Senate could eliminate summer readmission option

Senators will vote next month on a proposal to eliminate a summer option for readmission available to students placed on academic dismissal status following the spring semester. The change, introduced at the Nov. 13 Faculty Senate meeting, is the recommendation from a subcommittee that studied data collected from fall 2008 to summer 2016.

"A concern was raised because it was recognized that students who used this summer option are typically not successful. There was also a fear about the inequity of the policy, based on whether students are due for dismissal in the fall or spring semester," said Andrea Wheeler, chair of the academic affairs council.

Wheeler said the subcommittee's evaluation determined the "program generally has no benefit to students." If approved, the summer option would be removed from the academic progress and probation policy in ISU's catalog.

The motion also included two additions for the catalog's reinstatement policy:

• Clarification that the summer session does not count as a semester for academic dismissal periods (students cannot be reinstated until at least one semester has elapsed; two if they have more than one academic dismissal)
• Ability for juniors and seniors "with extenuating circumstances" to request a waiver

Name change on hold

Program name changes introduced to the senate last month were sent back to the academic affairs council by the executive board. The proposal -- changing the name for the undergraduate major and minor degree programs in industrial technology to applied engineering and technology management -- met with questions, including a concern about the use of "engineering" in the name. The programs are administered by the agricultural and biosystems engineering department in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

Other business

Senators unanimously approved an interdisciplinary minor degree program in feed technology. The program, offered by the animal science and agricultural and biosystems engineering departments, includes the study of grain handling and storage, biosecurity and the formulation, manufacturing, safety and processing of feed.

In addition to a decision about the summer option, the senate will take action next month on three other proposals:

• A name change for the College of Design's master's degree in graphic design, to Master of Arts in experiential graphic design. The program would absorb a master's degree with a specialization in environmental graphic design, reducing the number of graduate degrees in graphic design from three to two (Master of Fine Arts in graphic design).
• An online master's program in event management, administered by the apparel, events and hospitality management department in the College of Human Sciences. The 36-credit program is aimed at event management professionals, employees with event management responsibilities, international students and ISU event management alumni.
• A request from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences to discontinue undergraduate and graduate minor degrees in technology in social change. Since 2000, only seven students have enrolled in the cross-disciplinary programs.