April 4, 2000

April 4, 2000

MINUTES OF ACADEMIC COUNCIL

Present: 

Buis, Burton, Cossaboom (Lipetzky), Cron, Eddleman, Ehie (Kellerman), Gifford, Hinkle, Holt, Janzow, Jones, Keys, McGowan, Miller, Naugler, Pittman, Scates, Shaw, Sterrett (McDougall), Westbrook (Barrett)

Guests:

Ervin, Langenfeld, Parker, C. Veneziano, Wade, M. Yuan
 
1. Minutes
   
   McGowan moved that the minutes of February 1, 2000, be approved.  Janzow seconded the motion.  The motion was approved unanimously.

 
2. Action Items

 
1. Harrison College of Business Proposed Name Change:  Department of Management  to  Department of Management and Management Information Systems (MIS)
   
   Jack Sterrett and Ike Ehie were present to discuss the proposal from the Department of Management to change the name of the Department of Management to the Department of Management and Management Information Systems (MIS).  It was moved by Sterrett and seconded by McGowan that the name change be approved.  The motion was approved unanimously.

 
2. Proposed Revision to Major in Recreation/Tourism
   
   Keys led the discussion, along with Langenfeld, Parker, and Yuan, about the proposal from the Department of Health and Leisure to revise the major in Recreation/Tourism.  Keys stated that these changes are based on regional needs and that the proposal ties to strategic planning goals 17 (Regional Development and Research) and 18 (Program Offerings).  Yuan presented several diagrams of the proposed curriculum.  Jones distributed minutes from the April 4, 1995, Academic Council meeting in which he read the following unanimous motion.  “To approve the revision of the geography major to provide an emphasis in geo-tourism for a transitional period of two years, after which (in Fall 1997) a program proposal for a new program in geo-tourism will be brought to Academic Council for consideration.”  Jones stated that enrollments and internships have been slow, there are many courses missing from the program which tourism students need, there are currently 3 majors in the program, and only 5 people have graduated from geo-tourism in the last 5 years.  Jones saw no rational for the program.  Members questioned why the proposal had not been brought forward in Fall 1997.  Keys responded that there was a turnover of faculty members at that time, and that the program is now a high priority for the people of the region and in Jefferson City.  Jones moved that the revision be tabled until the next meeting when the documents containing the evidence Keys presented could be provided to Council members and that the proposal could be put in the correct CBHE format, and Scates seconded the motion.  It was pointed out that some of the tourism components are missing.  Yuan stated that there are 3 tourism tracks:  geography, business, and recreation, and that they have a difference philosophical basis.  This proposal is based on more of a social aspect that doesn’t need some of the tourism components.  Yuan also stated that these programs are very healthy in Missouri.  The geo-tourism option didn’t draw students to those fields.  It was asked where the interdisciplinary courses were because recreation has traditionally been interdisciplinary.  Yuan responded that the strategic plan was used to guide them.  Buis stated that there are no students in geo-tourism and that no one checks out the tourism books in the library.  There is no evidence of students wanting to participate in this program, which would be competing with all other programs for books.  Sterrett said it was a very incomplete proposal.  He did not see a demonstrated need for the program.  Had anyone ever looked at Universities close to Southeast?  Is there any evidence of the employability of majors?  How do students fare?  Cron stated that students could go through an Interdisciplinary Studies degree and accomplish the very same thing.  Janzow asked how many jobs would be available to graduates.  Jones stated that students who are working in the tourism field can get a Bachelor of General Studies.  Yuan stated that there are currently 12 majors in geo-tourism, but they expect 30 majors within the next three years.  Students would finish the program in 4-5 years.  Jones asked if a list could be provided with the names of the tourism majors since Yuan claimed 12 majors and his data indicated 3.  It was asked if there was any minimum number of students needed in order to meet accreditation standards.  Yuan didn’t know.  Jones then made a motion that Academic Council strongly recommend that Academic Affairs rescind the “Geography:  Tourism Emphasis” 51-hour major advising track that appears in the Undergraduate Bulletin on page 78, eliminate the “Tourism” minor that appears on page 125, and eradicate the proposed tourism component of the now-proposed revision to the major in Recreation.  In addition, it is moved that tourism courses be phased out by the end of the next academic year, 2000-2001, and that any current majors and minors be immediately advised that all Tourism (TR prefix) courses will be eradicated after the next Bulletin.  Further, advanced students involved in this transition shall be assisted to complete their programs as smoothly as possible and have the Bachelor of General Studies degree option as a fall-back alternative.  In sum, the motion is to eliminate tourism courses and programs from the curriculum altogether and not consider such again for at least 5 years.  Janzow seconded the motion, and the motion was approved by a vote of 19 yes with one abstention.

 
3. New Program Request – Industrial Management: Master of Science
   
   Shaw led the discussion regarding a new program request, Industrial Management:  Master of Science.  Burton stated that the request had passed Graduate Council.  It was moved by McGowan and seconded by Gifford that approval be given to the new program request.  The motion was approved unanimously.

 
4. New Program Request – Criminal Justice: Master of Science
   
   John Wade and Carol Veneziano were present to discuss a new program request, Criminal Justice:  Master of Science.  Burton stated that the request had passed Graduate Council.  Cron commented on library resources.  She noted that the proposal states that the Department will allocate 25% of its allocations over the next five years specifically to the development of library holdings for the graduate program.  Twenty-five percent of its allocations, with the average price of a book at $30, would allow the purchase of 40 books.  If there were 80 students, each student would receive half a book.  The request provides very limited support, and she does not want to see an endowment request at a later date.  It was moved by Shaw and seconded by Cossaboom that approval be given to the new program request.  The motion was approved unanimously.
   
   Holt congratulated Shaw, Wade, and Veneziano on their excellent proposals.  He stated that their proposals were exemplary and some of the best he had seen presented to the Council.

 
5. Major in American Studies
   
   Jones opened discussion about the removal of the major in American Studies.  It was moved by Jones and seconded by McGowan that the major be removed.  The motion was approved unanimously.

 
6. Admission/Retention for Mass Communication Majors
   
   Jones opened discussion about edited admission/retention criteria for Mass Communication majors.  He distributed a revised copy dated April 3, 2000.  Ferrell Ervin led the Committee through the revision.  It was moved by Jones and seconded by Janzow that the criteria be adopted.  The motion was approved unanimously.