Meeting Minutes
Minutes of the Academic Affairs UPC Meeting
December 14, 2004
Meeting held via tri-campus video-conference
Members Present: Paula DeVoto, Alan Gitelson (chair), Sheila
Haas, Patricia Jung,
Fred Kniss, E.J. Neafsey
Members Excused: Anthony Barbato, Emily Preheim , Tiffany Ying
Guests: Brenda Crowley (SSW), Dawn Harris (SBA), Robert Hasenstab (SPS),
John Kostolansky (SBA), Robert Ludwig (IPS),
Tassos Malliaris (SBA), John Pelissero (Assoc Provost), Janet Pierce-Ritter
(SOE),
Jack Wall (SSW).
The meeting was called to order at 2:30 pm.
Fred Kniss moved and Sheila Haas seconded approval of the minutes of the
November 23rd meeting. The minutes were approved unanimously.
PRESENTATIONS
(1) Having previously considered the proposal for the M.A. in Social Justice
(for which Pete clarified that he would review the pricing strategy so as
not to disfavor other Loyola master's degree programs), the Committee
invited Bob Ludwig of IPS to discuss the proposed M.A. in Spirituality. He
reiterated the rationale for the program, noting that only Creighton
University has a similar program among AJCU schools, that institutes like
IPS now distinguish between religion and spirituality, and that Retreats
International, under the directorship of Anne Luther, is relocating to
Loyola University Chicago.
Sheila noted the certificate in spirituality and spiritual care for health
care providers currently offered by the School of Nursing, and Patti added
that the department of theology offers courses in the history of
spirituality, both of which would strengthen and support an M.A. in
Spirituality and allow for interdisciplinary interaction. To Paula's
question about screening applicants, Bob responded that an interview with
Anne Luther as to an applicant's vocational direction should insure that the
program admit students committed to the integrity of the program.
(2) Bob Hasenstab asked the AA-UPC to recommend that SPS' graduation
requirement for ODL students be lowered to 120 s.h. and for ODL-PLST
students to 126 s.h. but only if the other Loyola undergraduate schools were
moving to lower the graduation requirements for their degree programs. He
had surveyed 12 AJCU schools of which seven required more than 120 s.h. and
five only 120. He posed two questions: 1) does LUC want to go to 120 s.h.
across the board? 2) if so, can SPS implement the 120 s.h. requirement
effective in the Fall?
Pete asked if there were curricular reasons in adult programs for needing
120 s.h. rather than 128, or was he seeking consistency with other LUC
programs is staying with 128? Everyone acknowledged that adult part-time
students pay for each of the additional eight s.h. whereas full-time
students pay a flat rate and can complete the 128 s.h. within four academic
years, thereby not incurring additional costs.
(3) Jack Wall and Brenda Crowley of the School of Social Work spoke to the
proposal for a concentration under the MSW in Leadership and Development in
Social Services (LDSS). The purpose of the concentration would be to
prepare students for administrative roles in social service organizations
and for positions in philanthropic organizations. They noted that, within
3-5 years of earning an MSW, degree holders tend to move into management
positions.
Sheila wondered if there would be courses specifically related to issues of
finance and budget for such professionals, currently a major deficiency. If
so, would at least one such course be required? The current proposal
indicates that policy electives can be fulfilled by clinical courses which
predominate in the current MSW program. Pete asked if this were an
accreditable area, to which Jack responded, "yes." LUC is unique in that it
has been a single focus program, and that most SSWs do offer various tracks
(= concentrations = clusters = specializations, etc). Fred wondered how the
proposed program compares or contrasts with the policy analysis program in
the School of Social Administration at the University of Chicago. Jack
answered that Loyola's proposed program would focus on policy that is
agency-based and not large-scale public policy.
Patti inquired about a sustained systematic study of ethics and social
issues in the program. There is no single specific course required of all
students in the MSW although an ethics course will be available as an
elective. In accordance with the accrediting practices of social work, an
understanding of ethical dilemmas and ethics is integrated throughout the
curriculum. Brenda noted that accompanying the coursework is an internship
or placement in which ethical and social issues are threaded.
E.J. asked if there were any chance of interaction with the Medical Center
for students in this track, and Jack answered that MSW are currently in
internships and placements at LUMC, so this would be continued in new
tracks.
He also clarified that the subspecialty in philanthropy would be the current
certificate program offered by CURL and that this program would move to SSW
from CURL.
(4) Three proposals from the School of Education were advanced by Janet
Pierce-Ritter. Both undergraduate proposals are collaborative efforts
between the College of Arts & Sciences and the School of Education and have
been rigorously examined by the academic councils of both schools. The
concentration either for the bilingual/bicultural emphasis or for the
science education emphasis will each require 27 s.h. in coursework
specifically within that concentration: 27 s.h. in bilingual/bicultural
education and methods courses or 27 s.h. of natural science and methods
courses.
The M.Ed. in School Technology is a joint proposal with the department of
computer science of CAS and is basically the former Vocational Education
master's program redesigned and refocused to meet the current technological
needs of elementary and secondary schools. One does not need a prior
teaching certificate to enter this program; in fact, one earns a teaching
certificate with completion of the program.
To Pete's query as to whether all the baccalaureate-level courses had been
reviewed by CAS, Janet answered basically all; the secondary methods course
has been approved just be SOE. This certificate would be K-12, thus
allowing the holder to focus either on the elementary or secondary level.
The bilingual/bicultural program would be the lone program to require a new
position. When Paula noted the focus exclusively on Spanish and the Hispanic
culture, Janet explained that this was the area generating most interest and
most need currently but that they hoped to move to other cultures and
languages once the program became established.
(5) Presenting an addendum to the previously-reviewed proposal for an MBA in
Health Care Management, Tassos, John, and Dawn noted that this is a growth
sector for MBAs. The GSB has, since 1990, offered a specialization in this
area but it hopes to boost enrollment by adding new courses originating
within the School of Business Administration and not borrowed from Nursing
or Medicine. Pete nevertheless encouraged the GSB to collaborate with the
schools of medicine and nursing to insure a comprehensive and adequately
skilled program. Sheila added that all the analyses done in this area
indicate that MBAs who know how to price and cost health care save
themselves six months of on-the-job learning and are more desirable hires.
Asking about ethics courses, Patti was told that the core MBA program for
all students has a required ethics course but that students in this program
could choose a second ethics elective. It was also noted that the AACSB will
demand to see where ethics is if it is sprinkled throughout the curriculum
and not provided in a specific course.
Asked to distinguish between the MBA in Health Care Management and the MHA,
they responded that the MBA requires fewer courses in health care, that the
program is intended not to focus on the provider side but to allow
opportunities for management positions within biotechnical and
pharmaceutical firms.
COMMITTEE DISCUSSIONS & RECOMMENDATIONS
M.A. in Spirituality
Knowing that IPS is exclusively Christian and that Loyola's theology
department is heavily Christian, committee members were concerned about the
need for exposure to diverse spiritual traditions. It is an aspect of
academic quality within a program to expose students to other traditions.
This program should develop a comparative component; if it remains as is,
then the name should clearly specify "Christian Spirituality." If more
courses in comparative spirituality are brought into the corpus, then the
name can stay as proposed. But should Loyola offer one-dimensional
programs? What about positions in non-ecclesial places of employment such
as prisons or hospitals. Patti moved and Paula seconded a motion to require
at least one course offering a more comparative view of spirituality. The
committee also recommends that this program be comparative across its
curriculum. Vote: 7-0-0
SPS graduation requirement
Will lowering it for SPS create the image of a second-class degree? Why do
the other schools need 128? How can the AAUPC impose upon the undergraduate
colleges such a momentous change without their input? Does it even have the
prerogative to do so? Vote: 2-2-2
The AAUPC recommends to the Provost that he explore the issue of reducing
the minimum number of semester hours needed to earn a bachelor's degree from
128 to 120 with the academic councils of all the undergraduate schools
within the University and that he come back to the AAUPC with a proposal
SSW - Leadership and Development in Social Services Concentration
This program does not appear to be truly interdisciplinary; it is again one
of many "silo" programs pervasive throughout this University (Sheila). The
lack of a distinct ethics course within the curriculum is not consistent
with the mission of the University (Patti). Patti moved and Paula seconded
a motion that the AAUPC recommend to the Provost that this proposal be
redesigned to offer a truly interdisciplinary research program and to
specify a distinct ethics course. Pete offered a friendly amendment
recalling Sheila's earlier observation that there also be a required
substantive course in budget and finance. Sheila added that NIH funding
requires such interdisciplinary collaboration. The vote on the amended
motion: 7-0-0.
B.S.Ed. in Bilingual/Bicultural Education with Elementary Certification
B.S.Ed. in Science Education with Elementary Certification
M.Ed. in School Technology
These three proposals reflect a true collaborative effort across colleges
and definitely expand the undergraduate options which can improve
recruitment of students back into undergraduate education. The AAUPC
recommends all three proposals to the Provost as presented. Vote: 7-0-0.
MBA in Health Care Management<br>
There was general dissatisfaction among committee members with this
proposal. There was no indication of the collaboration among schools that
had taken place in the original proposal; it is strictly MBA focused. All
competitors with such programs offer health care internships; this proposal
offers none. Courses provided by the School of Law were eliminated. Four
courses are insufficient to make such a degree viable. No mention was made
of the exhaustive study done by the consultant on this proposal.
John noted that it would also be possible for a student to choose so many
electives that this concentration may not necessarily lead to a health care
management specialization. Sheila added that there are currently no faculty
with health care expertise in GSB so who would competently teach such
courses?
The committee opted to send the proposal forward to the Provost but suggest
that he ask for a revision with very specific conditions as to the courses
required, the inclusion of an internship, and a forcefully directive
statement about collaboration with other schools within the University. A
tentative vote was taken on this proposal: 2 in favor; 2 against, 2 abstain.
The final vote will be taken via e-mail after the committee members have
received additional information from Sheila, whom Pete asked to provide to
the AAUPC the consultant's complete report.
OTHER BUSINESS
Alan noted that John had sent out to the deans a calendar with deadlines by
which they should submit proposals to him for consideration by the AAUPC.
He will share this memo with the committee.
The next meeting will be Tuesday, January 25th, at 2:30 pm. Under
discussion will be a new major in advertising and public relations proposed
by the department of communication.
The meeting adjourned by unanimous consent at 4:05 pm.