Referred to a standing committee

BAS degree program structure

Calendar Item: 
1249
Docket Number: 
1154
First Name: 
April
Last Name: 
Chatham-Carpenter
Facts: 

Pres. Ruud asked the Provost to explore the possibility of offering a Bachelor's of Applied Science degree.  It is one of his key priorities for this year.  His goal is to enhance our relationships with Iowa Community Colleges.  He believes we need to mitigate barriers for community college students to transfer to UNI.

In order to see if there might be interest in such a program from faculty and departments at UNI, the Provost set up an ad hoc committee in Spring 2014 to explore interest.  This committee did not come up with a framework for such a degree, however, but did find there was some interest from individual departments in pursuing this degree program.

The report of the ad hoc committee needs to be presented to the Faculty Senate, and based on the interest of some departments to pursue this degree program, I am wanting to petition the senate to adopt a framework for a BAS degree, to help provide some structure for the degree itself to help guide these departments in their curricular work.

More rationale for a BAS degree program appears below, adapted from Pres. Ruud's priorities statement:

A BAS degree program could serve the needs of working Iowans, address educational needs for place-bound Iowans in both rural and urban communities, enhance community college partnerships, provide for a better workforce (including advanced manufacturing), and strengthens skills available to business and industry within Iowa. In addition, the university could pursue programming and funding partnerships with business and industry in Iowa by engaging in such a degree program.

More than 540,000 Iowans (nearly 35% of the state’s population ages 25 – 64) have some college credit, but no Bachelor’s degree (Lumina Foundation). In cooperation with Iowa’s community colleges, the University of Northern Iowa could address gaps in Iowa’s educational attainment rates by providing a clear set of pathways to degree completion for individuals with some college, but less than a four-year degree. Options could include both campus-based and distance delivery. The BAS degree program in particular would be designed for students who hold an Associate of Applied Sciences (AAS) or an Associate of Science (AS) degree from a community college. The program would build upon the knowledge gained in these degrees while providing knowledge and skills in applied leadership, communication and critical thinking skills. Outcomes may include greater earning power and opportunities of advancement for citizens throughout the state, enhanced community college and business and industry partnerships, a better prepared workforce (including the advanced manufacturing sector), and economic growth for the state.

Upload Petition Facts: 
Action: 

Therefore, be it resolved that the UNI Faculty Senate appoint a committee to propose a workable structure for a BAS degree at UNI, made up of representatives from the Faculty Senate, LACC, UCC, departments who are interested in such a program, and Continuing Education.

We referred this item to the UCC to prepare a report for the senate. The report will contain information concerning a general structure for the BAS, preferably with reference to an example two degree which students will have before undertaking the BAS degree. Also of particular interest will be how issues related to the liberal arts core will be handled. Upon receipt of the report, which should be submitted to the senate as soon as feasible (expected in October), this item will be docketed at the head of the order at the next meeting of the senate.

Upload Supporting Information: 
BAS Proposal
Upload Supporting Information for Box B: 
Proposal from LACC and UCC
Upload Supporting Information for Box C: 
Status of the Item: 
Referred to a standing committee
Final Action Taken: 
Report Received
Meeting Date: 
Mar 09, 2015

Revisions to Policy 10.08 University of Northern Iowa Policy on Distributed Learning and Intellectual Property Rights

Calendar Item: 
1258
Docket Number: 
1153
First Name: 
Tim
Last Name: 
Kidd
Facts: 

This policy has been revised to reflect new technologies in content delivery and instruction as well as clarifying details of copyright ownership for materials created by faculty and staff at UNI.

Upload Petition Facts: 
Action: 

Therefore, be it resolved that the faculty senate will approve the revisions to policy 10.08 and refer the policy to the Policy Review Committee for further action.

Updated version after senate comments
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Status of the Item: 
Referred to a standing committee

Proposed Changes to policy for transfer credit

Calendar Item: 
1269
Docket Number: 
1164
First Name: 
Tim
Last Name: 
Kidd
Facts: 

Currently the letter grades for classes taken from other institutions are transferred in along with credit for the courses. This is problematic for several reasons. 

1. Degrees and curricula are the province of the faculty, and UNI faculty have no control over the quality or rigor of courses taken at other institutions.

2. Some students have cumulative GPAs which are much higher than their UNI GPA owing to courses taken at other institutions. This can have an impact on decisions for maintaining existing scholarships or acquiring new scholarships. 

3. Some students have cumulative GPAs which are much lower than their UNI GPA. Students should not be so heavily penalized for doing poorly in classes taken at another institution, often years in the past. Since all courses taken at other institutions are automatically transferred, students may find it necessary to retake a course they would not normally need for their degree in order to improve their overall GPA.

Action: 

Therefore, be it resolved that the letter grade for courses taken at other institutions should no longer be transferred into UNI for undergraduates. Instead, course credit ONLY should be transferred in for classes in which students receive a C- or better, with no credit transferred in for grades less than a C-. Departments and/or colleges can determine higher standards for what constitutes the minimum grade for credit to be transferred for courses required by an individual major. Grades and GPA for courses taken at other institutions should still be part of student transcripts, but play no role in determining the GPA students receive from UNI.

Status of the Item: 
Referred to a standing committee
Final Action Taken: 
Referred to EPC
Meeting Date: 
Jan 26, 2015

Consideration of Changes to the Student Code of Conduct

Calendar Item: 
1279
Docket Number: 
1174
First Name: 
Timothy
Last Name: 
Kidd
Facts: 

The student code of conduct has been modified as in the attached file. These changes are now to go through the regular policy process.

Upload Petition Facts: 
Action: 

Therefore, be it resolved that the senate consider the proposed changes to the student code of conduct by scheduling a consultation with the Student Conduct Committee and/or referring these proposed changes to the educational policy committee for review.

Status of the Item: 
Referred to a standing committee
Final Action Taken: 
Referred to EPC
Meeting Date: 
Oct 12, 2015

Revisions to Policy 10.08 University of Northern Iowa Policy on Distributed Learning and Intellectual Property Rights

Calendar Item: 
1258
Docket Number: 
1153
First Name: 
Tim
Last Name: 
Kidd
Facts: 

This policy has been revised to reflect new technologies in content delivery and instructoin as well as clarifying details of copyright ownership for materials created by faculty and staff at UNI.

Upload Petition Facts: 
Action: 

Therefore, be it resolved that the faculty senate will aprove the revisions to policy 10.08 and refer the policy to the Policy Review Committee for further action.

Status of the Item: 
Referred to a standing committee

BAS degree program structure

Calendar Item: 
1249
Docket Number: 
1154
First Name: 
April
Last Name: 
Chatham-Carpenter
Facts: 

Pres. Ruud asked the Provost to explore the possibility of offering a Bachelor's of Applied Science degree.  It is one of his key priorities for this year.  His goal is to enhance our relationships with Iowa Community Colleges.  He believes we need to mitigate barriers for community college students to transfer to UNI.

In order to see if there might be interest in such a program from faculty and departments at UNI, the Provost set up an ad hoc committee in Spring 2014 to explore interest.  This committee did not come up with a framework for such a degree, however, but did find there was some interest from individual departments in pursuing this degree program.

The report of the ad hoc committee needs to be presented to the Faculty Senate, and based on the interest of some departments to pursue this degree program, I am wanting to petition the senate to adopt a framework for a BAS degree, to help provide some structure for the degree itself to help guide these departments in their curricular work.

More rationale for a BAS degree program appears below, adapted from Pres. Ruud's priorities statement:

A BAS degree program could serve the needs of working Iowans, address educational needs for place-bound Iowans in both rural and urban communities, enhance community college partnerships, provide for a better workforce (including advanced manufacturing), and strengthens skills available to business and industry within Iowa. In addition, the university could pursue programming and funding partnerships with business and industry in Iowa by engaging in such a degree program.

More than 540,000 Iowans (nearly 35% of the state’s population ages 25 – 64) have some college credit, but no Bachelor’s degree (Lumina Foundation). In cooperation with Iowa’s community colleges, the University of Northern Iowa could address gaps in Iowa’s educational attainment rates by providing a clear set of pathways to degree completion for individuals with some college, but less than a four-year degree. Options could include both campus-based and distance delivery. The BAS degree program in particular would be designed for students who hold an Associate of Applied Sciences (AAS) or an Associate of Science (AS) degree from a community college. The program would build upon the knowledge gained in these degrees while providing knowledge and skills in applied leadership, communication and critical thinking skills. Outcomes may include greater earning power and opportunities of advancement for citizens throughout the state, enhanced community college and business and industry partnerships, a better prepared workforce (including the advanced manufacturing sector), and economic growth for the state.

 

Upload Petition Facts: 
Action: 

Therefore, be it resolved that the UNI Faculty Senate appoint a committee to propose a workable structure for a BAS degree at UNI, made up of representatives from the Faculty Senate, LACC, UCC, departments who are interested in such a program, and Continuing Education.

Refer to UCC for report

We referred this item to the UCC to prepare a report for the senate. The report will contain information concerning a general structure for the BAS, preferrably with reference to an example two degree which students will have before undertaking the BAS degree. Also of particular interest will be how issues related to the liberal arts core will be handled. Upon receipt of the report, which should be submitted to the senate as soon as feasible (expected in october), this item will be docketed at the head of the order at the next meeting of the senate.

Upload Supporting Information: 
BAS Proposal
Upload Supporting Information for Box B: 
Status of the Item: 
Referred to a standing committee
Meeting Date: 
Sep 08, 2014

University Writing Committee Report and Recommendations

Calendar Item: 
1248
Docket Number: 
1144
First Name: 
Jerry
Last Name: 
Smith
Facts: 

Whereas, early in 2014, the Faculty Senate asked the University Writing Committee (UWC) to undertake an initiative with the goal of improving the writing skills of UNI undergraduate students;

and whereas the UWC has addressed this task, in part by studying writing requirements at peer institutions, and, based on its findings, has prepared the attached report and recommendations; 

Action: 

Therefore, be it resolved that the Senate receives the report of the University Writing Committe and approves its recommendations.

Report
Upload Supporting Information: 
Status of the Item: 
Referred to a standing committee
Final Action Taken: 
Referred for consultation with LACC and UCC
Meeting Date: 
Apr 28, 2014
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