2005-06 Annual Report
Faculty Board for Undecided/Undeclared Students
To the Irvine Divisional Senate Assembly:
The Faculty Board for Undecided/Undeclared Students respectfully submits its report of
activities for the academic year 2005-06.
I.
Council Operations
Tony Givargis, Professor of Computer Science-Systems in the Donald Bren School of
Information Computer Sciences, chaired the Faculty Board for Undecided/Undeclared
Students in 2005-06. The Board met three times during the academic year to review and
make recommendations to the Undecided/Undeclared Advising Program. Attending
regular U/U meetings were eight elected members, the Associate Dean of Undergraduate
Education, the Director of Undecided/Undeclared Advising, and the Associated Students
of UCI Representative. The Board agreed to meet once a quarter during academic year
2006-07 with the stipulation that members participate in U/U events, which generally
take place once a quarter.
II.
Undecided/Undeclared Student Update
A. In fall of 2005, 1136 undergraduate students were enrolled as
undecided/undeclared. This figure represents an increase of approximately
200 students from the previous year, and about 25% of the incoming freshman
class.
B. There were 748 freshman enrolled in University Studies (UNI STU) in the fall
of 2005 and 492 enrolled in the winter.
C. UCI is expecting a big influx of incoming freshman in fall of 2006. The
number of U/U students is slightly down from the previous year despite this
increase.
D. Orientation programs will take place all summer long. The
Undecided/Undeclared office will need a counselor in the office during the
summer quarter to accommodate the larger summer student population.
E. Incoming freshmen will be offered two years of guaranteed housing beginning
in AY 2006-07. Approximately 80% of the freshman will live on Campus. It
is predicted that at least 70% will return for the second year of housing.
III.
University Studies
In 2004-05, DUE offered two courses for U/U students: the optional University Studies 1
in the fall, which introduced students to the Campus, and the mandatory University
Studies 2 in winter, which provided an introduction to the majors. The Board felt it was
necessary to create a new University Studies course which would merge the two courses
into one curriculum. Effective fall quarter 2005, University Studies 1 and 2 were merged
into a new University Studies 2 course which incorporated elements of both courses.
This new course was revamped based on student evaluations and comments from the two
original courses.
IV.
First-Year Integrated Program (FIP)
Based on a recommendation from the 2002-03 Task Force on Undergraduate Education
to offer some sort of integrated first-year experience for freshman, DUE has launched a
program for a sequence of courses. Students who enroll will be committed to take the
cross-disciplinary sequence for the year. In fall 2006, two sequences will be offered: US
11 Persuasion and Social Change and US 12 Computer Games as Art, Culture, and
Technology.
V.
Faculty Forums
Faculty advising for Undecided/Undeclared students was modified into faculty forums.
These forums are designed to enhance contact between faculty and freshman and to
introduce students to the broad array of academic disciplines represented at UCI.
Effective spring quarter 2005, the forums were offered as an optional colloquium by each
School. The Board members agreed to participate in these faculty forums in 2006-07, as
the members are probably most familiar with undecided/undeclared concerns and issues.
Participating in these faculty forums will also give Board members a chance to receive
feedback from the students. Members suggested that the panels be held in an informal
setting at Mesa Court and Middle Earth with refreshments provided.
Board Membership:
Tony Givargis, ICS, Chair
Patrick Guidotti, Physical Sciences
Haris Catrakis, Engineering
Cynthia Claxton, Humanities
Ray Luo, Biological Sciences
Wendy Goldberg, Social Ecology
Gifford Myers, Arts
Tony McGann, Social Science
Ex Officio:
Sharon Salinger, Dean, DUE
Consultants:
Rudi Berkelhamer, Associate Dean, DUE
Kimberly Ayala, Director of Undecided/ Undeclared Advising, DUE
Nick Rosato, DUE
Representative:
Ricman Bernas, ASUCI