Faculty Senate met on Feb. 11 at the University of Idaho. They addressed the discontinuation of the ISEM program and issues with the University Pathway Program.
Big-ticket items:
- ISEM Program Stopgap Proposal
- Pre-approved by the University Committee on General Education (UCGE) due to a lack of funding, the Senate voted to eliminate the ISEM program.
- ISEM classes will no longer be required for general education credits, but as of now will not be replaced by other required classes.
- The UCGE will be considering what to do next with students who have taken ISEM classes.
- University Pathway Program
- Provost John Wiencek said the program that would allow 100 students who do not meet admission standards to attend the university in a separate cohort, had been proposed to the wrong committee, temporarily halting the progress of the pilot program.
- With letters already having been sent out offering students admission into the program, the Admissions Committee will be looking into enacting an emergency policy.
- VandalCard expiration dates
- Faculty Senate learned that Information Technology Services (ITS) removed expiration dates from university VandalCards as a cost-saving measure.
- The lack of expiration dates may interfere with students’ ability to vote, as current student ID can be used as a form of identification.
- Faculty Senate proposed ITS join the Senate’s next meeting to discuss.
- Degrees, minors, and graduate certificates
- Cybersecurity degree
- This new undergraduate degree will reflect the advancement of the cybersecurity field within the Computer Science Department with some additional Cybersecurity classes.
- Remote Sensing of the Environment graduate certificate
- This certificate focuses on the collection of information typically through aircraft and satellite, a growing field. A graduate-level certificate was approved, with an undergraduate certificate already existing.
- Geography Minor
- A new geography minor was added with many students in International Relations and the College of Natural Resources requesting it Raymond Dezzani, Geography professor and interim chair, said.
- Master in Natural Resources
- There was an addition of a Restoration Ecology and Habitat Management option to the degree.
- International Agriculture Minor
- This new minor prepares students for agriculture on its modern, global scale.
- Teaching and Advising Committee Separation
- A proposal was approved to split the committee into two to have a greater focus on separate areas, now known as the University Teaching Committee and University Advising Committee.
- Cybersecurity degree