Grundy Reporter

Illinois State Senate Committee on Educational Policy met April 6.

Here is the minutes provided by the committee:

Present: Chair Eric Meyer, Justin Aronoff, Maria Bonn, Isaac Cann, Tim Flanagin, Aaron Godwin, Richard Layton, Steve Michael, Nolan Miller, Linda Moorhouse, Jennifer Pahre, Hilary Pham, David Rivier, Craig Zilles

Ex officio: Michel Bellini, John Hart, Suzanne Lee, Dan Mann, Kathy Martensen

Absent: Jim Shriner (ex officio)

Guests: Anthony Yannarell (ACES – Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences), Jeffrey Loewenstein (Geis College of Business), Brooke Elliott (Geis College of Business)

A regular meeting of the Senate Committee on Educational Policy was called to order at 1:10 p.m. with Chair Meyer presiding.

I. INTRODUCTIONS

Introductions were done.

II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Minutes of the March 30, 2020, meeting were approved as distributed.

III. PUBLIC COMMENT

No requests received.

IV. CHAIR’S REMARKS

Chair Meyer shared that an email will be sent to Senators regarding the proposals approved by EP on March 30. Any proposal can be removed from the consent agenda and moved to the regular agenda. If any proposal is removed from the consent agenda, it will be present at the Senate meeting scheduled for April 27. Otherwise, it will be enacted by the Senate Executive Committee.

V. REPORTS

A. Office of Provost update (Martensen)

While Martensen had no updates, Chair Meyer asked how are we proceeding with a number of courses regarding pass/fail and credit/no credit? Martensen shared the following:

• There are currently two courses at this time that have moved to pass/fail

• Some of the law school courses are pending. Law is moving all their courses to a special version of pass/fail with an additional category of pass with distinction.

• Several courses in the pipeline for pass/fail.

• Students have until April 30 to designate their choice regarding credit/no credit so more information may be available at a later date. At present, only a normal number of requests have been noted.

B. Graduate College update (Hart)

Hart shared that due to COVID 19 and state of economy, there have been requests from the State, University and System to provide formal post-baccalaureate certificates for people to reskill rapidly. Any proposals would be for new degrees and require full approval. Because they would be actual degrees, these problems would be eligible for federal financial aid.

C. Admissions update (Mann)

Mann shared that it is still too early to know. However, accepts for incoming freshman are up by 77.

D. Other updates from ex-officio members

None.

VI. OLD BUSINESS

FULL COMMITTEE (Meyer)

• EP.20.12, Review Bylaws Part D.8 – Educational Policy Committee and Standing Rule 13 - Formation, Termination, Separation, Transfer, Merger, Change in Status, or Renaming of Units

This proposal is with the Senate Committee on University Statutes and Senate Procedures.

• EP.20.43, Establishing Minimum Hours for Joint Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree Programs

Meyer is waiting to hear from stakeholders regarding this proposal.

SUBCOMMITTEE A (Michael)

• EP.20.141, Art & Design: Design for Responsible Innovation, MFA

Michael has emailed the sponsor a question asking to elaborate about the proposed name and is waiting for a response.

SUBCOMMITTEE C (Zilles)

• EP.20.144, Management, MS

After receiving assurances that there were no plans to replace the residential program with an online version of the program, a motion was made to approve EP.20.144. The motion was seconded and approved. EP.20.144 will be submitted for inclusion on the April 27, 2020, Senate agenda.

Related to two additional items under New Business

• EP.20.147, Agricultural Leadership, Education, & Communications: Organizational &

Community Leadership, BS

Proposal is being returned to the sponsor to correct an outdated course reference.

VII. NEW BUSINESS

FULL COMMITTEE (Meyer)

• EP.20.161, Discussion to identify any urgent issues of educational policy arising from COVID-19 stay-at-home orders

Due to other discussions, this proposal was not discussed. Discussion will be had at a future meeting.

SUBCOMMITTEE A (Michael)

• EP.20.160, Approval Process for the Establishment of Online Delivery Mode of Instruction to Existing, On-Campus Graduate Degree Programs

A motion was made to share a working draft with the Senate Executive Committee (SEC) and for the committee to reconvene at 1:30pm on Wednesday, April 8, 2020, to continue discussing this proposal. The motion was seconded and approved.

SUBCOMMITTEE B (Moorhouse)

• EP.20.150, Financial Engineering, MS

A motion was made to approve EP.20.150. The motion was seconded and approved.

EP.20.150 will be submitted for inclusion on the April 27, 2020, Senate agenda.

A package of five related proposals regarding Urban Studies:

• EP.20.155, Urban Studies & Planning: Social Justice, BA

• EP.20.156, Urban Studies & Planning: Global Cities, BA

• EP.20.157, Urban Studies & Planning: Policy & Planning, BA

• EP.20.158, Urban Studies & Planning: Sustainability, BA

• EP.20.159, Urban Studies & Planning, BA

The committee noted that, although graduate concentrations require at least 12 hours, no minimum number of hours is required for an undergraduate concentration. The committee may revisit the issue but, for now, a motion was made to approve EP.20.155 through EP.20.159. The motion was seconded and approved. EP.20.155 through EP.20.159 will be submitted for inclusion on the April 27, 2020, Senate agenda.

SUBCOMMITTEE C (Zilles)

• EP.20.153, Business Analytics, MS

No discussion was had on this proposal. It will be discussed at a future meeting.

• EP.20.154, Finance Concentration – Floating

No discussion was had on this proposal. It will be discussed at a future meeting.

Additional items in a package of proposals related to ALEC:

• EP.20.151, Agricultural Leadership, Education, & Communications: Agricultural Education, BS

A motion was made to approve EP.20.151. The motion was seconded and approved.

EP.20.151 will be submitted for inclusion on the April 27, 2020, Senate agenda.

• EP.20.152, BS: Agricultural Leadership, Education, & Communications, BS

A motion was made to approve EP.20.152. The motion was seconded and approved. EP.20.152 will be submitted for inclusion on the April 27, 2020, Senate agenda.

VIII. ADJOURNMENT

The meeting was adjourned at 2:55 pm.

https://uofi.app.box.com/v/EducationalPolicy/file/654029168366