Undergraduate Academic Council
Meeting Date: Monday, April 24, 2006, 9:30-10:30 AM
Present: J. Philippe Abraham, Jeanette Altarriba, Scott Barclay, Seth Chaiken, Richard Collier, Sue
Faerman, Chris Faugere, Robert Gibson, Anne Hildreth, Carolyn Malloch, Karin Reinhold, Daniel Truchan,
Guests: Sue Phillips, Greg Stevens
Minutes:
Minutes from the April 17, 2006 meeting were reviewed. No corrections were required, and the Council
approved the minutes.
Subcommittee Reports:
Anne Hildreth sent an e-mail message to all language departments regarding the option for new languages
approved by the Council. Both Anne Hildreth and Greg Stevens met with the University in High School group to
discuss new language requirements approved by the Council. The Gen Ed Committee continues to work on the
idea of pairing language and non-language courses.
Informatics Minor Proposal:
The old program of Information & Policy never included a minor but did include a Library minor. The
proposal would include a required core of 12-13 credits of four courses in online information retrieval (I Ist
100), computer programming (I Csi 101, 110, 201 or B Itm 215), web and systems technologies (I Inf 201),
and databases and data modeling (B Itm 332). Three new courses are being added (I Csi 110, I Inf 201 and I
Itm 332).
The proposed Bulletin description (for general option only) follows:
INFORMATICS: A minimum of 18 graduation credits including I Csi 101 or 110 or 201 or B Itm
215; I Ist 100, I Inf 201, and B Itm 332; and any two courses from among I Csi 203, 204, 205,
300, I Ist 423, 424, B Itm 330, and 331.
In the fall, additional versions of the minor tailored to certain specific major programs will be proposed. The
faculty-working group will work with departments to determine the best minor for a student’s major. Both
Peter Bloniarz (CCI Dean’s Office) and Chair Peter Levin (School of Business) have approved the proposal
along with the new B Itm 332 course. Fall 2006 is the proposed implementation, although the title and
description of B Itm 332 are “tentative”.
The Council agreed that Seth Chaiken would request the program make the following changes to the
proposal: (1) I Csi 110 will be made a prerequisite for I Csi 203, 204, and 205, and (2) B Itm 215 will be
removed as a prerequisite for I Csi 203, 204, and 205. Dick Collier will work with Seth on Bulletin wording.
The Chair will present the proposal at today’s Senate meeting.
In addition, Dick Collier will contact Business to obtain the title and description of B Itm 322 and seek
clarification on the following: will a student who changes from an Informatics to a Business minor be
allowed to use B Itm 332 and/or 331 in that minor? Is it still appropriate to consider I Csi 101 and 201 and
perhaps 110 prerequisite for B Itm 330 and 331 (now that they are no longer “equivalent” to the stated
prerequisite B Itm 215)? Though not critical to the implementation of the Informatics minor, is an
introductory calculus course still going to be listed as a formal prerequisite for B Itm 330? UAC voted and
approved the proposal with one abstention and one “nay”
UAC Minutes, 4/24/06
Page 2 of 2
Change in the Anthropology Major:
Council approved adding A Ant 499 as a requirement for all majors (in place of 3 of the required credits of
major electives). It was suggested that the department be contacted to see whether 499 would be appropriate
for the Oral Discourse requirement and Anne Hildreth agreed to do so.
Change in the Italian Major:
A problem exists where Italian Studies does not have a correct combination of courses for majors to graduate
on time. Changing the scope of the major is required. Ita 311 and 312 are required courses but have not been
taught in a while. Ita 313 will replace Ita 311 and 312 while 315 will be added as a major requirement. By
doing so, it will assist students in staying on track for graduation.
Discussion ensued about whether majors are actually required to read books in Italian for courses such as Ita
315 as the description states. Should students using the course as an upper division course in the minor be
allowed to read the books in English? Some departments handle this by offering a lower level version for
nonmajors and an upper level version, with appropriate differential work load, taught in the same classroom.
The Bulletin states that majors need to read books in Italian and non-minors may read in English. The
prerequisite for majors is Ita 104; for nonmajors, no prerequisite. Council approved the proposal but
requested Dick Collier contact the department for clarification regarding enforcement of this policy.
Reengineering our General Education Requirements:
Sheila Mahan recently sent an e-mail to Anne Hildreth and Vice Provost Faerman informing them that, at
present, no student complaints have been received on the President’s Ask The President e-mail regarding
course availability this semester. Changing the registration criteria from alphabetical to placing credits first
has had a huge impact.
Revising our Minor Requirement:
Bob Gibson mentioned the Registrar’s Office will be mailing a letter requesting all departments provide
information earlier than usual for their listing that shows eligible students for graduation. Information would
be extracted from both summer and fall registration data. Advisors could then meet with students to discuss
courses ensuring their graduation on time. The letter will remind departments of their responsibility to advise
the student on fulfilling general education minor(s) or second majors requirements, not just issues within the
advising department’s major.
It was suggested to move this topic to UAC’s fall agenda/calendar. The Council agreed.
New Business:
No new business to report.
Next Meeting:
The next Undergraduate Academic Council meeting will be held Mond ay, 5/1/05, 9:30 AM, LC-31.
Minutes Taken:
Notes taken by Joanne Baronner, Undergraduate Studies.