Minutes of 4 May 2004 Meeting of the Academic Board

Item 1. Approval of Minutes of 13 April 2004

The minutes were approved as submitted without opposition.

Item 2. Statement of Ethics for the Faculty

MAJ Zuraw, Chair of Faculty Council, reported that the Faculty Council had reviewed the work of the subcommittee that produced the current faculty code of ethics.  This code had been accepted with the understanding that it would be revisited at some point in the future.  The Academic Board had been given the opportunity to participate in that review, but had provided no input.  After extended discussions, the Faculty Council, on a vote of 13 to 7, supported the professional ethics statement from the AAUP in lieu of the current statement.  The Academic Board accepted the recommendation with the understanding that it would take an action at it first meeting in fall 2004.

Item 3. Candidates for Graduation

It was moved and seconded that all undergraduate and graduate students who meet all academic, financial, and conduct requirements of their respective degree programs be recommended to the Board of Visitors for the conferring of their degrees and awarding of their diplomas.  This motion was passed without opposition.

Item 4. Academic Policy on Excessive Unexcused Absences

COL Metts presented a recommended revision of the consequence of accumulating an excessive number of unexcused class absences.  The current policy, which awards tours for each unexcused absence, is clearly not working in that a large number of cadets are accumulating literally hundreds of tours.  The Cadet Leadership has requested that excessive absences carry a severe academic consequence.  COL Metts presented the following be approved:

When the number of unexcused absences reaches 7, the student and his/her parents will be issued a warning that continued disregard of the academic policy requiring class attendance will result in an academic discharge from the College.  If the number of unexcused absences reaches 14, the student will be permitted to complete the current semester but will be academically discharged from the College for the following semester.  Graduating seniors who accumulates 14 unexcused absences in the spring semester will not be permitted to participate in the May Commencement.

The motion was moved by COL Leonard and seconded by COL Fallon, and extensive discussion followed.  Among others, the following points were made:

Who takes these actions?  The Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs will notify the students and their parents.

The 20% rule provides an adequate academic consequence for missing classes.

We should not have a military punishment for an academic matter.

The numbers 7 and 14 are arbitrary; faculty should stay away from cadet discipline; Commandant should address this matter.

New policy does not hinder the faculty’s capacity to address class absences with an academic consequence; may enhance learning environment; important that cadet leadership has supported this change.

The motion passed by a vote of 9 to 7.

Item 5. Recognition of Regimental Academic Officer

BG Carter introduced Cadet Luke Moore as the rising Regimental Academic Officer and announced that the cadet ranks for Academic Officers have been elevated in recognition of the importance of academics in cadet life.  The Regimental Academic Officer will hold the rank of Cadet LTC.

Item 6. Athletes Missing Exams Due to Scheduled Events

LTC John Moore raised the concern that cadet athletes are missing classes, tests, and exams due to scheduled athletics events.  Discussion followed, and these points were made:

This matter should be referred to the Faculty Athletics Advisory Committee.  That Committee should be monitoring how practice, travel, and athletics events are in conflict with academic classes and labs.

Southern Conference Track Meet was scheduled during Citadel final exams.  The coach attempted to get the date changed, but the schedules of the colleges in the Southern Conference are in concert, and the date picked caused least conflicts with member institutions.  The Citadel has control over individual events, but not over conference event.

Individual student athletes are aware of conflicts with classes and are responsible for informing faculty and coaches.

Item 7. Update on SACS

BG Carter requested that the members of the Board continue to work on documenting how changes have been made in programs based on some assessment action and how these changes have improved program quality.  An example was provided from the Department of Chemistry.

Item 8. Seating for May Cadet Commencement

BG Carter explained that there would be so many fathers and members of the platform party that the Academic Board, except for members who have parts in the ceremony, will be seated on the field house floor with the Faculty.

Item 9. Dates for Fall 2004 Meetings

BG Carter announced that the new Provost, Dr. Donald Steven, would arrive on campus on 1 July and would be in the office officially on Monday, 12 July.  BG Carter’s last day as Provost will be 9 July.  BG Carter reported that no final action had yet been taken on requests related to the 100 additional freshmen cadets being recruited for fall 2004.  Any critical budget adjustments need to be forwarded to the Provost.

Item 10. Other Matters

MAJ Zuraw announced that a subcommittee of the Faculty Council had completed a study of the Student Evaluation of Instruction and the report would be posted on the web.  COL Metts pointed out that Institutional Research is working on the programming to administer this evaluation on-line.

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 11:26 AM.

Since the 4 May 2004 meeting, the Academic Board and Graduate Council have taken three actions by electronic ballot.

Action 1.  The following change in requirement for the MAT in Biology was approved by the School of Education and the Department of Biology.

On page 47 of the current Graduate Catalog, an additional paragraph will be added to item 3.  Content Field:

For students in biology, to adhere to the NSTA standards requiring a resident graduate biology course with an inquiry/investigation focus, the student must select one of the following:

BIOL 605 Laboratory Methods in Biology; or

BIOL 606 Field Methods in Biology; or

BIOL 609 Seminar in Environmental Studies.

This change is necessary for the program to meet NSTA, and therefore, NCATE standards.

The proposed change was passed without opposition.

Action 2.  In the review of programs for NCATE, it has become clear that a number of our programs in their present format will not, and cannot, meet NCATE standards.  After discussing this with CHE, it has been decided that our best course of action, both for the NCATE review and the future of these programs, is to close them out and then propose new programs to replace them.  The departments involved and the School of Education have agreed.  CHE has agreed that if we notify them by 1 September these programs are being closed, they will be removed from the NCATE review list.

It is recommended that The Citadel close the following three programs will be closed effective 1 March 2005:

            M.A.Ed. in Biology,

            M.A.Ed. in Mathematics,

            M.A.Ed. in Social Science.

No students will be admitted to these programs after 1 March 2005.  The programs will continue to offer courses until all students enrolled as of 1 March 2005 have the opportunity to complete the program.

This recommendation has been seconded through the support of the departments involved and the School of Education.

This recommendation passed without opposition.

Action 3. In order to address concerns raised in the NCATE review of the MAT with English Teaching Field, a new course needs to be added to the curriculum.  The Department of English and the School of Education are recommending the approval of the following new course.

ENGL 595--Methods and Materials for English Language Arts

Three Credit Hours

The theories and practices of teaching English (to include reading, writing, speaking, listening, viewing and thinking) in grades 7-12, including preparation for reflective practice and classroom-based teacher research.  In-class instruction is augmented by field experiences that expose students to the professionalism of practicing ELA teachers and the realities of working with a diverse population of students.  This course prepares students for EDUC 520: Professional Internship.  (Designed for students completing the MAT in English program, ENGL 595 cannot be used for degree credit in the MA in English program offered jointly with the College of Charleston.)

Prerequisites: EDUC 501 and EDUC 592

This recommendation has been seconded through the support of the Department of English and the School of Education.

This recommendation passes without opposition.

                                                                   Respectfully submitted,
                                                                  
                                                                   Isaac S. Metts, Jr.
                                                                   Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs.