UNIVERSITY POLICY AND PLANNING COUNCIL
2006-07 CHAIR: STEVEN MESSNER
JUNE 12, 2007
MEETING MINUTES
PRESENT:
Roger Bisbing, Randall Craig, Diane Dewar, Nick Fahrenkopf, Robert Geer,
Jil Hanifan, David McCaffrey, Steven Messner, Melinda Spencer
MINUTES:
Minutes from May 3, 2007 were unanimously approved.
ACADEMIC AFFAIRS REPORT

On behalf of Susan Herbst, Melinda thanked everyone for a very busy and productive
year.
CHAIR’S REPORT

New Entry Plaza
At the last UPC meeting, a Council member raised a concern that the redesign and
renovation of the New Entry Plaza, including a new fountain, are consistent with the
University’s “Go Green” Policy.
To follow up on UPC’s concern, Melinda Spencer spoke with Vice President Kathy Lowery
who sent an email to Steve Messner. She stated that environmental issues had been
taken into account in the design phase. Vice President Lowery confirmed some
members of the Environmental Sustainability Task Force were on the Planning
Committee for the Entry Plaza in an effort to coordinate efforts. Dr. Messner shared the
email with the Council.
OLD BUSINESS

Proposal for Change in the MS in General Education Studies
Dr. Robert Bangert-Drowns, Associate Dean, School of Education, and faculty member
of Educational Theory and Practice Department, summarized the background he
presented at the May 3 meeting regarding the Proposal for Change in the MS in General
Education Studies.
The revised program uses existing courses and current faculty. Neither the current
program nor the revised program leads to professional certification for teaching.
Dr. Bangert-Drowns answered questions raised by the Council regarding the proposed
program. The Council further discussed the program and the following motion was
made:
MOTION:
To approve the Proposal for Change in the MS in General Educational Studies.
Motion carried unanimously.
NEW BUSINESS

Application for University Center Status, Center for the Elimination of Minority
Health Disparities
Dr. Lawrence Schell, Director, Center for the Elimination of Minority Health Disparities,
presented background on the Application for University Center Status, Center for the
Elimination of Minority Health Disparities.
The CEMHD is supported by an NIH grant through the EXPORT Center Program that will
end on July 31, 2007. In the application to NIH, the PI proposed a center entitled,
“Center of Health Disparities in Smaller Cities” to reflect the theme and unique niche of
the proposed Center. The NIH EXPORT Center program sought to build capacity in
university faculty and community groups to work synergistically toward eliminating
minority health disparities. When NIH funding ends, the Center will take a form not
limited by the NIH requirements for the EXPORT Center but will build from that structure
which served it well for three years, reflecting the more limited funding available. It
would be unrealistic to seek university certification for a center with a structure
determined and funded by a grant that will end shortly. Therefore, this proposal for
certification describes the Center’s new form. The Center has planned for the transition
from NIH funding and developed a vision, mission, structure, activities, and funding plan
for the future.
After a brief summary of the new model which includes the essential cores of
Administration, Research Mentoring and Training, and Outreach (that includes education
and information dissemination), Dr. Schell answered questions from Council members.
After discussion, the following motion was made:
MOTION:
To approve the Application for University Center Status, Center for the
Elimination of Minority Health Disparities.
Motion carried unanimously.

Proposal for Faculty-Initiated Interdisciplinary Major/Minor in Financial
Market Regulation
David McCaffrey gave a brief update on status of this proposed program. It has been
approved by both Rockefeller College and the College of Computing and Information. It
currently resides with the School of Business where there are some concerns. Dr.
McCaffrey is working with David Smith to fine-tune the proposal to submit to the School
of Business. It would then also be submitted to other governance bodies.
The final proposal would have to be approved by UAC. Dr. Messner stated that
procedures for review of faculty-initiated interdisciplinary majors/minors need to be
clarified. The Senate Charter stipulates that UPC reviews all new programs, while the
Undergraduate Policy Manual implies that faculty-initiated majors/minors only require
review by the Interdisciplinary Studies Committee of UAC. Dr. Messner recommended
on the Senate floor at the May meeting that the Governance Council clarify the review
process next fall.

Writing Task Force
A Council member inquired about the “next step” of the Writing Task Force. Vice
Provost Spencer reported that an announcement has been sent to the university
community stating that the report of the Task Force is now available on the Institutional
Research website. The summer will allow time for the report to be read. Continuing
conversations with a wider constituency will be held in the fall.
Dr. Messner noted that any proposals related to the Writing Task Force will be presented
to UPC.
Motion was made to adjourn at 11:20 a.m.
Respectfully submitted by,
Kathleen Spawn