DATE:
TO:
FROM:
RE:
April 24, 2000
Faculty Senate
Doug E. Goodman, Chair, Academic Standards Committee
Academic Standards Committee, Annual Report, 1999-2000 AcademicYear
Suggested Charges to the 1999-2000 Academic Standards Committee
1. Science in Context: Request the Curriculum Committee reconsider the two Natural World
prerequisites for Science in Context courses. The ASC receives a significant number of petitions
every year from students wishing to either waive a Natural World prerequisite or to take it
concurrently with their Science in Context course. The ASC finds itself making decisions that
often feel arbitrary, often based on scheduling constraints, rewarding delinquent students, and
causing disarray in the senior years of others.
Several of us on the ASC who teach Science in Context courses find that the prerequisites are
not necessary. For most students, the Natural World courses do not directly prepare them for
their Science in Context course, and instructors must develop the necessary background material
within the courses. We find, as well, that our junior and senior students have developed
adequate analytical skills and are sufficiently versed in the scientific method to take Science in
Context without the Natural World prerequisites.
Action taken: This concern was sent to the Curriculum Committee for consideration No
response was received and the Petitions Subcommittee continues to exercise its best judgment
on a case by case basis.
2. Course Scheduling: Renew the Senate's charge to the ASC: "The Faculty Senate therefore
charges the Academic Standards Committee with studying the question of course scheduling in
depth and with bringing back to the Senate a proposal or proposals for a course scheduling
framework that might reduce conflicts, allow a common meeting time, and permit an effective use
of classroom resources. The Senate requests on interim report as part of the committee's yearend report in May and a final report by fall semester 1999."
Action taken: The committee forwarded its proposal to the Faculty Senate Fall, 1999.
Committee members discussed the relative merits of schedule alternatives within their academic
departments. No single scheduling alternative emerged as being clearly superior.
3. Academic Honesty Letter: The committee was charged with advertising the academic
honesty policy statement in the Logger and encouraging faculty and student education regarding
the policy.
Action taken: During fall, 1999 the committee sent the faculty an email with the relevant sections
of the academic honesty policy from The Logger:
4. Medical Withdrawal and Re-entry: Review the new Medical Withdrawal and Reentry policies
near the end of Spring Semester 2000.
Action taken: The committee reviewed and reaffirmed the Medical Withdrawal policy and added
a 10-day deadline clause.
5. Annual, routine responsibilities. The Academic Standards Committee has on-going
responsibilities for reviewing student petitions for waiver of academic policies and for editing The
Logger.
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Action taken: The Petitions Subcommittee met weekly and reported the results of its decisions at
each meeting of the full committee. The full committee helped draft Study Abroad Policy for The
Logger at the request of the Director of International Programs.
Other Topics Considered:
6. Emergency Administrative Withdrawal Policy: The Academic Standards Committee passed
(see 10/26/99, 11/9/99 and 11/23/99 minutes) a policy designed to complement the Medical
Withdrawal policy that was enacted last year. The EAW permits withdrawal in emergency
situations not covered by medical withdrawal policy.
7. “Honors in the Majors” for students who graduate with a Special Interdisciplinary Major:
The Academic Standards Committee approved a grade average-based criterion making it
possible for the first time for SIM majors to receive Honors in the Major at graduation.
8. Distance Learning and transfer credit: The Academic Standards Committee revised transfer
policy to allow up to four units of distance learning credit under certain circumstances (see ASC
minutes 4/19/00).
Suggestions For Charges For Academic Year 2000-2001:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Review the Pass/Fail system, its uses and implications.
Review the new Emergency Administrative Withdrawal Policy.
Review 2000-2001 requests for transfer credit for distance learning courses.
Review the course repeat policy.
Review process of approval of courses accepted in transfer. Should departments periodically
review all course equivalencies used by evaluators in bringing in transfer credit?
Thank you.