Faculty Senate

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:

To develop policy concerning undergraduate programs and curricula.
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.
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.
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.
To consider possible deficiencies in programs or course offerings needed by students in other programs and, if necessary, to initiate remedial steps.
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).
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.
To consider any other matters that it believes directly affect the undergraduate curricula and programs of the University.

Council Standing Committees

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.
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.

Charges

2008-09

In addition to the eight specific responsibilities and functions noted in the Undergraduate Studies Council’s role statement and the work of the USC standing committees, the Faculty Senate Executive Board charges the USC to consider, as a committee of the whole or through the appropriate sub-committee or task force, the following issues:

1. Review the scope and description of the role statement and standing charges and assess the effectiveness of council practices.

2. Examine both the mission and goals of general education and evaluate how well the current program meets those goals, including the Baccalaureate writing requirement. This assessment should involve the Committee to Oversee General Education (COGE) as a major standing committee of the USC, but it is expected that this assessment will be conducted by a committee of the whole to take advantage of the overview provided by the entire USC membership.

3. Assess ongoing efforts to integrate University wide assessment activities and formulate recommendations for USC participation.

4. Review the availability of resources and services to foster student retention and develop recommendations for enhancing them if determined necessary. Examples might include but not be limited to the First Year Experience, mid-term grade reporting, grading scales (i.e. +/-).

5. Assess the issue of safety in the classroom and identify policies and procedures for dealing with the physical and emotional safety of students and faculty. Work with the Ombuds, the Office of Student Conduct and the University attorney to determine the scope of the issues and, if possible, to frame recommendations for policies and training.

6. Address any continuing or outstanding issues or initiatives as deemed necessary by the council. To the extent possible conclude any outstanding initiative by producing a memorandum of action (MOA), report or resolution.

Note

It is understood that the USC will seek information from all administrative offices necessary to carry out its charges. The USC is expected to keep the Senate Executive Board apprised of progress, especially in connection with any MOA it may develop, and to give advance notice of any action the USC seeks to place on the Senate agenda, including the final text of any proposed MOA, report or resolution. The Executive Board should also be notified of substantive procedural issues addressed by the USC. The USC shall provide a written summary of its progress on the above charges and any other activities undertaken no later than June 30, 2009.