The University of Texas at Arlington

Undergraduate Assembly

Minutes

 

The Undergraduate Assembly met in regular session on Tuesday, April 13, 2004, at 2:15 p.m. in the UC Rio Grande B.  Provost Dana Dunn presided.

 

Attendance.

 

 

Approval of Minutes.  The minutes of the regular meeting on November 4, 2003, were approved as published.

 

Report of the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee.  Committee Chair Kimberly Van Noort presented the following proposals, which were all approved by the Assembly.

SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE

Interior Design      Change:  INTD 4395 Selected Topics in Interior Design

COLLEGE OF BUSINESS

Department of Accounting

Change:  ACCT 3311 Financial Accounting I

COLLEGE OF EDUCATION

Change:  EDUC 2330 Student Leader Effectiveness Training Department of Kinesiology      Add:  KINE 2120 Introduction to Athletic Training Lab      Changes:           HEED 1230 First Aid/CPR           KINE 1230 First Aid/CPR           KINE 2320 Introduction to Athletic Training           KINE 4219 Integration of Fitness Principles in an Instructional Setting           KINE 4320 Teaching Secondary Physical Education           KINE 4321 Teaching Elementary Physical Education           KINE 4647 all-Level Teacher Preparation Residency for PE

 

COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS
	Department of Art Rewriting the departmental section of the catalog to more clearly define the requirements of the various options, including specifications for minors in different areas of discipline.  There are no changes in requirements.      Adds:
	ART 4368 Digital Alternative Photographic Techniques
	ART 4369 Concept to Exhibition
	ART 4370 Staged Environments
	Changes:
	ART 1306 Three-Dimensional Design
	ART 1307 Drawing Fundamentals
	ART 2304 Digital Design
	ART 2350 Introduction to Narrative Screenwriting
	ART 2354 Graphics: Typography
	ART 2355 Graphics Layout
	ART 2359 Introduction to Photography
	ART 3351 Graphics: Illustration
	ART 3354 Graphics Sign and Symbol
	ART 3355 Graphics: Methodologies
	ART 3356 Graphics: Electronic Design
	ART 4100 Senior Exhibition
	ART 4346 Graphics - Portfolio
	ART 4347 Graphics - Brochure Design
	ART 4350 Documentary Film/Video           ART 4351 Commercial Film/Video           ART 4352 Narrative Film/Video           ART 4354 Advanced Narrative Screenwriting           ART 4355 Graphics: Application           ART 4356 Graphics: Professional Preparation
	ART 4361 3-D Animation
	ART 4362 Advanced Film/Video
	ART 4366 Graphics - Online Design
	ART 4391 Independent Study
	Delete:
	ART 4358 Graphics: Computer Graphics

 

Department of Communication – Change in catalog text under Broadcast Management

to reflect the deletion of BCMN 4319 from the requirements (it will be incorporated into COMM 4318 Media Sales).      Changes:           COMM 2300 Internet Communication           COMM 4307 Internet Graphics           COMM 4318 Media Sales and Promotion           COMM 4321 Advanced Web Authoring      Delete:           BCMN 4319 – Broadcast Communication   Department of Music - Change in catalog text to clarify entrance requirements. Department of Philosophy & Humanities      Add:  PHIL 3330 Social and Political Philosophy

COLLEGE OF SCIENCE   A Dual Degree Proposal for a BS in Biology and Master of Environmental Science and Engineering. Department of Biology      Add:  BIOL 3316 Astrobiology (BIOL 3316, GEOL 3316, & PHYS 3316 Crosslisted)   Department of Geology      Add:  GEOL 3316 Astrobiology Department of Physics      Add:  PHYS 3316 Astrobiology      Change:  PHYS 3455 Electronics

 

Selection of University Program Review Committee Representative.  Dennis Marynick was nominated and elected to serve as the new representative on the University Program Review Committee.

 

Other Business.   Denny Bradshaw, representing the Academic Standards Committee, presented a proposal for increasing transfer admission requirements and adjusting application deadlines.  After a brief discussion, the following proposal was approved.

 

1. Advance the transfer application deadline 30 days to May 1 and November 1 for the Fall and Spring terms respectively, and April 1 for Summer.

 

2. Increase the minimum grade point average for acceptance from 2.0 to 2.25.

 

Justification for Changes

As part of the ongoing university effort to improve incoming classes of students, to ensure the academic success of students, to better match resources with enrollment, to protect the quality of the classroom experience, and to strengthen the public perception of the university, we recommend an increase in transfer admissions requirements for Fall ’05 as well as an earlier transfer application deadline.

 

A modest increase in admission requirements signals that the university values academic strength.  Higher expectations for student performance prior to transfer are consistent with the higher performance expectations for first time freshmen and admission to academic majors.

 

An earlier application deadline requires students to act sooner thus providing more time for the delivery of important services such as course evaluation, academic advising, financial aid, and orientation; in effect, more time for the things that support student success.  Furthermore, a revised deadline signals that attending the university cannot be considered a last minute plan.

 

An indication of the possible enrollment impact of the increased transfer grade requirement is as follows:

 

Enrolled Transfers Spring 2003 and Fall 2003 by Admission GPA

 

Admission GPA Range

 

Less than –2.24              2.25 – 2.49            2.50 or higher                  Total

 

	N	%	N	%	N	%	N	%
Sp03	198	15%	153	12%	924	72%	1275	100%
Fall03	307	12%	348	13%	1970	75%	2625	100%
Total	505	13%	501	13%	2894	74%	3900	100%

 

 

The impact can be effectively managed through the exception admission decision process.  Based on prior experiences, it is estimated that approximately 250 students would be admitted under the exception admission process leaving a net impact of this new policy at a decrease of 255 students.  Academic units are urged to review their separate admissions policies/requirements for transfer students to determine if any adjustments are necessary in light of the recommended changes in the university standard.

 

Provost Dunn thanked Pam Haws, Michael Moore, Dale Wasson, and the Academic Standards Committee for their work on the proposal.

 

Adjournment.  The meeting adjourned at 2:42 p.m.

 

Michael K. Moore

Secretary