will
require a clear sunset date. Phase one will be planning for a pilot project in the
summer, Phase two will be the pilot project in the fall and reporting in the spring.
Phase three no UDWPA and Phase four will implement program level assessment.

Follow-up summer offering of experimental course approved for upper-division
writing assessment
Students should be treated equitably in terms of the writing requirement for the
course. However, it is difficult to manage general education designations on
experiemental courses and the upper-division writing requirement in particular. If an
exception is allowed than more will be requested. The catalog is viewed as a
contract. Summer session is included in the previous academic year /catalog and is
viewed as a contract with the students. Exceptions are difficult to track. The
professor will be advised to write a letter to the Graduation Appeals Committee that
lists the students names as well as providing a letter to each student.
Good and Welfare:

Chair Knight thanked the members for their service. Associate Provost WalkerAndrews thanked all the faculty that participated in President Engstrom’s
innagaration.
The meeting was adjourned at 4:05 p.m.