If you missed the Academic Senate meeting on March 2, 2020, or need a refresher, then keep reading for the highlights from the meeting. For more information on the Academic Senate, click here.
Consent Calendar
Executive Committee Feb. 10, 2020, Conditional Approvals
Discontinuation of Ed.D. in Parks, Recreation, and Tourism
Dr. Kelly Bricker presented on the following: PRT seeks discontinuation of the Doctor of Education program due to inactivity for 20 years or longer; lack of demand in this field of study; lack of demand by students entering the doctoral program.
Bachelor of Science in English Proposal
Professor Scott Black, associate professor Jessica Straley and Shawn Adrian presented a proposal for a new Bachelor of Science in English option in the Department of English.
Debate Calendar
Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Undergraduate Certificate Proposal
Elisabeth Conradt, Ph.D.; Marissa Diener, Ph.D.; and Lori Kowaleski-Jones, Ph.D. presented the following: The state of Utah has the highest birth rate in the country, yet there are no programs in the state that train students to become competent specialists in the field of infant and early childhood mental health (IECMH). Thus, there is a critical gap in the workforce across the United States and in Utah for providers with training in IECMH. Faculty from psychology and family and consumer studies developed an IECMH certificate so that students graduating with this certificate can become more competitive for positions that require strong training in attachment, social and emotional development, infant observation and parent-infant relationships. For example, graduates from our program will earn the credentials they need to become early intervention specialists. This certificate was developed in close collaboration with community partners who articulated to us an unmet need for skilled undergraduates trained in IECMH.
College of Nursing Psych/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Certificate
Gillian Tufts, DNP, FNP, executive director, Nurse Practitioner education presented on the College of Nursing's proposal to offer a Post-Master’s Psych/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) certificate. The purpose of the certificate is to provide an avenue for currently practicing nurse practitioners an educational route for additional specialization and was developed in response to the national and statewide shortage of mental health providers and to address the College of Nursing's increased demand for the PMHNP certificate.
The program of study includes 29 credits, providing the didactic information needed to sit for the National Certifying Board Exam, covering psychotherapy and medication management. The program of study also includes the required clinical hours (nine credits). The full-time program of study includes four semesters, part-time over six semesters. Upon certificate completion, graduates are then eligible to sit for the National American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) PMHNP Certification exam. ANCC PMHNP certification is required by the Utah licensing board for nurse practitioners to practice as an PMHNP.
College of Nursing DNP-Ph.D. Dual Degree Program
Gwen Latendresse, Ph.D., CNM, FACNM, assistant dean for master’s and DNP programs presented on the College of Nursing's proposal to establish a dual degree program combining two terminal nursing degrees; a Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP, clinically focused doctorate), and a Ph.D. (research-focused doctorate). The program meets increasing demand for advanced practice nurses to enter the field as clinician-scientists, prepared with advanced clinical skills and scientific training to conduct translational research and teach future generations of nursing students. The proposal does not establish a new degree program, nor replace existing Ph.D. and DNP programs. It offers a combined program of to allow graduate students to earn both doctorate degrees in less time and with fewer overall credits than would be required when pursuing each degree separately. The program of study will meet the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education accreditation criteria for the DNP, and maintain the scientific training standards for the Ph.D. Students must be accepted into both graduate degree programs.
Information and Recommendations Calendar
Senate Personnel and Elections Committee Updates
Olga Baker announced deadlines and procedures for Senate President-elect and Senate Executive Committee nominees.
Name Changes for ENVST Emphases
Jennifer Watt and Brett Clark presented on the following: After piloting existing emphases for five semesters, we have determined that the names need to be modified, as some students have found them confusing. We have simplified them to be shorter and more descriptive.
Update on the University of Utah Asia Campus
Chris M. Ireland presented on the accomplishments of the UAC at the fvie-year anniversary. He discussed the strategic value of the UAC to the university’s core mission, and the future opportunities and directions for the UAC.
Senate Faculty Review Standards Committee Annual Report: 2019-2020
Sarah Projansky, interim administrative chair of the Senate Faculty Review Standards Committee, presented the 2019-2020 Annual Report regarding that committee’s activities. She thanked the committee members for their hard work, and Trina Rich for outstanding staff support. This year, the committee has reorganized; it is in the process of identifying all RPT, career-line review, and TFR statements that need revision; and it is revising the university-wide templates for RPT, career-line and TFR statements. In addition, thus far, the committee has reviewed 12 documents, and it expects to review approximately 12 more before the end of the academic year. A chair from the faculty is still needed for this committee. Volunteers and nominations are encouraged. If interested, please contact Senate President Julio Facelli.
2019-20 Update for Senate Advisory Committee on Academic Policy
Sharon A. Aiken-Wisniewski, Associate Professor, Career Line, ELP, updated the Academic Senate on the work of the Senate Advisory Committee on Academic Policy (SACAP) for this year. She covered the three topics for this year:
- Library Subscriptions for Scholarly Journals
- Thesis Office Deadlines & Process
- Return of Graduation Committee
Graduate Council 7-year Reviews
School of Architecture
The School of Architecture has been actively involved in strategic planning and curricular redesign. It offers very distinctive immersive experiences valued by students and lauded by reviewers. The School has had good success in recruiting a diverse faculty, which they aim to build on. Student recruitment, both broadly and with respect to diversity, remains an ongoing challenge and priority. And, while the main building they are housed in is award-winning, there are accessibility issues in urgent need of attention.
Department of Materials Science and Engineering
A unique collaboration between the College of Engineering and the College of Mines and Earth Sciences has addressed a central constraint raised in the review of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering (MSE). By merging with the Department of Metallurgical Engineering, they have created a department with more complete disciplinary breadth and a larger core faculty. This is now an opportunity to spread best practices across this new department and to build further on current research strengths. MSE was particularly commended for their success in the recruitment, involvement, and satisfaction of their undergraduates
Department of Oncological Sciences
The Department on Oncological Sciences was commended along many fronts, including success of its faculty in obtaining both individual and collaborative extramural funding, a chair valued for his effective leadership and a strong sense of community among faculty, students and staff. With strategic plan refresh currently underway at the university, Health Sciences and Huntsman Cancer Center, it is an opportune time for the department to update their own strategic plan in concert, in order to have their vision integrated and to map out their plans (including some expansion) in alignment with this larger context. Additional recommendations centered upon continuing ongoing progress in faculty/student success and diversity through various initiatives.