ASCRC Minutes 4/19/11
Members Present: B. Borrie, D. Dalenberg, K. Hoggatt, C. Knight, P. Muench, E.
Uchimoto, L. Tangedahl, K. Zoellner, A. Williams
Members Absent/Excused: M. Beebe-Frankenberger, S. Greymorning, M. Grimes, C.
Henderson, B. Holzworth, S. O’Hare, J. Sanders, K. Spika, J. Staub
Ex-Officio Present: E. Johnson, A. Walker-Andrews
Chair Knight called the meeting to order at 2:10 p.m.
There was not a quorum so the minutes from last week were not approved.
Discussion Items:
Compressed course concerns

Chair Knight drafted a letter to the Film Studies program. It may be more appropriate to remind Department Chairs and Deans of the Policy and to list courses that concern
ASCRC. Professor Muench took a brief look at the upcoming summer offerings and the courses offered last winter section and found that about 8-10% of them are compressed. Some of these may be justified but several do not appear to be in compliance with BOR policy 309.1. The Dean of the School of Extended and
Lifelong Learning will be invited to ASCRC to discuss the issue. However, the
School does not have academic oversight of the courses; it is administrative only.
Courses do not get into the schedule without approval by the department. This is where the courses should be reviewed for compliance. Another loop hole is the number of times an experimental course is offered. Programs have learned to change the title slightly so the course is not flagged for review.
The mission of the School of Extended and Lifelong learning is to embrace diverse students and to provide an alternative style of courses. The new Dean, Roger
Maclean, may be aware of best practices given the social mandate.
Another issue of concern is students taking more than one course during the threeweek winter session. Given that this would typically entail 30 contact hours per week, it may not be appropriate for all students. The maximum number of credits a student can take in the fall or spring is 21, but there is an override option. Generally students will self-select. It is also possible for students to be taking online courses concurrently from another university and transfer them to UM.
Professor Muench drafted a document that identified the need for a revised compressed courses policy. There should be a minimum identified for face-to-face and outside preparation time for the optimal education environment. If a standard is articulated, the College of Extended and Lifelong Learning may have a reference to deny courses. If the course does not meet the minimums, it must be justified.
Associate Provost Walker-Andrews suggested that the committee request the Board of Regents to revise its policy, not only due to its ambiguity, but also to allow for

online and other non-traditional formats. Ashleen Williams brought up the need to revise the policy at ASUMs breakfast meeting with the Board of Regents. She argued that a core framework was needed for student success and to assure quality.
The scope of the committee was also considered. Does the committee have any power to assure academic rigor is carried out across campus. It is the administration’s responsibility to monitor compliance, but there may be a conflict with the pressure to increase enrollment/revenue. The committee feels that for the most part faculty desire to provide a quality educational experience. However, selfinterest could be an issue.
Police Science

The social science subcommittee requested follow-up information. There has not yet been a response to the questions. However, there has been communication from others who are interested in establishing the program. Associate Walker-Andrews talked with the proposers regarding the content of syllabi, but there seems to be a lack of understanding regarding the expectations of college-level work. [A response was received at 5:00 and was forwarded to the committee.]
Summer offering of experimental course approved for upper-division writing requirement

An experimental course approved as an upper-division writing requirement this fall will be offered this summer. The instructor is requesting that the course fulfill the requirement in the summer as well. Members of ASCRC agreed that this should be possible; however, it is difficult for the Registrar’s Office to process, given the experimental status. Upper-division writing courses are not given an attribute in
Banner. The students may need to go through the graduation appeals process to receive credit for the upper-division writing requirement. Typically, courses approved in the fall become effective the following fall due to processing time. The yearly catalog is considered a contract. However, now that the catalog is only available in electronic format, perhaps there should be some attempt to bring course additions and amendments more quickly into official being, sparing the Graduation
Appeals Committee the otherwise inevitable petitions.
Curriculum Deadline Memo

The draft deadline memo may require revision due to the Board of Regents’ scrutiny of new programs. The Provost’s Office will need time to review proposals prior to submission to the Faculty Senate Office. The draft will be sent to Associate Provost
Walker-Andrews for consideration.
Good and Welfare

There is a FERPA compliance traning tommorrow starting at 7:30 a.m in LA 11.

Given the pressure and tension regarding the Police Science proposal, Associate
Provost Walker-Andrews reminded ASCRC members that it is beneficial for UM faculty to work together.


This is ASUM President Williams’ last ASCRC meeting. She will be graduating in
May.
The meeting was adjourned at 4:00 p.m.