University Governance

CHARGES TO THE ACADEMIC PROCEDURES AND POLICIES COMMITTEE FOR FY08

Dateapproved by University Senate: 8/30/07
modified by SenEx: 9/18/07

  • Contact SenEx chair Bill Crowe, wcrowe@ku.edu for further information or to schedule a meeting with SenEx to discuss recommendations for action on the charges.
  • Minutes of each meeting should be e-mailed to University Governance (govern@ku.edu) ) as soon as they are approved.  The minutes will be posted to the Governance web site.
  • A final report on the committee’s actions on each of the charges, as well as the committee’s recommendations for FY09 charges and membership, should be e-mailed to the Governance Office (govern@ku.edu) by April 1, 2008.

STANDING CHARGES

1. Communicate with the Senior Vice Provost, the University Registrar, and other administrative officials as needed on academic matters relating to the instructional mission of the university.  Identify important issues and report recommendations for action to SenEx. (ongoing)
2. Review academic policy issues as referred by SenEx, including issues raised by COCOA (Board of Regents Council of Chief Academic Officers) and the Council of Presidents of Regents institutions.    Report recommendations for action to SenEx as needed. (ongoing)
3.  Monitor proposals for Program Restructuring and Discontinuance, hold hearings, and follow other procedures in accordance with Article VII of the University Senate Rules and Regulations.  Report important issues and any recommendations for action to SenEx. (ongoing)

SPECIFIC CHARGES

  1. Consider the status of online courses offered through the division of Continuing Education for academic credit within the university, with particular emphasis on (1) processes now in place to ensure the academic rigor and content of such courses before approval; and (2) the treatment of these courses as “resident study” for purposes of FSRR 4.1.  Report recommendations to SenEx by November 16, 2007.
  2. Review the proposal by the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences [9/2/07 Memo from Dean Steinmetz to Rick Levy].to adopt a +/- grading system and recommend whether changes to USRR 2.2 and 2.4.1 should be made to accommodate the system, including specific language to implement those changes. Report recommendations to SenEx by January 25, 2008.
  3. Consider the following issues in relation to the course withdrawal policy in USRR 2.2.5: (1) whether students should be allowed to withdraw provisionally without the instructor’s authorization with a “temporary grade” of WF that can be changed to WP; (2) whether the option of withdrawal with a “W” should be restored for students who withdraw during the second withdrawal period from a course that they never attended; (3) whether special rules should be developed for withdrawals that involve changes of section, moving into or out of an honors section, or other similar situations; and (4) whether secure online submission of WP/WF or some other means can prevent falsification.  Report recommendations to SenEx by February 28, 2008.
  4. Review the substance of the grade replacement policy, with particular attention to the merits of the policy and its components.   Consider whether changes to that policy may be warranted and, if so, propose language reflecting those changes.  Present recommendations and proposals, if any, to SenEx by April 1, 2008.

 

Background Note:  Last spring, the University Senate approved a substantial revision of the grade replacement policy intended to simplify the policy, eliminate unnecessarily complicated administrative requirements, and to clarify its operation.  During the discussion in the Senate, a number of Senators raised questions about the substance of the policy.  Because these questions had not been included in AP & P’s charges, it was agreed that this committee would review the policy.  The revision approved last year originated with Committee on Undergraduate Studies and Advising of the College, and that body gathered data and information that might prove useful to AP & P.


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