ÀÖ»¢Ö±²¥

The UAF Faculty Senate passed the following at its Meeting #84 
on December 7, 1998:


MOTION PASSED (unanimously)
==============

The UAF Faculty Senate moves to amend the New Degree Program 
Request (Format 3) and Major Program Change (Format 5) in the 
Academic Course and Degree Procedures Manual to include a full 
description of the student learning outcomes assessment process 
for new programs and revision for major program changes.


	EFFECTIVE:  	Immediately


	RATIONALE:  	Development and implementation of 
		student learning outcomes assessment programs are 
		professional teaching duty are also a requirement of 
		our institutional accreditation.  This motion brings 
		us into compliance with accreditation standards.  




The UAF Faculty Senate passed the following at its Meeting #84 
on December 7, 1998:


MOTION RECOMMITTED TO COMMITTEE
=================================

The UAF Faculty Senate moves to establish a Departmental Honors 
policy.  Criteria for award of departmental undergraduate honors 
include:


	1.  	An overall GPA of 3.0 and 3.5 in the student's major
	2.  	Evidence of exceptional academic achievement in one 
		or more of the following areas:
		a.  	completion of significant research under 
			guidance of university faculty member;
		b.  	completion of a specific cluster of advanced 
			courses with a GPA of 3.5 or higher;
		c.  	completion of a senior thesis with distinction;
		d.  	score at or above the 85th percentile on 
			specialty GRE test or other "standard" test;
		e.  	completion of an outstanding portfolio of 
			student work.

	Departments wishing to award this honors designation will 
	submit a plan to the curricular affairs committee, indicating 
	the specific evidence of exceptional academic achievement 
	the department requires.  Departments with approved plans 
	are responsible for notifying the registrar's office of their 
	honorees one month before graduation.  Names of students 
	receiving departmental honors will be listed with other 
	student honorees in the commencement program, and the 
	designation will appear on students' transcripts.

	EFFECTIVE:  	1999-2000 academic year

	RATIONALE:  	UAF lacks a system for recognizing 
		outstanding graduates in their fields of study, which 
		this proposal would establish.  Also, departmental 
		honors will be an incentive spurring student 
		achievement in UAF's disciplines and programs.




The UAF Faculty Senate passed the following at its Meeting #84 
on December 7, 1998:


MOTION PASSED (1 nay)
==============

The UAF Faculty Senate moves to recommend that the draft 
common grading system submitted by the UA Faculty Alliance be 
accepted.


	EFFECTIVE:  	Immediately

	RATIONALE:  	Last year the Senate approved the 
		recommendations of the Curricular Affairs Committee 
		as their response to the UA Faculty Alliance common 
		grading policy.  This fall, representatives from all 
		three campus curricular affairs committees and the 
		registrars have worked together to formulate a new 
		draft based on the recommendations made last year.


				


12/1/98

PROPOSED REGENTS' POLICY  10.XX.XX

UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA COMMON GRADE SYSTEM

The University of ÀÖ»¢Ö±²¥ will establish a common grade system 
which will be applicable across the university system.  This 
policy has a corresponding university regulation.


-------------------------------------------------------


PROPOSED UNIVERSITY REGULATION 10.XX.XX

UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA COMMON GRADE SYSTEM

Grading System

All course grades are academic letter grades unless otherwise 
specified in the catalog or class schedule.  The method of grading 
is an integral part of the course structure and is the same for all 
students taking the course, except for students auditing a course 
or electing the credit/no-credit option.  Instructors are expected 
to give each student a written course syllabus at the beginning of 
the course that includes the course grading policy, the subject 
matter of the course, and the course requirements.  Non-
academics grading options such as credit/ no-credit, pass/no-
pass and pass/fail are available at the option of a MAU.

Grades

A
Indicates a thorough mastery of course content and the 
outstanding performance in completion of all course 
requirements.  (Includes A- if accepted at that MAU.)

B
Indicates an above average level of acquired knowledge and above 
average performance in completion of course requirements.  
(Includes B+ and B- if accepted at that MAU.)

C
Indicates an average level of acquired knowledge and average 
performance in completion of course requirements.  (Includes C+ 
and C- if accepted at that MAU.)

D
The lowest passing grade, it indicates a below average level of 
acquired knowledge and below average performance in completion 
of course requirements.  (Includes D+ and D- if accepted at that 
MAU.)

F
Indicates failure to meet a minimal level of understanding of 
course content and/or performance in completion of course 
requirements.

CR
Credit.  Indicates that full course credit was awarded under the 
credit/no-credit option and the student's work was equivalent to 
"C" or better.

Credit/No-Credit Student Option.  The Credit/No-Credit option is 
a student-initiated grading option that encourages students to 
explore areas of interest not related to their academic major 
(i.e., undesignated electives).  The instructor is not aware that 
this option has been selected by the student and grades the 
student using the grading basis approved for that course (A-F, 
P/NP, or P/F).  Students are awarded credit for the course if their 
final grade is "P" or "C" or higher, and a grade of "CR" is entered in 
the student's transcript.  If performance falls below that level 
("D", "F", "NP") neither the grade "NC" nor the course is recorded in 
the student's transcript.

The student may elect the CR/NC option for one undesignated 
elective each semester during the first two weeks of the 
semester, with a maximum of 15 credits earned by this option 
applied to an Associate or Baccalaureate degree.  Courses in a 
student's major or minor, GER/core, or specific degree 
requirements are not allowed under this option.  If a student later 
changes a major or minor and the course becomes a requirement, 
the course may be accepted in the new major or minor at the 
discretion of the new department.  The CR/NC option is not 
available for graduate courses, nor can this option be used on 
courses repeated for GPA improvement.  A student may either 
elect credit/no-credit status or change from it during the first 
two weeks of any regular semester or for a prorated length of 
time in a compressed course period (e.g., the summer session or 
in any fall- or spring- semester course completed in less than the 
full duration of the semester) by filing the appropriate forms.

P
Pass.  Indicates the satisfactory completion of course 
requirements under either the pass/fail or the pass/no-pass 
option.  A satisfactory level of work is equivalent to a "C" or 
better in an undergraduate course and "B" or better in a graduate 
course.

NP
No pass.  Indicates failure to meet a minimal level of 
understanding of course content and/or completion of course 
requirements.

Pass/No-Pass and Pass/Fail Course Options.  These grading 
systems are established at the time the course is approved and 
must apply to the class as a whole; it is not a student option.  
When a course is graded Pass/No-Pass or Pass/Fail, the faculty 
member must clearly explain this fact to the students at the 
beginning of the class.  For performance comparison only, a grade 
of "P" (Pass) is considered equivalent to a grade of C or higher in 
undergraduate courses and a grade of B or higher in graduate 
courses.  Pass/No-Pass and Pass/Fail grades are used to 
determine satisfactory academic progress and may be used to 
meet degree requirements.  In the Pass/Fail course option, a "F" is 
recorded in the student's transcript and used in computing the 
GPA.

DF
Deferred grade.  Indicates that the course requirements may 
extend beyond the end of  one semester; e.g., thesis, project, 
research courses, internships, etc.  A final grade and credit will 
be withheld without penalty until the course requirements are 
met within an approved time.

NB
No-basis for grade.  Indicates that a student has not completed 
the coursework by the end of the semester.  No credit is given nor 
is NB calculated in GPA.  This is a permanent grade and may not be 
used to substitute for the Incomplete, "I."  The "NB" is not used at 
UAA and UAF.

I
Incomplete.  Indicates that a student has not completed the 
coursework by the end of one semester.  Credit will be withheld 
without penalty until the course requirements are met within an 
approved time, not to exceed one year.

AU
Audit.  A student-option registration status indicating that the 
student has enrolled for informational instruction only.  No 
course credit is granted.  The student may be given a "W" if he or 
she does not attend the course being audited.

W
Withdrawal.  This is a registration status that indicates 
withdrawal from a course after the official course drop date.



Computation of Grade Point Average (GPA)

The grade point average (GPA) is a weighted numerical average of 
the grades earned in courses by level (undergraduate or graduate) 
at a MAU.  To compute a GPA, the cumulative number of grade 
points earned by level at a MAU is divided by the total number of 
credits for which a grade was received.  Grade points for a course 
are calculated by multiplying the numerical value of the grade 
awarded, according to the chart below, by the number of credits 
attempted for the course.  As an example, the number of credits 
(for example, 3) is multiplied by the grade point value of the 
grade (for example, A=4) to give the total grade point (for 
example, 12) for each course.  The sum of the grade points is then 
divided by the total number of credits attempted to give the GPA.  
UAA and UAF use the 4-point system as a measure of scholastic 
success (A, B, C, D, F only), while UAS includes plus and minus 
grades.  Grades of AU, CR, NC, P, NP, I, and W do not carry grade 
points and therefore do not affect the GPA.  Non-credit courses, 
transfer credits and credit-by-examination do not affect the GPA 
calculations.  All grades (original and retakes) for a course 
completed are included on the student's academic record, but only 
the last grade earned for a course is computed in the GPA unless 
the course is one that can be repeated for credit.

Once the student completes the Bachelor's degree, the student's 
GPA in future work is calculated only on the credits and grades 
earned since the degree was awarded.  An exception to this is 
made if the student is officially admitted to a second bachelor's 
degree program.  Undergraduate courses taken while in a graduate 
degree program are calculated in the student's graduate GPA.

Academic letter grades at UAA and UAF carry the following grade 
points:  	
	A=4.00 
	B=3.00 
	C=2.00 
	D=1.00 
	F=0.00  

Academic letter grades at UAS carry the following grade points:
	A  =4.00
	A- =3.70
	B+ =3.30
	B  =3.00
	B- =2.70
	C+ =2.30
	C  =2.00
	C- =1.70
	D+ =1.30
	D  =1.00
	D- =0.70
	F  =0.00




The UAF Faculty Senate passed the following at its Meeting #84 
on December 7, 1998:


MOTION PASSED (unanimous)
==============

The UAF Faculty Senate moves to recommend that the draft 
course level definitions submitted by the UA Faculty Alliance be 
accepted.  

	EFFECTIVE:  	Immediately

	RATIONALE:	Last year the UAF Faculty Senate approved 
		the recommendations made by the Curricular Affairs 
		and the Graduate & Professional Curricular Affairs 
		on the draft course level definitions.  This fall, 
		representatives from all three campus curricular 
		affairs committees and the registrars have 
		worked together to formulate a new draft based 
		on the recommendations made last year. 


				


12/1/98

DRAFT REPLACEMENT FOR UNIVERSITY REGULATION 10.04.09 AND 
PROPOSED STATEMENT FOR UAA, UAF AND UAS CATALOGS


COURSE DEFINITION SYSTEM

A.  Course Numbering System

Each course offered by the University is identified by the 
department designator and a three-digit course number.  The 
designator commonly abbreviates the name of a discipline or 
department (for example, ENGL for English).  In general, the first 
numeral of the three-digit course number indicates the course 
level and the year in which the course is ordinarily taken, For 
example, ENGL 111 is a 100-level course and is ordinarily taken 
by first-year (freshman) students, and ENGL 318 is a 300-level 
course taken by third-year (junior) students.

B.  Course Level Expectations

Students are expected to demonstrate learning skills 
commensurate with the appropriate course level, and are 
expected to meet, prior to registering, prerequisites for all 
courses as listed with the course descriptions.  Prerequisites 
indicate the preparation and/or background necessary to 
undertake academic study.  If a student has not taken and passed 
the necessary prerequisites, but feels confident of performing 
the course work, the student may request permission from the 
instructor of the course to enroll in the class.  An instructor 
withdrawal may be initiated for those students who enroll 
without either prerequisites or instructor permission.

Courses numbered 001-049 are career development courses 
intended to fulfill special needs of students or the community and 
are not designed as preparation for 100-level college work.  They 
are offered for Continuing Education Units (CEU) or for non-credit.  
Courses numbered 050-099 usually cover basic or developmental 
material and are intended to help prepare students to enter 100-
level college courses.  They are applicable to some vocational 
certificates.  The 100-level courses generally require learning 
basic concepts.  The 200- 300-, and 400-level courses require 
increasing sophistication in the ability to extract, summarize, 
evaluate, and apply relevant class material.  The 500-level 
courses are specifically designed for professional development at 
the post-baccalaureate level, while the 600-level courses for 
advanced degrees demand rigorous analysis, synthesis, and 
research skills.

C.  Non-degree and Preparatory Courses

001-049:  Career development or community interest courses.  
These courses are intended to fulfill special needs of students or 
the community and are not designed as preparation for 100-level 
college work.  Career development courses are offered for 
Continuing Education Units (CEU).  One CEU is granted for 
satisfactory completion of 10 contact hours of classroom 
instruction or for 20 contact hours of laboratory or clinical 
instruction.  Community
interest courses not offered for credit.  They are not applicable 
to any degree requirements (even by petition).

050-099.  Remedial or preparatory courses.  These courses are 
applicable to some vocational certificates but not to any 
associate degrees, baccalaureate degrees, master's degrees, or 
professional certificates.  These are developmental courses that 
provide supplemental preparation for introductory college 
courses.

D.  Academic Credit Courses

Lower Division  Courses

100-199:  Freshman-level courses.  These courses are applicable 
to certificates, associate, and baccalaureate degrees.  They 
introduce a field of knowledge and/or develop basic skills.  These 
are usually foundation or survey courses.

200-299:  Sophomore-level courses.  These courses are applicable 
to certificates, associate, and baccalaureate degrees.  They 
provide more depth than 100-level courses and/or build upon 
100-level courses.  These courses may connect foundation or 
survey courses with advanced work in a given field, require 
previous college experience, or field, require previous college 
experience, or develop advanced skills.

Upper Division  Courses

As a general guideline upper division courses require at least 
junior standing or equivalent experience in addition to any stated 
prerequisites.  The student is expected to have adequate 
preparations and background to complete courses at this level.  
Upper-division courses may not be required as prerequisites for 
lower-division courses.

300-399:  Junior-level courses.  These courses are applicable to  
baccalaureate degrees and may be applicable to some associate 
degrees.  They may not be applied to both a baccalaureate and a 
master's degree.  These courses build upon previous course work 
and require familiarity with the concepts, methods and 
vocabulary of the discipline.

400-499:  Senior-level courses.  These courses are applicable to 
the baccalaureate degree and may be applicable to some 
associates degrees.  They may also be applied to graduation 
requirements for some master's degrees with prior approval of 
the student's Graduate Study Committee.  They may not be applied 
to both a baccalaureate and a master's degree.  These courses 
require the ability to analyze, synthesize, compare and contrast, 
research, create, innovate, develop, elaborate, transform, and/or 
apply course material to solving complex problems.  These 
courses generally require a substantial background of study in 
lower-level courses.

600-699:  Graduate-level courses.  These courses are for post-
baccalaureate study towards advanced degrees with approval of 
the student's Graduate Study Committee.  A few well qualified 
undergraduates may be admitted to graduate courses with 
appropriate approval of the instructor.  These courses may be 
used to meet graduation requirements for some baccalaureate 
degrees with prior approval of the major department.  A student 
may not apply such a course to both a baccalaureate and a 
graduate degree.

D.  Professional Development Courses.

500-599: Professional development courses.  These courses are 
intended as post-baccalaureate education for various 
professional groups who desire to continue their education at a 
level distinct from graduate-level education.  Courses are neither 
graduate nor undergraduate in nature.  These 500-level courses 
shall not be stacked with any credit courses, shall not apply 
toward any degree, certification or credential program, and are 
not interchangeable with 600-level courses.


----------------------------------------------------

RATIONALE:  	

To meet the requirements of existing Regents' Policy 10.04.09:  

	Course Definitions

	The University of ÀÖ»¢Ö±²¥ will develop a course definition 
system which clearly distinguishes among the various types 
of coursework provided and the level of academic 
experience expected for their successful completion.  This 
system will be constructed with the consistency needed 
across University of ÀÖ»¢Ö±²¥ institutions to facilitate 
systemwide academic advising.  This Policy has a 
corresponding University Regulation.




The UAF Faculty Senate passed the following at its Meeting #84 
on December 7, 1998:


RESOLUTION PASSED (1 nay)
=================

WHEREAS, the ÀÖ»¢Ö±²¥ Faculty Senate 
	considers the appointment of individuals to the University 
	of ÀÖ»¢Ö±²¥ Board of Regents to be of crucial importance, and

WHEREAS, this board governs ÀÖ»¢Ö±²¥'s only public university 
	system, and women and men from ÀÖ»¢Ö±²¥'s diverse ethnic 
	and cultural landscape should be appropriately reflected in 
	its composition, and

WHEREAS, the Board of Regents must work in close association 
	with and supervise the activities of the President of the 
	University, and

WHEREAS, academic concerns and political matters of the state 
	should be entirely separate issues, and

WHEREAS, a regent should have first-hand experience with a very 
	large organization that has multiple objectives, functions, 
	and geographic locations, and

WHEREAS, a regent must be a goodwill ambassador as well as a 
	zealous defender and protector of the University of ÀÖ»¢Ö±²¥ 
	on all fronts, and

WHEREAS, a regent must possess a wide range of knowledge in 
	order to understand issues from the perspective of faculty, 
	staff, researchers, students, and community members at 
	large, and

WHEREAS, a regent must possess the vision for ÀÖ»¢Ö±²¥ to think 
	far into the future, and must base decisions on the goal of 
	maintaining the University of ÀÖ»¢Ö±²¥ as one of the State's 
	greatest and most important resources, now

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, That the University of ÀÖ»¢Ö±²¥ 
	Fairbanks Faculty Senate encourages the Honorable Tony 
	Knowles, Governor of the State of ÀÖ»¢Ö±²¥, to use every 
	resource and counsel available to him, and urges him to 
	weigh his thoughts carefully in order to place individuals on 
	the Board of Regents who will act in the best interest of 
	the University of ÀÖ»¢Ö±²¥ and the great State of ÀÖ»¢Ö±²¥.



UA