ASCRC Minutes 9/16/14
GBB 225, 2:10 p.m.
Call to Order
Members Present: C. Chestnut, D. Coffin, J. Deboer, T. Thibeau, E. Uchimoto, N.
Vonessen
Members Absent/ Excused: A. Lawrence, N. Lindsay L. Eagleheart, L. Gillison, J.
Hickman, T. Manuel, G. Weix
Ex-Officio Present: G. Bryant, B. Howard, J. Laine
Minutes: The 9/9/14 minutes were amended and approved. The meeting began with the
UM Minute.
Communication

The meeting began with introductions of the new student member, Caleb Chestnut, a
transfer student from MSU majoring in Accounting and Finance.
Business Items:

ASCRC briefly discussed whether it should provide a listing of what should be
included on program websites. It reviewed the document created by Graduate
Council listing information required to be on Graduate program’s websites. There is
no graduate catalog so the list was necessary. However, it is unclear whether the
guidelines have been successfully implemented. One issue is that degree builder is
cumbersome and prints numerous pages for degree requirements. Departments will
still need to create their own advising materials. ASCRC does not have any purview
over department’s websites. It could suggest department’s include links to the
catalog.
It was decided that the committee needed more specific information with regard to
the functionality between degree builder, department websites, and possible aps to
make appropriate recommendations.

Related to consistency of information available to students, ASCRC considered the
issue of how departments count credits. A statement should probably be added to
degree builder prior to the entry of curriculum updates in the spring. The language in
the symbolic systems form could be adapted for this purpose. It should be amended
to specify that the upper-division writing requirement in the major be counted toward
degree credits. Professor Vonessen will draft language for discussion next week.

Chair DeBoer looked into whether there was a policy requiring departments’ list
courses they are authorized to teach. It seems this is more of a tradition, since there is
no policy. He inquired whether this is a contractual agreement with students and thus
required to be in the catalog. The schedule seems a more accurate accounting of
which courses a department has offered in a given semester at this point. Common
Course numbering has created confusion now that rubrics are not specific to
departments. Departments need to know what courses they offer. There may need to
be a separate database that includes the department(s) associated with the course.
Department webpages could link to this database. Of course any separate database
will require maintenance. The faculty member listed in the schedule could be tracked
back to the department. This is another issue that requires additional information.
Professor Vonessen will contact John Thunstrom for additional information.

Several faculty from Missoula College were nominated to serve on the Dual Credit
Working Group, but there needs to be a member from ASCRC to call the meetings
and report back to ASCRC. The purpose of the Working Group is to create guidelines
similar to the Principles of Quality Online Courses procedure. This could be used as
a guide for faculty interested in offering dual credit courses. Professor Coffin agreed
to serve on the Working Group.
Good and Welfare

Student member Chestnut was wondering whether there was a policy to challenge
courses. He was required to take speech by his major, when he had extensive speech
experience from high school. He was on the Speech and Debate Team for several
years that won the state championship.
There is a credit by examination policy located in the catalog (pasted below).
Under certain circumstances, a currently registered student may receive credit by
examination for a course in which he or she has not been regularly enrolled. The
student must have a minimum cumulative grade average of 2.00 and an entering
freshman must present a high school scholastic record equivalent to a 2.00 grade
average to be eligible to earn credit by examination in any course.
Each school or department may determine those courses, if any, for which credit
may be earned by examination. The dean of the school or the chair of the
department must approve any arrangements prior to testing for such credit. On the
successful completion of an examination, the department notifies the Registrar's
Office. There are no fees for this type of credit by examination and grading may
be credit/no credit or traditional letter grade.
The Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education is also looking into the
possibility of credit by portfolio and is currently engaged in a Credit for Prior
Learning Pilot Project.
Many students are under the impression that acting fulfills the speech requirement.
Student member Chestnut was encouraged to bring other ASUM issues of concern to
ASCRC for consideration.

Professor Vonessen requests that ASCRC create a small Taskforce charged with
making a list of items to fix or include in the next catalog. Some examples mentioned
were an index, consistent use of headings, and various hyperlinks, in addition to some
of the positive features from the old printed catalog. Professor Vonessen and ASUM
Senator Chestnut agreed to serve. Camie will work to find additional members and
suggests the Taskforce take advantage of the ASCRC meeting time and room on
September 30th.
One of ASCRC’s responsibilities is to “Review and make appropriate changes to the
University catalog.” Professor Uchimoto questioned the process of ensuring
information in the catalog is correct. Such a process is in place for departments to
verify the content for their programs.
Adjournment: The meeting adjourned at 3:27 p.m.