UpDate - Vol. 12, No. 31, Page 1
May 13, 1993
Senate gives permanent nod to MALS, ARIM programs

     Two academic programs were given permanent status by the University
Faculty Senate Monday, and a new major in athletic training was given
provisional approval for four years.
     At its final meeting of the year, the senate gave final approval to
the Master of Arts in Liberal Studies Program (MALS) and a bachelor of
science degree in human resources for students majoring in hotel,
restaurant and institutional management
     Bolstered by positive external and internal reviews, the MALS program
passed the senate with little discussion. Intended for adult students, MALS
offers interdisciplinary graduate education centered in the humanities and
has been in existence since 1986.
     Although the hotel, restaurant and institutional management major also
received an external review recommending permanent status, the senators
discussed the resources needed for the program, the heavy teaching load and
the academic credentials of its faculty, who are largely recruited from the
hospitality industry.
     Vice Provost Margaret Andersen said that the University has no plans
for a teaching hotel, but that a teaching kitchen may be included in the
proposed new student center. In addition, she said that the University can
support modest growth in the major, up to 20 new students a year.
     The program expects to graduate 47 this spring, according to Jack
Smith, chairperson of the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics. Smith also
indicated that the faculty members will meet the established scholarly
guidelines for tenure within the department, and that a new faculty member
and more professional staff will be added to lighten the teaching load.
     Referring to the field of art conservation where a masters is often
the terminal degree, Mary Richards, dean of the College of Arts and
Science, pointed out that "it's not impossible to produce a solid package
for promotion and tenure" from faculty who do not hold Ph.D.'s.
     The senators passed the resolution giving permanent status to the
hotel, restaurant and institutional management major by a vote of 35 in
favor, five against and five abstaining.
     In other business, the senate rejected a proposed honors degree in
athletic training, passed a new policy on the use of videotaped courses and
accepted a DUSC proposal to increase the number of students on faculty
committees concerned with student life.
     Although the senate approved the new degree in athletic training, the
proposed honors degree in this major was voted down after questions arose
about the proposed honors curriculum. Some senators suggested the
curriculum had no theme or courses of its own, while others objected to a
curriculum that required only half of a yearlong chemistry course or that
required honors courses intended for biology majors only.
     An addition to the existing policy on videotaped courses was accepted
by the senate, ensuring that audiovisual works will be used to support
rather than replace live instruction. Whereas the earlier policy set up
rights and ownership of videotaped courses, the new statement reads: "Live
course instruction must remain the standard, with videotaped courses
serving to facilitate the development of innovative educational programs
(such as distance learning, supplemental or make-up instruction and
optional instructional formats). The development of videotaped courses
should be based on sound pedagogical value, not solely on financial
expediency."
     Sen. Michelle Shapiro, a representative of DUSC, offered a substitute
motion to the senators to ensure a "substantial number of students" be
included on faculty subcommittees, task forces or study panels that deal
with student life issues. According to the resolution, which was passed by
the senate, the voting status of students would be determined by the its
Committee on Committees and Nominations.
                                        -Cornelia Weil