Undergraduate Council Sends Proposals To Faculty

The Undergraduate Council met Tuesday, May 11 and approved recommending the following seven proposals be sent to faculty for approval at the May 20 meeting.

Proposal for a Bachelor of Arts (BA) Degree Program in Geology

This degree should be particularly valuable for those students who have already begun other degree studies but subsequently elect to pursue geological studies. By having fewer auxiliary requirements, this degree may therefore enable a broader cross section of students to participate in the Geology program and obtain degrees in Geology. There are many students who genuinely appreciate geology, while not perhaps being particularly inclined toward other physical or biological studies. Experience proves that there are many students who not only benefit from the B.A. degree, but also find very productive ways to combine training in geology with other disciplines. Many of our faculty can cite Ben Greenstein, David Lukasik, and Pat Okita, each of whom received B.A. degrees in Geology (at the University of Rochester) and then went on to complete Ph.D. degrees in Geology at the University of Cincinnati. All three are presently employed as professional geologists. Greenstein, currently an associate professor of geology at Cornell College, combined geology with film studies. There is no question that he would never have become a geologist if the option of a B.A. (as opposed to the more demanding B.S.) degree had not existed. Such a degree program might also be of particular value to students who will go on to careers in environmental sciences or secondary school teaching.

Read the full proposal (pdf)

.

Proposed Admission Requirements from CAT (Center For Access And Transition)

Effective Autumn 2004: Students who have earned 36 quarter hours with a 2.0 or better GPA, including college algebra-ready math* with a grade of C or higher, and English 101 B** (6 cr.) with a grade of C or higher, are admissible under the same circumstances as all other UC students. Students who have completed the required level of math and English 101 B with grades of C or higher with fewer than 36 credits may be admitted as CAT transitional students, under mandatory advising and curricular provisions.

Read the full proposal (pdf)

.

Proposal for a Bachelor of Arts (BA) Degree Program in Chemistry

Since its early days, the Department of Chemistry has offered a single degree, a B.S. in chemistry. In the 1940’s, our parent professional organization, the American Chemistry Society, began certifying degree programs that met ACS criteria. Our B.S. program was certified initially, and has been certified ever since. In the 1970’s, the Department added a second track to the certified B.S. degree, one with an emphasis on biochemistry. Over the past 20 years, the ACS has continued to add requirements to their certification standards. To maintain certification, the department has increased the course load required for the B.S. degree. Consequently, students in the B.S. program have nearly a completely full program with very few free electives, and the course of study is very rigorous. This has served some students very well, in particular those heading to graduate programs in chemistry. However, only about 1/3 of our current majors go on to graduate school. Another 1/3 of our graduates, on average, go to medical or related schools and the final1/3 goes directly into industrial positions with the B.S. degree.

Read the full proposal (pdf)

.

Proposal for Conditional Admission to A&S

Each year many students who are matriculated in other baccalaureate colleges at the University of Cincinnati fail to comply with their respective colleges’ satisfactory academic progress standards. Many of these students’ high school records would have made them eminently admissible to A&S and may now be interested in A&S but lack a 2.0 university GPA. In the past, their option was to matriculate in Evening College or University College, where they could improve their grade point averages for A&S admissibility. Those options are no longer open to these students.

Given the Collegiate Structures Initiative and the knowledge that these students are traditionally sound students who have the capability of doing good work in a new program, the McMicken College of Arts & Sciences proposes that they be accorded the same provisions as A&S students who fall below 2.0.

Read the full proposal (pdf)

.

Proposal for credit by placement in Mathematics 225

It is proposed jointly by the Department of Mathematics and the Office of Undergraduate Affairs and Advising that credit by testing and placement be offered in 15MATH225 under the following circumstances.

Read the full proposal (pdf)

.

Proposal for Authorization of CLEP Credit

The College Entrance Examination Board (CEEB) offers the College Level Examination Program (CLEP) in addition to the Advanced Placement program. Unlike the AP program, which is available only to students while enrolled in high school, CLEP tests are available to students after they have graduated from high school, and measure the college level knowledge they have independently.

Read the full proposal (pdf)

.

Proposal for Authorization of Certificates

Certificates are authorized for all majors that now offer minors. This will enable non-matriculated students to enroll for a recognized package of courses and have the recognition posted to their transcripts.