Kevin Donnelly (AG)
Lynn Ewanow (AR)
Diane Barker (AS)
Ike Ehie (BA)
Betty Stevens (DCE)
Mike Perl (ED)
Karen Pence (HE)
Monte Neilsen (REG)
Ronnie Elmore (VM)
Mike Lynch (EDP)
Jackie Spears (FS/AAC)
Nancy Mosier (TC)
Dave Vruwink, David Stone, Myra Gordon, Vicki Clegg, Rob Caffey
Ike Ehie convened the meeting at 10:30 am.
Introduction of guests.
Barker - More NST petitions for English, Aerospace and Athletics courses.
Spears - Policy for maximum enrollment.
The minutes for the August 13th meeting were approved as distributed.
Myra Gordon, Associate Provost, Diversity and Dual Career Development, gave a special report on the role of her office. They focus on two main issues - diversity and dual careers (ie. for spousal hires). The diversity initiative includes coordinating efforts across the entire university. She noted that every operation of the university (ie. student affairs, academic affairs, fund raising, etc.) may be impacted in an effort to insure "the best and most diverse learning community". She outlined her thoughts on recruitment and retention, since part of her charge is to grow enrollment of diverse students. She noted that our retention of students of color is poor, especially at the upper class levels. Dr. Gordon raised two questions regarding academic policies as related to retention - Is there ever a need for differential policies for different groups? Should additional factors be considered when student are within hundredths of a point for dismissal? Each college representative in attendance then outlined their college reinstatement procedures to inform Dr.Gordon of how the standards are enforced. Several have some provision for students to appeal for immediate reinstatement where "extenuating circumstances" can be presented, but not all do, and it is generally rare that students are readmitted immediately. Dr. Gordon asked the faculty committees be sensitive to the environment here (minorities in a predominately white institution) that may require them additional time and management to help adjust and be successful.
Donnelly reviewed e-mails that he sent regarding the minutes from previous meetings when this policy was discussed. Based on those discussions, it was decided that courses accepted from community colleges and treated by KSU as "equivalent" to 300 level KSU courses (ie. STAT 320 is offered at 17 Kansas community colleges) would be included to meet the 45 hour rule for individual students on DARS. Spears noted that the original interpretation was that it should be monitored student by student, but then the emphasis was shifted more to programs. Donnelly noted that if the programs include 45 hours upper division by design, then we will have met the intent if the student completes all requirements in one way or another. Barker noted that any time we do a substitution on DARS for a 300 level requirement with any course, it would then be applied to the 45 hours. Stevens noted that the Regents originally thought it should be "half" while some institutions wanted to accept up to 85 hours from community colleges. Donnelly asked for the committee to verify that the original decision to count "300 level equivalent" courses was accurate and that DARS should be programmed accordingly. The committee agreed to this position.
Barker presented a petition for BIOL 515 for WF, 9:30-10:45. The time is to accommodate a special scheduling issue for the faculty member. The proposal was approved. Barker asked for consideration of additional non-standard times that were identified recently since the line schedule proofs were prepared. ENGL 805 cannot be scheduled until 3:30 because GTA's who take it are not done teaching until 3:30. A motion was approved for ENGL 805 on M, 3:30-5:20. AERO 099 on U, 3:30-5:20 was approved. AERO 311 and AERO 411both on TU, 12:30-1:45 was denied. The committee suggested the standard time of 1:05-2:20. All 12 of the ATHM and ATHW courses associated with intercollegiate team practice schedules were approved as presented in the line schedule.
Ehie presented a petition for FIN 815. This course was originally approved for NST of TU, 5:30-8:00. It is a short course, thus the need for additional time. The committee recommended the MWF 2:30-4:20 time, which is a standard time, as requested. This in effect retracts the previously approved NST.
Nielson reported that a 21 hour enrollment cap has now been programmed into KATS as a result of our recommendations.
Spears asked if Academic Affairs needs to propose a faculty handbook.change to the maximum enrollment policy as a result of the new enrollment cap on KATS. The current policy states a maximum enrollment of 18 hours. She is concerned that letting students enroll in 21 may endorse that as policy rather that 18 hour rule. Several members argued that the new KATS restrictions are just a way to get closer to enforcement of the existing policy. No one was in favor of actually increasing it. Neilson will still send lists of students enrolled in 18 or more for colleges to act upon if desired. Spears agreed not to pursue a handbook change.
Rob Caffey and Vicki Clegg discussed developments in technology to test students without them all being in one place. Rob gave a demonstration of the E-Proctor system being used by DCE. This cuts out several mailing steps compared to traditional proctor systems. This could be adapted for on-campus by using GTA's or staff as proctors. Students could come to a lab over a certain time interval. The proctor has to be present and signed on when the test is taken. K-State Online can also be used to administer a test. Test bank programs are available to generate different tests. Vicki discussed security issues with these approaches. Some security issues can be covered (ie. verifying authenticity of the student), but there are still some to be overcome (ie. hard to cover first student completing exam and sharing with students taking the test later). She suggested that these systems be couched as an option for assessment.
The meeting was adjourned at 12:05.
October 8, 2003
Respectfully Submitted by Kevin Donnelly