The Academic Affairs Committee
November 16, 2006 – 3:30-5:00 pm
The Rotunda Lower East Oval Room
Meeting Minutes
Present: Reginald Garrett, Kenneth Schwartz, Robert Kemp, Laura Galloway, Janet Herman, Peter Beling, Linda Waggoner-Fountain, Erika James
Guests: Robert Bruner, Dean of the Darden Graduate School of Business
Robert Carraway, Associate Dean for MBA Education, Darden School
Michael Morris, Associate Dean for Graduate Programs, Commerce School
Carl Zeithaml, Dean of the Commerce School
Reginald Garrett, Chair of the Academic Affairs Committee, called the meeting to order.
AGENDA: Committee review of a new program proposal from the McIntire School of Commerce – Master of Science in Commerce, Financial Services and Master of Science in Commerce, Marketing and Management.
Dean Carl Zeithaml and Associate Dean Michael Morris presented an overview of the program proposal. It is a fifth-year degree program (M.S. in Commerce) with designated tracks (Financial Services or Marketing and Management).
Dean Zeithaml and Associate Dean Morris took questions from the Committee. The Commerce faculty has reviewed the program and has given it their full support. Robert Kemp, a Committee member from the School of Commerce, reiterated this approval. Ken Schwartz suggested that the Commerce School’s support be stated in the proposal.
The Academic Affairs Committee asked questions regarding faculty resources, faculty welfare, and space issues. In reply to the space issue, Dean Zeithaml said the Commerce School’s new building will be complete by spring 2007. The Commerce School can handle one pilot session before moving to the new building, Dean Zeithaml said.
Another question raised by the Committee was “how does the third term international experience compare to the University’s study abroad program, especially the rigor of the coursework. Dean Zeithaml commented that the coursework’s rigor is very comparable to the study abroad program. The School of Commerce will have an evaluation process in place for the program, just as they have for all of their other programs, Mr. Morris said. The Committee suggested adding, in the section titled “Third Term: International Immersion and Capstone Experience,” some examples of what a capstone experience might be.
“Depending on the timing of implementation of the Program, some instructors may teach on an overload basis during the first year. With the recruitment of additional faculty, more teaching will be in-loaded. Typically, faculty members will not be dedicated to the new Program, but they will be shared across the other undergraduate and graduate programs in the McIntire School.”
The Academic Affairs Committee suggested that in the Proposal, under “Critical Success Factors,” Recruitment and Retention of qualified faculty be added.
Mr. Garrett thanked the representatives for the Program Proposal for attending the meeting and answering questions. Mr. Garrett also gave them an overview of new program proposal’s review and approval process. The guests were excused.
Janet Herman, Professor of Environmental Sciences and a member of the Academic Affairs Committee, expressed concerns regarding staffing and funding for the prerequisites for the Program -- Comm 180, Making Business Work (Introduction to Business), and Econ 201, Microeconomics.
The Academic Affairs Committee discussed the Commerce degree proposal, making note of suggested changes and some concerns they had with the proposal.
The following notes are taken from Reginald Garrett’s summation of the conclusion of the meeting:
At the conclusion of our meeting yesterday: The Academic Affairs Committee unanimously approved a motion made by Robert Kemp and seconded by Laura Galloway to recommend the proposal for a new McIntire School of Commerce M.S. in Commerce to the Faculty Senate, subject to revision of the proposal along the lines suggested by the committee and agreed to by the McIntire School representatives during the Academic Affairs Committee meeting on November 16, 2006.
The time line before us is:
Relevant dates:
Next Faculty Senate Executive Council meeting: December 14, 2006
Next Upcoming Faculty Senate meetings: November 29, 2006 and January 30, 2007.