USF Undergraduate Council - Minutes of October 8, 2007

Present: Dell DeChant, Sherman Dorn, Sharon Geiger, Michael LeVan, Sunita Lodwig, Steven Reader, Dewey Rundus, Larry Thompson.

Absent: Bradley Kamp

Guests: Keenan Arodak, Cordell Chavis, Jay Coble, Elizabeth Bell, Janet Moore, Kay Perrin

The meeting was called to order at 3:09 p.m.

1. The minutes of September 24, 2007 were approved with amendments.

2. Announcements/Discussions

   • Consent Agenda - Nonsubstantive Changes
     • ITW 4100 - APPROVED
     • ITW 4101 - APPROVED

   • Ms. Sharon Geiger announced that she has been approved as the Director of Honors College. She may not be a member of Undergraduate Council as she is now in an administrative role. Only a member of the faculty can be a part of the Undergraduate Council, who is nominated and then approved by the Faculty Senate.

   • Academic Residence
     The UGC members discussed the proposed change in Graduation Requirements for baccalaureate degrees, specifically related to Academic Residence. The changes to the Academic Residence requirements were approved by the UGC.

     Prior requirement:

     
     Candidates for graduation must have completed at least 30 hours of the last 60 hours of their undergraduate credit in USF courses. The approval of the dean of the college granting their degree must be secured for any transfer credits offered for any part of these last 60 hours.
     Exceptions to the above rules are students who are enrolled at other universities on approved exchange programs, cooperative education students enrolled in other institutions (prior approval having been secured from their USF advisors) while on their training periods, and students taking correspondence work from the University of Florida. CLEP credit does not count toward academic residency" to a revised requirement which was approved by the UGC and says

     Changes to requirement:

     
     Any credits transferred from a University of South Florida accredited institution must be processed as transfer credits from any regionally accredited institution.
     Candidates for graduation must have completed at least 30 hours of the last 60 hours of their undergraduate credits in courses offered by the institution from which they receive a degree and have earned a GPA of 2.0 or higher in those courses. Individual colleges and programs may have more stringent requirements, approved by the university, such as the number of specific courses in the major that must be completed at the institution from which a student may receive a degree.
     Exceptions to the above rules may be made for students who are enrolled at other universities in a USF approved exchanges, study abroad programs, co-op training programs or correspondence courses from the University of Florida. CLEP credit does not count toward academic residence".

   • Undergraduate Council Charge
     The UGC members acknowledged that the wording of the responsibility of the UGC needs to be revised in the Council's Charge. The members discussed the wording of the current charge and made some changes. However, it still needs to be reviewed and approved and the concerns of the members will be incorporated. The proposed wording of Charge is as follows:

     
     The Undergraduate Council is responsible for recommending to the President, Provost, and the Dean of Undergraduate Studies and reporting to the Faculty Senate on matters pertaining to undergraduate courses, curricula, institutional programs, and degrees of the university. Responsibilities include the review of the undergraduate academic policies, new courses and programs other than those of the general education curriculum. The council shall advise the President, the Provost, and the Dean of Undergraduate Studies on the development of future undergraduate programs at the university and shall aid them in developing, reviewing and updating the university's statement of academic goals and objectives.

3. New course/curriculum proposals

   • ORI 4018 Performance Art
     This course explores history, criticism, and practice of performance art as a genre of performance. Restricted to majors; nonmajors with permit. Not repeatable for credit. Following discussion, this course was approved.

   • ORI 4019 Performing Identity and Culture
     This course focuses on theory and practice of identity and culture as performed in ritual, community, and aesthetic contexts. Majors only; nonmajors by permit only. May not be repeated for credit. Following discussion, this course was approved.

   • ORI 4210 Performing Young Adult Literature
     This course involves performance of literature written for young adults with an emphasis on cultural values and beliefs. For majors; nonmajors by permit only. May not be repeated for credit. Following discussion, this course was approved.

   • ORI 4211 Performing Nonfiction
     This course explores the genre of nonfiction, including diaries, memoirs, travelogues, new journalism, personal essays, and weblogs, through performance. For majors; nonmjaors by permit. May not be repeated for credit. Following discussion, this course was approved.

   • ORI 4220 Performing Relationships
     This course explores interpersonal, organizational, and intercultural theories of human relationships as realized in literary texts through performance. For majors; nonmajors permit only. May not be repeated for credit. Following discussion, this course was approved.

   • ORI 4320 Writing for Performance
     This course explores the intersection of writing and performance as aesthetic and communicative practices. For majors; nonmajors by permit only. May not be repeated for credit. Following discussion, this course was approved.

     Rundus/Thompson - TABLED

   • Bachelor of General Studies - New degree program
     There was a broad discussion about this program by the members. The intent of this program is to give an opportunity to adults from the workforce to solidify their past education record by offering studies toward a Bachelor of General Studies. The Council shared its concerns about the GPA requirements for admission being too low. There were also concerns about the academic acumen of the student enrolled in this program, as this program would cater to a niche of students who were not able to finish their bachelor degree in the past. The student representatives voiced their concerns about resource and budget constraints as well as strategic planning. The members also expressed their ideas about making this program performance-based after students are admitted on a probationary basis. The members also suggested raising the level of requirements for admission. The Council members were asked to send their concerns and opinions about this program by email to the chair.

     TABLED

   • College of Engineering Catalog changes
     Civil Engineering

     Prior catalog copy - 0708

     Departmental Policies
     In addition to the College’s graduation requirements, the Department has the following policies:
     1. Advising is mandatory prior to each term.
     2. Exit Interviews are a graduation requirement for all students.
     3. Only 2 “D” grades in engineering courses may be used to fulfill graduation requirements.
     4. Students are strongly advised to take the Fundamental Exam (F.E.)

     New catalog copy - 0809

     Departmental Policies
     In addition to the College's graduation requirements, the Department has the following policies:
     1. Mandatory advising is required of student prior to each term.
     2. Participating in Department assessment activities, including an exit interview, is a graduation requirement for each student.
     3. As a continuation requirement, students must have a C or better in EGN 3311 Statics; EGN 3331 Mechanics of Materials; EGN 3353 Basic Fluid Mechanics; and EGN 3365 Materials Engineering I. In addition students must have a 2.5 GPA (best attempt) in these courses.
     4. No D grades in engineering courses may be used to fulfill graduation requirements.
     5. Students are strongly advised to take the Fundamentals of Engineering Exam (F.E. Exam).

     Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering, Computer Science and Information Systems
     The minimum grade in specialization and general engineering courses (other than COP2510, CDA3103 and COP3514) will be a C-. The minimum grade for COP2510, CDA3103 and COP3514 will be a C.

The next meeting will be Monday, October 22, 2007. The meeting was adjourned at 4:45 p.m.

Please send any suggestions or comments to:
Mia Fluitt - webcat@ugs.usf.edu