Undergraduate Academic Council
Meeting Date:
Monday, April 3, 2006, 9:30-10:55 AM
Present:
J. Philippe Abraham, Seth Chaiken, Richard Collier, Sue Faerman, Robert Gibson, Anne
Hildreth, Carolyn Malloch, Lisa Trubitt, Daniel Truchan, Guests: Sue Phillips, Greg Stevens
Minutes:
Minutes from the March 27, 2006 meeting were reviewed and corrections acknowledged. Those
minutes, with required updates, were approved.
Chair Announcements:
The UAC meeting for April 10th is canceled.
Council Meetings:
Council meetings are open to everyone unless the Council decides to hold a closed session.
Although no ex officio representatives from colleges or departments have been assigned, any
individual can e-mail the Chair to request particular subjects be discussed.
BA/MA Sociology/Public Affairs & Policy:
Both the Curriculum and Honors subcommittee and UAC have approved the proposal. UPC’s
format was added via a three-column table, which is required by SUNY. UPC found no problems
and/or straightened out any questions requiring answers. The Council approved the BA/MA
Sociology/Public Affairs & Policy proposal.
Standards of Academic Integrity:
The Committee reviewed plagiarism off the internet, updating the policy living in a new world
environment, software to detect plagiarism, and different types of electronic devices utilized in
cheating. Provost Herbst was given the Committee’s report reviewed campus climate and
recommended ways to look at community issues more broadly, and stressed changes to the
present standards. There is a high level of discrepancy across campus regarding discipline
outcomes for a violation of academic integrity, and a greater consistency is needed. A form will
be created and placed on-line to expedite faculty’s reporting of academic integrity violations. In
the future faculty will submit the information via on-line reporting. GAC will be reviewing the
Committee’s report. The Council will continue its discussions on academic integrity standards.
Reengineering Our General Education Requirements:
Greg Stevens Assistant Dean, College of Arts & Science, Dean’s office attended the meeting to
discuss foreign language general education requirements.
UAC Minutes, 4/3/06
Page 2 of 3
Previous Council discussions included revamping the present foreign language Bulletin wording
and discussion of the foreign language learning objectives. As noted in a handout for proposed
changes, it was stated that “Recent analyses of student progress in completing major, minor, and
general education requirements suggest that language is a problematic requirement for our
students to satisfy and it is particularly problematic for our transfer students.” Transfers have
been a problem since the University does not consistently collect high school records proving
language completions. The handout’s table showed a consistent higher percentage pattern for
transfer students needing language requirements over the native students. If students can choose
a new language in the first semester, it would add 784 seats to language. We would need to
ensure we also have 784 culture seats available. Pairing culture and language courses would
assist in the foreign language completion problem. Students would be allowed to take a culture
course before registering for a foreign language. Some students may enjoy their first semester
and choose to take another second semester.
We would need to identify those culture courses in order to guarantee enough student seats. A
member mentioned the need to couple a foreign language with a culture course. It was noted that
most incoming freshmen will not be majoring in a language, and the foreign language
requirements is a problem with seniors when the freshmen are given priority with registration for
100 level language courses.
The University in High School program is to be included in the Gen Ed assessment done at the
University, especially in the foreign languages. It was mentioned that a 50, which equals a “C”
grade, on the CLEP exam is the allowable score An 85 is the mandated requirement on the
Regent’s exam. This is an outside dictated rule of which we have no control.
Students wishing only Tuesday and Thursday classes become a problem since it restricts
available teaching days.
Dependent on the culture courses having enough seats, more foreign language classes could be
increased for seniors.
There is too much focus on logistics rather than on student experiences. Having merely one
semester does not give a student much proficiency in language. Why not make the learning
complimentary with students learning about a country’s culture? From an academic perspective,
it’s acceptable for students to complete culture courses in order to meet gen ed language
requirements.
It was pointed out that some colleges would not give credit when a student only complete the
first semester but not the second semester of language. The proposed changes would in some
sense encourage students to register for the less utilized languages. A member mentioned that a
first semester language is not always encouraged unless the student is declaring a major in
language.
Greg mentioned that a Language Center is being created. A common test will be administrated to
students to determine proper level placement of students.
The Chair inquired on data availability for students taking lower level classes after leaving the
University. Dr. Hildreth will provide the data at a future meeting.
UAC Minutes, 4/3/06
Page 3 of 3
A Council member suggested wording be added that gen ed language requirements be completed
by a certain time with four years.
The Council agreed that the Gen Ed Committee should discuss the proposed changes for gen ed
language requirements with the language departments.
Film Studies Proposal:
Film Studies’ proposal will not be forthcoming to UAC this semester but is expected in fall
2006.
Next Meeting:
The next Undergraduate Academic Council meeting will be held Monday, 4/17/05, 9:30 AM, LC-31.
Minutes Taken:
Notes taken by Joanne Baronner, Undergraduate Studies.