Academic Senate votes down proposed Curricular Authority Document change
A proposal to change the way students could earn academic certificates was voted down by the academic senate on Tuesday.
The proposed change in wording in Central Michigan University's curricular authority document was narrowly voted down with a 53 percent vote in favor of keeping the policy as it is.
College of Humanities and Social and Behavioral Sciences Associate Dean Timothy Hall proposed the change in wording in the amendment that could have created a more simple path for students to earn a certificate while pursuing a degree.
Hall said they ran into a snag with the language when discussing some of the pitfalls students run into when they assume they can use the same credits needed to satisfy their majors, to count toward a certificate as well.
The CAD amendment, Appendix F, states “students cannot receive a certificate with the same name as their major, minor, concentration or option or due to the fact that the subset of courses is already on student’s major, minor, concentration or option.”
Hall proposed the wording could be clarified by cutting out “or due to the fact that the subset of courses is already on student’s major, minor, concentration or option,” which could potentially lessen students’ time spent at the university.
“Concentrations on a degree are just an understanding in a field,” said CHSBS Dean Pamela Gates. “We are looking to see how to help students market their credentials when they leave, and having a certificate does that.”
Several senators, including Provost Michael Gealt, raised concerns about the change during the dissection period, asking why the wording exists the way it does now and why.
“If the change is approved, would this change the bulletin?” Gealt asked.
Hall explained CHSBS would have to make seven different majors, with seven different concentrations, and seven different certificates to accommodate student demand. It would be far easier on the student to embed the certificates into the program.
Hall was not at a loss after the meeting, instead feeling hopeful that something will change in the near future.
“I suppose there is a silver lining to this,” he said. “We heard a lot of good ideas and options from the other senators. I guess we’ll wait and see.”
At the end of the meeting the senate did vote to discuss possibly making a change in the wording at the next executive board meeting.
