• Faculty SenateHome page
• About Us
• Policy and Forms

• ---

• Senate
• Executive Board
• Councils
• • Academic and IT
  • Campus Planning/Finance
  • Graduate Studies
  • International Education
  • Research Policies
  • Undergraduate Studies
• Committees

Undergraduate Studies Council

The page contains the role statement and council charges.

Role statement

The Undergraduate Studies Council (USC) is a policy-recommending and review body with oversight of any matter related to the undergraduate curriculum at the University. Thus, for example, it will be concerned with the establishment of new departmental programs, new interdisciplinary undergraduate programs, apparent duplication between existing programs or courses, and needs for additional or specialized instruction.

Functions:

1. To develop policy concerning undergraduate programs and curricula.
2. To elect faculty members of the Committee to Oversee General Education (COGE); Conceptual Framework, Knowledge Base and Certification Committee; and Intellectual Skills Program Advisory Committee.
3. To observe and assess all recommendations of the COGE, including recommended revisions to the University’s General Education Policy, and to select other general education matters that USC believes require review.
4. To consider questions of duplication of current course or program content, possibly delegating to an appropriate ad hoc subcommittee the consideration of specific areas, after which the USC can initiate remedial action.
5. To consider possible deficiencies in programs or course offerings needed by students in other programs and, if necessary, to initiate remedial steps.
6. To confirm that financial support necessary to initiate and maintain the proposed new programs or program changes has been approved by the appropriate University body (e.g. Campus Planning and Finance Council).
7. To initiate studies of existing programs that appear to be uneconomic or failing to meet students’ needs, with the possibility of recommending program curtailment or elimination.
8. To consider any other matters that it believes directly affect the undergraduate curricula and programs of the University.

Council Standing Committees

1. Committee to Oversee General Education (COGE)—reviews and approves courses for general education credit received from college curriculum committees and deans and forwards its recommendations to the administration; reviews all general education courses at least once within a seven-year cycle as determined by the Committee; and recommends revisions in the University's General Education Policy to the USC. Composition: One faculty member from the Colleges of Business, Education, Engineering and Applied Sciences, Fine Arts, Health and Human Services and three faculty members from the College of Arts and Sciences (one from each of its three divisions). The Office of Academic Affairs may appoint an additional member.
2. Intellectual Skills Program Advisory Committee (ISPAC)—recommends entry-level competency requirements in reading, writing, and mathematics skills for undergraduate students to the USC. Recommends policy and procedures for the University's Intellectual Skills Program to USC; recommends appropriate skills development opportunities; and recommends assessment methods and data, student progress, course development and related intellectual skills issues at the University. Composition: Three faculty members representing the three basic skill areas, usually from the Departments of English, Mathematics and Statistics, and Education and Professional Development and the Director of Intellectual Skills or designee.

Faculty members of USC committees are nominated by deans, directors or chairs and elected by the council to serve three-year terms.

Charge

2007-08

In addition to the work specified in the USC’s Council Role Statement and the work of the USC’s Standing Committee, the Executive Board charges the USC to consider, as a committee of the whole or through the appropriate subcommittee or task force, the following issues:

1. Review and make recommendations regarding curricular review policies and processes.
2. Joint charges with Graduate Studies Council:
• Review previous plans for Academic Program Planning (APP) and work with the Provost’s office to determine a schedule and procedure for regular departmental review processes.
• Examine on-line courses being scheduled through Academic Technology and Instructional Services (ATIS) and explore recent developments in Extended University Programs (EUP) relating to contact hours, program delivery, and other relevant issues.
• Along with the IEC and the Study Abroad office, explore and make recommendations regarding transfer credits.  
3. Collaborate with the Provost’s Office to facilitate implementation of the Western Edge. This includes:
   • Examine and make recommendations regarding the role of student advising in student recruitment, retention, and timely progress. Address recommendations of the Report of the Ad Hoc Task Force on Undergraduate Advising produced June 28, 2007.
   • Examine and make recommendations on maximum number of credits for which a student is allowed to register.
   • Explore and make recommendations regarding implementing an open learning options for students.
   • Provide a forum for discussion and recommendations regarding implementation of the Western Edge.
4. Oversee the General Education Program and Assessment Committee (GEPAC) as an ad hoc committee of USC to work with the Committee to Oversee General Education (COGE). USC should coordinate and communicate the activities of these two committees. 
5. Work with COGE to monitor and make recommendations regarding General Education requirements.
6. Assess performance and effectiveness of the First-Year Experience.  Reassess whether student participation in this program warrants earning two credit hours. 

Note

The Undergraduate Studies Council is free to determine the specifics of how to address these charges and other tasks it wishes to engage in during 2007 - 2008.  The USC is requested to keep the Executive Board apprised of progress, especially in connection with any memorandum of action (MOA) which it may develop, and to give ample notice of intent to bring action or reports to the full Faculty Senate. Also, at the end of 2007-08, the USC is asked to provide the Executive Board with a summary of its progress on the above charges and suggest charges for the following year.  

Archives

• 2007-08
• 2006-07
• 2005-06
• 2004-05
• 2003-04