WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY BOARD OF GOVERNORS ACADEMIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE January 26, 2000 Minutes The meeting was called to order at 3:25 p.m. by Governor Scribner in the Alumni Lounge. Secretary McClain called the roll. Committee Members Present: Governors Dunaskiss, Kelly and Scribner; Alvin Saperstein, Faculty Representative; Sheldon Alexander, Faculty Alternate Representative; Christine Abuel, Student Alternate Representative Committee Members Absent: Governors Hardy and Lewis; and Kristen Shymanovitz, Student Representative Also Present: Governors Atchison and Jackson and President Reid; Vice Presidents Carter, Dambach, Davis, Gibbs, Johnson, Lessem, Nelson, Rounding, Stoltman, John Oliver for Provost Williamson; and Secretary McClain APPROVAL OF MINUTES, NOVEMBER 3, 1999 Professor Alexander called attention to the fact that pages were missing from the Minutes. They will be redistributed for approval at the next meeting. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE POST-BACCALAUREATE CERTIFICATE IN DIETETICS The administration recommended the establishment of the above named certificate program. Interim Provost Oliver explained that the University currently offers courses to post-baccalaureate level students who want to complete a twoyear professional course sequence in dietetics, but without the certificate. The certificate will enhance the value of the students' knowledge in terms of finding employment. The proposal has been reviewed and approved by the Department 835
836 Academic Affairs Committee Minutes - January 26. 2000 of Nutrition and Food Science faculty, by the College of Science Faculty Council, and by the Dean. Professor Saperstein wondered why the recommendation was not for a master's degree rather than a certificate. Professor Dave Klurfield, Chair of the Department of Nutrition and Food science, explained that some students want a master's degree and there is a program for that purpose, but there are others who prefer the option of taking post-baccalaureate courses. ACTION - Upon motion by Governor Dunaskiss and seconded by Ms. Abuel, the Academic Affairs Committee recommended that the Board of Governors approve the establishment of a Post-Baccalaureate Certificate Program in Dietetics in the Department of Nutrition and Food Science, College of Science, effective Fall Term 2000. The motion was adopted with a vote of 5-0. DISCONTINUANCE OF NURSING CARE ADMINISTRATION MAJOR Dr. Oliver reported that the Nursing Care Administration program was initiated a number of years ago, but it was being recommended for discontinuation because there are only four students in the program currently. Governor Kelly asked whether notices were sent to the students assuring them that they will be able to complete the program. Dean Redmond said the students have been so informed and that provisions will be made for them to complete the program. Governor Dunaskiss was concerned as to whether opportunities for leadership positions in hospitals are diminishing for nurses. Dean Redmond said the health care industry is undergoing a lot of consolidation and mergers that have caused a decrease in the need for people in nursing care administration. Many other universities are discontinuing their nursing administration programs for that reason. Governor Miller commented that the aging population is increasing and there will be a need for more nurse administrators, not only in hospitals but also in nursing care institutions. It is obvious that nursing homes are in great need of well-trained administrators. Dean Redmond agreed but said the long-term care industries do not hire people with Master's degrees; they hire those with baccalaureate degrees to manage nursing homes. Therefore, the Nursing School is attempting to include sufficient administrative content in its programs to provide at least a minimum level of e~perience in that area in order to be of assistance to long-term care organizations.
Academic Affairs Committee Minutes - January 26, 2000 837 ACTION - Upon motion by Governor Kelly and seconded by Governor Dunaskiss, the Academic Affairs Committee recommended that the Board of Governors approve the discontinuance of the Nursing Care Administration major of the Master of Science in Nursing program in the College of Nursing, effective Fall Term 2000. The motion was adopted with a vote of 5-0. DORMANT COURSE REVIEW, 1999 Interim Provost Oliver presented the annual report on courses that are discontinued because they have not been offered for a number of years. Courses are reviewed on a regular basis to weed out those that are no longer offered because students no longer elect them, or because there is no one available with the required expertise to teach in a particular area. Quite often a search is conducted for a few years in an attempt to find someone to teach a particular course, but without success. It is not appropriate to continue to list that course in the catalogue if the expertise is not available. On the other hand, some courses that have not been offered for a year or two are continued because the department feels there will be a demand for them in the future because of changing needs in the community. Such reports will continue to be given to the Board for informational purposes and there may be recommendations for discontinuance. Governor Jackson said it would be helpful if future reports provide the titles of the courses. Governor Kelly emphasized that the discontinuance of courses not be detrimental to students. He does not want to see a situation where a student decides on a program and waits several semesters for particular courses to be offered only to find out that they have been discontinued. He was aware that sometimes professors do not like to teach certain courses, and he hopes that is never the reason for removing a course from the catalogue. Governor Scribner said he assumed that there is an appeal process connected to canceling courses and that the appeal process can result in exceptions such as those listed in the document. Dr. Oliver reviewed the appeals process explaining that when a course is put on the list to be discontinued, the first step is to ask the department to review it. The department may not want to drop a course because it is expected the course will be offered the next semester or the next year, and the department's decision is reflected in the exceptions category. If the course is not offered in the next couple of years, additional pressure is placed on the department and if it still is not offered, the course is taken out of the catalogue.
838 Academic Affairs Committee Minutes - January 26. 2000 Professor Alexander assured Governor Kelly that departments make sure there are courses available for students to complete their programs. Advisors sit with students to plan program majors and make sure the courses the students need are available. He said there are very few instances when faculty members do not want to teach particular courses, but there are situations where there is no longer anyone in a department who is competent enough to teach specialty courses, and it might not be possible to bring in faculty for that purpose. Dr. Oliver explained, in response to Governor Miller's inquiry, that there are courses that have a very limited enrollment because they are needed by students for graduation; tnere might be only four to five students in the class. That is especially true at the graduate level. Classes are small because only a small number of students are interested in particular courses. President Reid commented that while Board members see reports of courses that have been eliminated, they are not aware of the hundreds of courses that the faculty add to the curriculum to meet the needs of students. Those are the courses that are brought to the University as a result of student interes.ts. ( CENTER FOR LEGAL STUDIES -- CHARTER RENEWAL The charter for the Center for Legal Studies was recommended for renewal as a part of the continuing review of centers and institutes. A revised recommendation was distributed at the meeting proposing that the charter be renewed for a period of five years instead of six. Vice President Dambach said the recommendation has been approved by the Center and Institute Advisory Committee and by the Academic Senate. ACTION - Upon motion by Governor Kelly and seconded by Professor Saperstein, the Academic Affairs Committee recommended that the Board of Governors approve continuation and rechartering of the Center for Legal Studies as recorded in the Wayne State University Code Annotated for a period of five years. The motion was adopted with a vote of 5-0. (
Academic Affairs Committee Minutes - January 26. 2000 839 ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 3:52 p.m.