Both the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and the Bachelor of Science in Community Development degrees were approved for decreasing the total number of required credit hours from 124 to 120.

Academic Senate approved the program deletion of the Spanish Major: Spanish for Business Concentration. According to rationale by the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee, a new Spanish Major with three specializations has been created and it includes a Business Specialization. Therefore, a Business Concentration is no longer needed.

Also approved was deletion of the Bachelor of Science in Engineering Science, and the Engineering Science Major: Biomedical Engineering Concentration. According to UCC minutes, this program has been on hiatus since 2014.

The creation of a new Environmental Science Minor was approved by the Academic Senate. The UCC gave rationale that the Environmental Science minor will provide students with an interdisciplinary understanding of complex environmental systems.

Also approved were policy changes to the Accelerated Master's Degree Program. The rewording of policy clarified when and how students may enroll in an AMDP.

Bachelor of Science degree

Discussion about two motions for changes to the Bachelor of Science degree carried over from the previous Academic Senate meeting. These motions were not previously voted on due to amendments of suggested course designators to go toward specific area requirements.

Academic Senate approved on a "main motion" and a "substitute motion," both which aim to lower the total Bachelor of Science degree hour requirements from 124 to 120.

While the broader main motion is designed to require 36 credit hours in the "Natural and Social Sciences," the substitute motion is more specific in requiring nine credits at the 300 level or above. It also specifies the requirement of math and statistics courses.

Specific course designators were approved for both motions. Now that the two motions are stabilized, the next step in the degree change process is for senators to take the proposed motions back to their departments for further discussion.

Additional Business:

In his report to the Academic Senate, President George Ross gave an update on the search to fill a Chief Diversity Officer position. Four candidates were selected after interviews conducted by the search committee, led by chair Katherine Lasher, executive director of the Office of Civil Rights and Institutional Equity. The candidates will be announced once the names are made public.
Provost Michael Gealt announced that the Academic Organizational Review Provost's plan and recommendations for Committees I and III were updated on Feb. 27. Revised reports can be found on the AOR website. Revisions were based upon feedback received, and several departments will begin voting this week on several proposals.
Searches are still ongoing to fill positions of a permanent College of Humanities and Social Behavioral Sciences dean, Executive Director for Office of International Affairs and HIPAA Privacy Officer.
Due to the length of the meeting, the scheduled presentation of the Four-year Graduation Committee update was postponed.