Undergraduate Council Academic Programs Subcommittee Meeting

March 9, 2004

Members Present: Ara Arabyan, Sandra Beeler, Paul Burkhardt, Byron Bissell, Wayne Decker, Carol Evans, Cindy Rankin (Co-chair), Denise Roe, David Tansik

Members Absent: Bonnie Barber (Co-chair), Patti King

Guest: Julian Kunnie, Director, Africana Studies Program

Cindy Rankin called the meeting to order at 3:35 p.m. A quorum was present.

Motion made by B. Bissell, seconded by D. Tansik, to approved the minutes of February 10, 2004, with clarification of GPA requirements by the School of Family and Consumer Sciences; motion passed.

Update on the raising of GPA for admittance to the major

As discussed at the February UGC meeting, a special meeting will be convened to discuss this issue. Jennifer Jenkins has requested a meeting with Patti Ota, Jerry Hogle, and Lynne Tronsdal for this purpose. Jennifer encouraged UGC members to be present at this meeting if at all possible. UGC members will be notified of the date and time of the meeting once it has been finalized.

Update on the 3/2

Graduate college has revised the proposal for the 3/2 Program, which is now being called the “Accelerated Graduate Scholars Program.”  The Graduate Council will review the revised proposal and then pass it on to UGC for input and/or approval.

Implementation of a new program in Africana Studies

Julian Kunnie was present to answer questions about the proposed new Bachelor of Arts with a major in Africana Studies.

• The key to success is the new faculty – 2 positions hired, currently conducting interviews for 3 additional positions, and 3 more positions will be created within 2 years.
• Program currently has a vigorous General Education component
• Program has a 7 year history of stable curriculum
• Program minor is under increasing demand
• Interdisciplinary studies major is currently used by students interested in pursuing this discipline
• Serves a diverse population, not just African American students
• Has an excellent breadth and depth of studies
• It is a very distinctive program from the ASU African American Studies program regarding the population it serves and the institutional support level

There is concern that the proposed curriculum focuses on the African continent than the Africana populations. This is similar to the Asian American Studies minor proposal which focused on the Chinese population rather than the diverse populations of Asia. (D. Tansik).

• New hires and integration of a more diverse faculty will provide a more diverse program
• Planned integration with curriculum from other departments will further improve the diversity of offerings

What would a student do with a degree in Africana Studies? (B. Bissell).

• Pursue graduate work
• Multicultural experience to enhance further education in business, social work, public health, law, education, etc. Many students currently enrolled in those types of programs are taking our courses
• Open opportunities because of the diversity, both domestic and international

Does the program focus on the sub-Sahara region? (W. Decker)

• We do not want to divide Africa. The entire continent should be addressed.
• Important to include countries like Egypt and its importance to the whole of Africa
• Bridges with other programs are to include Latin American Studies, Mexican American Studies and borderland issues.
• Expansion and infusion is planned for the program

The science and technology component focus is interesting. How will you include this in the program? (W. Decker)

• Use of technology in the field as the Aswan High Dam.
• How indigenous technology is currently being used even though some is 5000 years old.
• Holistic medicine and indigenous applied medicine using historical knowledge
• Research and subspecialty areas can change based on faculty hires and research areas, but principle areas will not change

Carol Evans expressed interest in the medical and public health topics.

• Faculty from the College of Public Health are currently working with the department and one of the faculty members in the program to focus on public health issues.
• A public health track is currently under discussion/development in the program
• We see closer collaboration in the program with lecturers from public health

How many students are expected initially? 

• There are 90 students currently enrolled in the minor
• Students are expressing interest in the major
• May be able to offer the major by Fall 2005

What will be the impact on General Education? (C. Rankin)

• Some courses will have to be taken from the General Education status to fulfill major requirements
• Program will not totally surrender its General Education courses
• Courses are currently being refined and new ones proposed
• Some areas will have to be scaled back to compensate for the new major

Courses that qualify as general education are still in use in the major and subspecialties; including AFAS 222 and AFAS 255. Would the program agree to either removing the courses as a requirement for the major and subspecialty or would the general education designation be removed? (S. Beeler) Discussion by members:

• Currently difficult to monitor if courses are being used for a major requirement or to meet a general education requirement. The new student information may allow for better clarification and general education status may be resumed in the future.
• The major advisor should be responsible to see that use in the major and as general education requirement does not happen. However, mistakes happen and students end up not meeting requirements.
• Can get hold of students early and suggest to them which courses to take for general education requirements. However, certain general education courses can not be mandated.

J. Kunnie responded that the general education designation will be withdrawn from the courses.

Would you explain about the role of the courtesy faculty. (C. Rankin)

• Not long-term
• Do not get paid by Africana Studies
• They are involved with the program and believe in the mission of Africana Studies
• Participate actively in the search committees
• Helps build bridges with other departments and colleges like law and public health

Will there be any collaborative work with the ASU program in African American Studies? (C. Rankin) The ASU program has some problems, principally, the lack of commitment from the university. The number of lines in the program are not being expanded.

• Travel between the institutions is difficult
• Our study center can join with that at ASU for activities, including joint programs and lecture series
• Can discuss a more formal arrangement with ASU later

C. Rankin thanked Julian for attending the meeting and answering subcommittee members’ questions.

The subcommittee continued its discussion:

• Care should be taken in hiring so that the focus is as diversified as possible. It should not become a sub-Sahara program (D. Tansik)
• This is a politically and socially correct program and will contribute to campus diversity
• A Masters of Arts is to follow this program if there is sufficient interest
• The program in Africana Studies is moving toward departmental status
• It is good that it is interdisciplinary/transdisciplinary, however, it could develop haphazardly unless it has  guidance and some oversight.
• The Curriculum Office does have some oversight of the curriculum and focus of the program on an annual basis when APRRs are updated.
• Courtesy faculty will most likely not participate actively in the program. This is a group to act as a search committee only.
• Some courses are very restrictive to the major so it may be difficult to interact with some other programs, like Public Health. It may just be allowing some of the students in the program to take public health courses. This could be another activity of the courtesy faculty

Motion made by Carol Evans to approve the implementation of the Bachelor of Arts with a major in Africana Studies; seconded by David Tansik -- passed unanimously.

The meeting was adjourned at 4:45 P.M.

Respectfully submitted by Sandra Beeler