April 24, 2012 Revised UAAC Motion Re: Request for Review of Individually Designed Major/Minor and the Interdisciplinary Major/Minor and Recommendations for Oversight and Assessment

On September 27, 2011 UAAC approved the name change of the former Individually Designed Program to be called the Interdisciplinary Studies Program. This affected both the Distance Learning and the on campus Individually Designed Majors Programs. On December 22, 2011 Faculty Senate charged UAAC with review and alignment of the two programs and the incorporation of an oversight and assessment processes for both. A sub-committee was established and after multiple meetings brings forward the following recommendations.

Recommendation 1

We propose that: A. the on-campus program, formerly called Individually Designed Program, be separated from the Distance Learning Interdisciplinary Studies Program (DL-IDS, with comprehensive major, non-comprehensive major, and minor) and B. the on campus program return to its previous name – Individually Designed Major Program (IDM, with non- comprehensive major and minor).

The rationale for this is that the on campus IDM program, while also needing oversight and assessment, needs to have slightly different requirements than the Distance Learning Program. The Oversight and Assessment processes below are aligned and will ensure integrity, consistency, and equitability across the program, the curriculum, and the assessment, assuming the procedures are followed.

Recommendation 2

We propose the following process and procedures be developed for the on-line Distance Learning Interdisciplinary Studies Major (DL-IDS, both comprehensive and non- comprehensive).

1) That there be an Oversight Committee made up of 4 faculty, at least two of whom have taught as part of DL-IDS and one to two members of the DLC advising staff.

a) This body will develop and recommend for approval:

a.i) The responsibilities for the faculty/staff who approve the DL-IDS plans;

a.ii) The criteria for the Credits and Student Reinstatement Committee to use in approving the DL-IDS petitions;

a.iii) The Student Learning Assessment Process (See 2; iv) including possible use of e-portfolio.

b) This body will recommend to UAAC any changes in the following areas:

b.i) The responsibilities of the faculty/staff who approve on the DL-IDS plans;

b.ii)The criteria for the DL-IDS curriculum;

b.iii) The policies concerning GPA, prerequisites, number of credits, and other requirements.

1 April 24, 2012 Revised UAAC Motion c) This body will arrange Informational Sessions for its members and for all instructors who are part of an IDS program so that all those involved understand the program, its process, procedures, and responsibilities.

c.i) The DLC staff will assist in providing these required sessions.

d) This body will submit a program review to APRC according to the review cycle provided by the APRC

e) This body does not review individual student petitions. It is Oversight and Policy focused.

e.i) Members of the Oversight Committee, however, can be involved in other parts of the process (Credits and Student Reinstatement Committee or teaching students in an IDS program).

2) The Process for students choosing the IDS Major will be:

a) DL students with interest in DL-IDS must first contact DLC and, after consulting with a DL advisor, must take the following steps to obtain major plan approval in DL-IDS:

b) The student must take IDS 300 and develop her/his DL-IDS program plan. This plan includes: learning goals and outcomes, assessment plan, curriculum, and contract;

c) The curriculum must be Inter-Disciplinary and be drawn from at least three areas of study;

c.i) It must list learning goals and outcomes articulated by the student (and related to each discipline area).

c.ii) Three to four faculty need to be involved and to approve the plan:

(c.ii.1) One of these will be the capstone faculty member;

(c.ii.2) The others will represent the different discipline areas included on the plan

(c.ii.2.a)And be the instructors teaching one or more of the DL IDS courses;

(c.ii.3) If two disciplinary components of the plan reside in a single department the instructors from the respective disciplinary areas must sign rather than one person signing for two or more components.

c.iii) The Plan must also be signed by the DL Advisor and the Associate Dean of Distance Learning.

c.iv) When all required signatures are obtained, the Plan (on a DL-IDS petition form) including the assessment plan will go to Credits and Student Reinstatement Committee for approval.

c.v) The Capstone must be part of the DL IDS plan:

2 April 24, 2012 Revised UAAC Motion (c.v.1) The capstone will serve as a primary opportunity for students to demonstrate their achievement in (some of) their learning goals/outcomes through their work.

d) The Student Learning Assessment Plan must be developed by the faculty members who approve the student’s DL-IDS plan and be included in the petition. The faculty member who instructs the Capstone will be responsible for the implementation of this Assessment Plan. Specifically, the faculty will:

d.i) Identify performance criteria for each outcome and develop a rubric for each of the outcomes specified in the DL-IDS plan.

d.ii)Identify an appropriate measure (e.g., a test, course assignment, project, etc.) to assess the culminated learning in each learning outcome area.

d.iii) Set the time-line for the assessment and faculty feedback.

d.iv) Receive the identified assignment/project for assessment from the student and analyze it using the prepared assessment tool.

d.v)Submit the assessment plan and results to the Oversight Committee within the month after students’ graduation.

e) The faculty on each DL-IDS plan must also assess DL-IDS majors’ achievement in the Liberal Education Learning Goals and submit the results to the DL-IDS Advisor. The DL- IDS Advisor will collate individual students’ results and submit the aggregated results for the DL-IDS majors to the Office of Assessment.

f) The above stipulations only apply to DL-IDS, and not to other DL Majors, which already have oversight through an academic department and a Student Learning Assessment Plan in place.

3) The Process for students choosing the DL-IDS Minor will remain the same as the currently listed in the 2010-12 catalog. ***

3 April 24, 2012 Revised UAAC Motion Recommendation 3

We propose the following process and procedures be developed for the on-campus Individually Designed Studies Major and Minor (IDM; recently renamed Interdisciplinary Studies Major/Minor).

1) There be an Oversight Committee made up of 4 faculty, at least two of whom have taught as part of IDM, and 1 Enrollment Management person, such as Dr. Chris Cherry in the Academic Advisement Center. The latter serves as the IDM contact staff person who assists the Oversight Committee and responds to students inquiries.

a) This body will develop and recommend for approval:

a.i) The responsibilities for the faculty/staff who approve the IDM plans;

a.ii) The criteria for the Credits and Student Reinstatement Committee to use in approving the IDM petitions;

a.iii) The Student Learning Assessment process, including possible use of e-portfolio.

b) This body will recommend to UAAC any changes in the following areas:

b.i) Responsibilities of the faculty/staff who approve the IDM plans;

b.ii)Criteria for the IDM curriculum;

b.iii) Policies concerning GPA, prerequisites, number of credits, and other requirements.

c) This body will arrange Informational Sessions for its members and for all instructors who are part of an IDM program so that all those involved understand the program, process, procedures, and responsibilities.

c.i) The IDM contact staff person will assist in providing these required sessions.

c.ii) It is highly recommended that the DL-IDS model be followed for these on campus sessions and that something similar to [if not same as] the IDS 300* course be required of students in preparing their IDM plan.

d) This body will submit a program review according to the review cycle provided by the APRC.

e) This body does not review individual student plans/petitions; it is Oversight and Policy focused.

e.i) Members of the Oversight Committee, however, can be involved in other parts of the process (Credits and Student Reinstatement Committee or teaching students in an IDM program).

2) The Process for on campus students choosing the IDM will be:

4 April 24, 2012 Revised UAAC Motion a) Students with interest in IDM must first contact the IDM contact person and, after consulting with his/her advisor, must take the following steps to obtain major plan approval for an IDM major.

b) The student must take either IDS 300* or something comparable and develop her/his IDM program plan. This plan includes learning goals and outcomes, assessment plan, curriculum, and contract.

c) The curriculum for the IDM must meet the criteria presently listed in the 2010-12 catalog.**

c.i) It must list learning goals and outcomes articulated by the student (related to each discipline area, if there is more than one).

c.ii) At least three faculty need to be involved in the development and approval of the IDM plan:

(c.ii.1) One of these will be the capstone faculty member/academic advisor;

(c.ii.2) The others will represent the different disciplines.

(c.ii.3) If the IDM plan includes two disciplinary components that reside in a single department, the instructors from the respective disciplinary areas must sign.

c.iii) With all required signatures, the IDM plan, including the assessment plan, will go to the Credits and Student Reinstatement Committee for approval.

c.iv) The Capstone must be part of the IDM plan

(c.iv.1) The capstone will serve as a primary opportunity for students to demonstrate their achievement in (some of) their learning goals/outcomes through their work.

d) The Student Learning Assessment Plan must be developed by the faculty members who approve the individual student’s IDM plan. The faculty member who instructs the Capstone will be responsible for the implementation of this Assessment Plan. Specifically, the faculty will:

d.i) Identify performance criteria for each outcome and develop a rubric for each outcome specified in the IDM plan.

d.ii)Identify an appropriate measure (e.g., a test, course assignment, project, etc.) to assess the culminated learning in each learning outcome area.

d.iii) Set the time-line for the assessment and faculty feedback.

d.iv) Receive the identified assignment/project for assessment from the student and analyze it using the prepared assessment tool.

d.v)Submit the assessment plan and results to the Oversight Committee within the month after students’ graduation.

3) The Process for students choosing the IDM Minor will remain the same as the currently listed in the 2010-12 catalog. *** 5 April 24, 2012 Revised UAAC Motion 4/24/12 4:04PM

*DLC can set up a comparable course for on-campus students for 1 credit that will not require extra costs other than for the one credit.

**Requirements for the On Campus Individually Designed Major

1. A 120 credit degree program which can be as follows: 2. Major Requirements: a. A traditional major of 33 credits in a major with a minor of 21-24 credits in a different subject area (courses cannot overlap between major and minor) a.i. This option meets needs of students who wish to include a minor in their program. May combine this option with a second major in a discipline such as Communicating Arts. b. 30 credits must be earned through UW-Superior courses. c. 18 credits in the major must be earned in courses numbered 300 or above d. 18 credits in the major shall NOT yet have been completed e. Must include a capstone course 3. Degree Requirements: a. 36 or more undergraduate semester credits in upper-division courses; i.e., courses numbered 300-499. b. A resident grade point average of 2.0 or above for all undergraduate credits. c. 30 or more undergraduate semester credits earned at UW-Superior. d. The last 12 undergraduate semester credits earned at UW-Superior. e. Student’s cum GPA must be 3.0 or higher f. Developed in consultation with advisor and two other faculty members representing disciplines other than that of the advisor and approved by the Credits & Reinstatement Committee. g. Petition may NOT be submitted before second semester of the sophomore year (43 total credits) h. Petition MUST be submitted before the end of the junior year (83 total credits) i. Major and/or minor must be approved by the University Credits Committee j. Credit for prior learning may be earned through CLEP/DANTES testing or the Documented Portfolio. j.i. A maximum of 6 credits of independent study coursework shall be allowed. 4. May include past and new learning.

*** Requirements for the Individually Designed and Interdisciplinary Studies Minor Requirements 21 total credits Requirements: 1. Students in good standing and have earned at least 43 credits to delcare this minor 2. Students must complete an Individually Designed minor petition and have it approved by the Credits and Reinstatement Committee. 3. At least 12 of these credits shall not yet have been completed. 6 April 24, 2012 Revised UAAC Motion 4. At least two courses must be resident credit courses (taken at UW-Superior). Individually Designed Minor proposals require the approval of the student's advisor and the appropriate department chair.

Subcommittee of the UAAC Charged with development of an Oversight and Assessment Process:

Dr Chris Cherry

Dr Virginia Donovan

Dr Diane Douglas

Dr Eri Fujieda

Dr Suzanne Griffith

Dr Peter Nordgren

(with Christina Kline)

3/22/12

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