Undergraduate Academic Council
Minutes
Meeting: Wednesday, October 6th 2010. 2:00-3:00PM
Room: Undergraduate Education Conference, LC31J
Present: JoAnne Malatesta (Chair), Maria Brown, Nathan Cady, Steven Doellefeld,
Martin Hildebrand, John Murphy, Leah Rotella (undergraduate student rep)Joan
Savitt, Christy Smith, Kabel Stanwicks, Michael Steklof, (graduate student rep)
and Katherine Trent.
Guests: Karen Chico Hurst, Sue Phillips and Greg Stevens.
Review of the minutes: Minutes from 9/15 and 9/29 meetings were approved as
amended.
Chair’s Report: -Christy Smith will be the Chair of the Committee on Academic
Standing.
-The Honors Program proposal: “Grade Point Requirements for Continuing in
the Honors College” was reviewed and sent to the President office for
signature.
-The Chemistry proposal was approved by SEC and will be presented at the next
Senate meeting.
-The Chair relayed information presented at the SEC by the President and the
Provost about the changes announced last Friday. Starting immediately admission
to the following programs will be suspended: Greek and Roman Civilization (BA);
Greek and Roman Civilization (Honors), (BA); Greek and Roman Civilization
(BA/MBA); Greek and Roman Civilization (minor); Classics (MA); French: BA, Honors
BA, BA/MA and their PhD program. Also Italian: BA, Honors BA, and their minor. Also
Russian: BA, Honors BA, BA/MA, Minor and their Translation Certificate of Advance
Study. Another program deactivated will be Theatre: BA, Honors BA, Departmental,
Departmental Honors, MA, BA/MA and their minor. Additionally Project Renaissance,
the living-learning program for first year students, will be discontinued.
- UAC Members expressed concern about the processes for notifying students. It
was pointed out that there are a lot of students who do not meet with their advisors
and just get their AVN via email; those students will not necessarily received
information from their advisors about the need to map out their coursework for the
next three semesters.
- The Registrar’s Office is overseeing and implementing the changes needed in
PeopleSoft and will make efforts to let advisors know so they do not admit any new
students into any of these programs. There is also an appeal process being put in
place via the Office of the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education. Intended
majors have been sent an email advising their coursework through spring.
- One member expressed concern about students who are studying abroad and
have not been informed about these changes and how they will be affected. Many
agreed that an additional announcement should be made in order to reach all
students. Suggested options included an announcement by the Vice Provost and or
an announcement on My UAlbany.
- One member questioned how this will affect the Foreign Language requirement.
- It was indicated that students have a deadline of October 29th to submit their
appeal.
- Additional questions were raised: What will happen with students who are part-
time and might not finish their program by 2012? Also if a student takes a leave of
absence from school and decides to return after 2012, what will happen with this
student and his declared major? Would the university be responsible for providing
faculty to assist with completion of declared majors? There were questions
regarding what will happen to students if the faculties teaching these courses
decide to leave before 2012. How will the students finish their major?
New Business: The Chair has a new tracking system in place for all the bills that
come through the UAC.
There was a call from SUNY Senate to look into the restricted majors. Some wonder
what SUNY is looking for? It seems that is just a general review of the restrictions,
since it has not been done for some time.
Meeting adjourned at 3:00pm
