Budgets and Fiscal Planning Committee

Voting members present: Tekla Bude, Frank Chaplen, Mak Khan, Jeff Luck, Filix Maisch, Shawn Tucker
Voting members absent: No voting members absent
Guests present: McKenzie Huber

Report Back from University Budget Advisory Committee

• No report was available.

• Humanitarian Engineering Certificate, Key #781 – New Undergraduate Certificate
  • Link additional info provided (sent by Frank)
    • Response from the originator answers committee’s request to justify enrollment numbers
    • Even with industry linkages, members not sure if the numbers are really conservative as they have identified. Taking a class is not the same as enrolling in the certificate as a whole.  
  • Nothing further in the budget to stop the proposal from moving forward

Action: Motion to approve; motion seconded and passed with 4 votes in favor, 0 votes in opposition and 1 vote in abstention.

• Applied Ethics Certificate, Key #128 – Inactivate Undergraduate Certificate
  • No budget implications. The proposal is very straightforward

Action: Motion to approve; motion seconded and passed with 5 votes in favor, 0 votes in opposition and 0 votes in abstention.

Other Business

• Invited the Bacc Core director (Ex-Officio on BFP Committee) to discuss the implementation timeline of the proposed new general education program. Two-years seems feels somewhat rushed, considering other implementation projects and the scope of the reform. There is likely to be some problems that come about that complicate the implementation process. How will this affect the structure of the program?
  • This process has the support of the full Faculty Senate and the Administration.
  • Budget proposals are being looked at for developing courses in the new categories.
  • At least a two-year process to develop new courses and revise/develop learning outcomes.
  • All courses would have to go through CIM? Unclear yet – there may be some expedited processes put in place; it would require discussion with Curriculum Council and the Registrar’s office.
  • A project manager will be in place to help manage the implementation in addition to the Bacc Core Director.
  • The administration is dedicated to supporting the changes. They are planning to develop a budget that supports the proposed gen ed program, should it be approved.
  • 70 new courses come through the BCC each year, in addition to assessment, slowing down the approval process. Assessment is being paused during the implementation process to help speed up the approval process and to have the support of the BCC in implementing the new program.
  • As an example, Ecological Engineering BS Program double dips in the Bacc Core for accreditation – the proposed program could increase the number of credits in the Ecological Engineering program rather than reduce the number as advertised, which means they will need to rearrange the program to compensate for the changes to the Bacc Core. This is a potential logistical issue because the move to the Gen Ed structure could affect many programs and overload the CIM proposal process.
• Scott Ashford did not have any concerns about the proposed changes for his college (Engineering). Engineering is an enthusiastic supporter of the proposed model and changes because of the positive impacts on students.
• At this point, it’s difficult to do a very specific analysis because the course lists that map to the different categories in the proposed Gen Ed curriculum are not developed.
• Frank will send a general analysis of the potential impacts on the Ecological Engineering BS Program to the Bacc Core Director and the committee as an example of potential changes for a specific program.
  • There are about 1,000 courses in the current Bacc Core. The hope is to drastically reduce the number of courses in the Bacc Core but they have not yet decided how they will move courses over. First, they will need to develop Learning Outcomes.

• Changes to the Synthesis category means many programs may be developing courses for the ‘Wicked Problems’ category.
• There is concern from Public Health about the removal of a distinct Fitness category.
  • The results of the Faculty Senate Vote on June 9^th if positive will trigger a large effort by many
  • The reform process is timely.
  • The implementation process will need someone really driving the process to insure it stays on track.
    • The Bacc Core director intends to be the one directing and driving the process and guide it through to completion.