Statewide Academic Council Meeting Summary
December 5, 2012, 10:00 am to 12:30 pm
Room 204 Butrovich, Fairbanks Campus
Audio: 1-800-893-8850 PIN# 9740910
1. Approval of the summary of the 11.15.12 meeting – Attachment – Summary approved without
revision.
2. Alaska’s Learning Network (AKLN; see www.aklearn.net) - Roxanne Mourant, State Technology
Coordinator, Alaska Department of Education & Early Development – How can UA collaborate
with K-12 to improve college readiness?
AKLN is working closely with UAF CDE. Class sizes are limited to 20, which includes in-person
and distance students so courses are blended in terms of students. 85% of students completed
their courses – some left the state and some courses were over the heads of the students so
they departed. All courses and related materials are placed in a digital sandbox; John
Monahan’s grant supported this effort. AKLN supplements what is not available at a specific
school. It is not intended to become its own school. AKLN course offerings must be sponsored
through a school. Process – Roxy will send courses that she would like to see available
statewide for dual credit to the VPAA. The VPAA will direct those interested in offering dual
enrollment courses to Roxy (have Kathy Bertram contact Roxy about the Alaska Studies course).
December 17th 9am audio conference; Dana will take part. Roxy was not aware that UA is a
leader in environmental research – send her some background information on this.
3. New Program Proposals and Deletions
UAF has submitted proposals to delete the MAT in Math, the MS General Science, and the MAT
in Physics. UAS has suspended admissions for the associate of business and is likely to
eventually delete this program. UAA is working on a deletion list.
4. Common format for Program Review reporting – Bear Baker
Agreed to a handful of revisions – Bear Baker will send around a new version.
5. $80K for Distance education technology training and technical support –Dana Thomas
iTeach at UAF in Fairbanks and UAS in Southeast, UAA – Bear will have person contact me
(Technology Fellows). SAC will hold a special session on increasing MAU collaboration including
tuition/fee sharing – involve joint PhD in Clinical Psych – students registered for programs on
their own campus.
6. Policy and Regulation Review - Attachments
a. (10-04) Reminder = General consensus was that we keep policy on eLearning brief and
emphasize student support services, e.g., advising, financial aid, library and information
resources access, etc. Dana, Bear, and Hellena will work on this section to add eLearning elements; definition, access to library and information resources and student
services. Susan will work on C- grade issue on pages 11 and 13. All MAUs should
examine their catalogs with respect to the definition of grades.
b. (10-03) – provosts will check to see if deans play a role in recommending candidates for
degrees and certificates. Bear will check the list of honorary doctorate titles on page 4;
Engineering, Management, Health look like they are needed. Revise wording on page 4
#2.
c. (10-09) – Dana will check to see if we can just delete this section. If not, we will
recommend a significant reduction as suggested by Susan.
7. Update on AAC&U GER workshop January 11 & 12 - Robert Boeckman - attachment
+ Cost share & logistics discussion – Dana Thomas – cost is estimated at ~ $30K, Provosts’
offices handle travel paperwork. UAA will cover shuttle service and catering; UAF and UAS
agreed to cover travel for 3 to 4 participants as a match to UAA’s contribution (~$2200 each). Robert
and Kimberly Swiantek will handle room, shuttles and catering. Rick – we should have an EED rep –
invite Les Morse or his designee?
8. Continuing conversation on High Demand Job list revision – Gwen Gruenig – Delayed until a
later meeting because of lack of time.
9. Send one-liners of major accomplishments and first-time ever statements for use in the
legislative session to Michelle Rizk (michelle.rizk@alaska.edu) by December 18th.
10. Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education – Attachment – Notice of Proposed Changes in
the Regulations
11. Early discussion of FY15 budget proposals
a. E-Learning?
b. Acceleration Project – re-inventing developmental education (like California, Virginia)
Include near completers and probation students?
c. Mining
d. FSMI
e. Analytics – preparing for P-20W SLDS data
12. December BOR Agenda overview – attachment
13. Roundtable