Minutes

Interdisciplinary Studies (Program Change)

3. Tabled Postings

HAPP 370 - Topics in Peer Health Advocacy (New) - The UGC had several questions and concerns especially around the issue of repeatability. The committee is concerned that while it only counts once for the major (which seems appropriate by the way) students can take it three more times to get upper-level credits. The UGC also didn't like the idea that students could take four courses which essentially only differ in focus, but do not necessarily provide new challenges and skills. Perhaps the courses should be taught at four different levels (100, 200, 300 and 400) for instance, so there is an accumulation of skills and knowledge? The request also mention the need to have this as a a 300 level class because of the level of commitment needed, but course levels do not represent levels of commitment but levels of academic rigor so that argument was less persuasive to us. Lastly, it was mention that these courses being cross-listed with Psychology, but there is no letter from Psychology endorsing this.The UGC is requesting that the Department send a representative to discuss these issues in person?

4. Plus/Minus Grading

Dr. deJardins reported that the Faculty Senate will form an ad-hoc committee to look into plus/minus grading. The UGC will be asked to send a representative, so we will need a volunteer when the call comes. Thanks to Dr. deJardins for writing the report and presenting it to the senate.

5. Program Review

The UGC discussed the program review for the Department of Economics and approved the program review with minor changes.

The UGC decided to go back to our old way of writing program review reports, ie. we will use the categories on the template, but rather than using full paragraphs, the UGC will use bullet points. The UGC decided that both the committee members, as well as senators, need that summary.