Undergraduate Academic Council
Meeting Date:
Tuesday, March 6, 2007, 12:00 Noon-1:04 PM
Present:
J. Philippe Abraham, Jeanette Altarriba, Scott Barclay, Maria Brown, Ivan Edelson, Sue
Faerman, Susanna Fessler, Carolyn Malloch, John Monfasani, Karin Reinhold, Dan Smith, Brian
Tregerman, Lisa Trubitt, Daniel Truchan. Guests: Susan Maloney, Sue Phillips
Minutes:
Minutes from the February 27, 2007 meeting were reviewed. No corrections were required, and
the Council approved the minutes.
Policy Change for Accounting Majors (Tabled from Last Week):
Sue Maloney from the School of Business discussed the policy change for accounting majors
which was tabled from last week. She explained these changes were made within the School of
Business prior to the Fall 2005 Undergraduate Bulletin but claimed the changes were never
updated in any Bulletin from Fall 2005 to the present. The School of Business has not been
adhering to the Bulletin but to the new requirements only. The ASC/US website lists the new
requirements, and new students are provided with the updated rules upon entering the School of
Business. In addition to credits being lowered from 60 to 51, there are some course changes. A
business communication course must be taken, along with Itm 390. Two tax courses have been
combined into one, and students now only need to complete that tax course. A computer course,
outside the School of Business, must be finished. Even though graduation would still take place
for a student that did not complete all new guidelines, the student would be unable to sit for the
CPA exam. The new guidelines affect somewhere between 200-300 students. The requested
waiver is to change the bulletin year and not the admission year. Sue Maloney mentioned that if
the Council feared litigation, students could easily sign a waiver. She also mentioned she
advises students that their audits will be incorrect for a while. Again, only Spring 2009
graduating students will be affected. The Council voted to pass the proposal with one member
abstaining.
Undergraduate Bulletin Word Changing for UNI Courses (Tabled from Last Week):
The Vice Provost mentioned that an experimental class remains so until it has been assigned a
course number, and only then becomes a permanent on-going class. Changing “one semester” to
“one academic year” wording was discussed. The Vice Provost agreed with the wording change.
As a courtesy, the Chair will send the Council’s suggested “one academic year” wording change
to the Executive Committee for agreement.
A discussion ensued regarding the possibility of a faculty member, at the end of the spring
semester, requesting a new course be taught for the fall semester. According to the new Senate
charter, the Senate operates from September to August. A concern exists for business needing
completion during summer break (e.g., Gen Ed Committee, Interdisciplinary Committee, etc.)
The suggestion was made that either the faculty would wait until the following spring to teach a
course or an emergency situation is declared and committees would be required to meet. A
member pointed out that some professors are under a ten-month contract and requiring their
attendance during summer break may be in violation of their legal obligations. Perhaps
UAC Minutes, 3/6/07
Page 2 of 2
committees could meet electronically through e-mail? The Vice Provost mentioned there are
many items placed on hold until the fall semester commences. A back-up should exist if a
committee is unable to meet during summer break. A member suggested that wording could be
updated to give the Vice Provost of Undergraduate Education the authority for making final
decisions when committees are unable to meet during semester breaks. One member felt
reluctant in agreeing with this since it could encourage late submissions. Since the issue raised
affects Senate across the board and not simply the Interdisciplinary sub-committee, the point was
made that a general principle on handling this issue needs to be established and not an ad hoc
decision relevant only to the Interdisciplinary committee. Consequently, it was argued that the
place to start concerning the issue was the Senate Executive Committee rather than the UAC.
The Council voted to table the discussion for a future meeting.
New Business:
- The Chair mentioned that in the handouts today are three proposals which will be forwarded
to the Curriculum Committee for review with a follow-up report to the Council. The proposals
are (1) revisions to Medieval and Renaissance Studies major and minor, (2) termination of the
Bachelor of Arts in Broadcast Meteorology, and (3) a proposal to establish a combined degree
involving the BA in History and the Master of Arts degree in Public Affairs and Policy.
- An e-mail was sent by the Chair to all members regarding a set of General Education
Committee recommendations which will be placed on the Council’s agenda for March 13th.
Members should review the recommendations for discussion next week.
The Vice Provost mentioned two upcoming subjects under the New Business category for the
agenda.
- The Honors College Governing Board met yesterday and will propose Honors College
rewording for student requirements. Presently students are required to complete six honors
courses, and the Governing Board is requesting a rewording to 18 credits. The Vice Provost
will provide rewording to the Council.
- A University at Albany requirement states that students are required to complete their foreign
language requirement which entails a prerequisite as well as a second semester course. Certain
students are circumventing requirements by completing the foreign language requirement at
other schools, which require only one semester, and then transferring the credits to the
University. The Vice Provost will provide updated wording to the Council at a future meeting.
Next Meeting:
The next Undergraduate Academic Council meeting will be held Tuesday, 3/13/07, 12:00 Noon,
LC-31.
Minutes Taken:
Notes taken by Joanne Baronner, Undergraduate Education.