College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

CLAS logo

Unit Head and Faculty Weekly Mailing 5-1-12

For Faculty

1. Free Press 4/29 Editorial on Higher Ed

For Unit Heads

2. No Credit Transfer Courses- Action Needed – Dean Antczak

3. CLAS Important Dates

____________________________________________________________________________

For Faculty

1. Free Press 4/29 Editorial on Higher Ed

Here’s an article for all of you following the public discussion of education funding and student debt.

http://www.freep.com/article/20120429/COL33/204290532/Stephen-Henderson-Higher-ed-cuts-shortchange-Michigan-s-future?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|FRONTPAGE|s

For Unit Heads

2. No Credit Transfer Courses- Action Needed (attachments: No comparable, 2012 Deans and Descriptions) – Dean Antczak

This year has presented several opportunities and challenges. One opportunity has been provided us by the number of transfer students in CLAS—the highest ever. A challenge that emerged from this opportunity is represented in the list of courses transferred from other institutions where no credit was assigned. Given the current climate and context in Michigan—growing competition for transfer students, students “shopping” between institutions that will give them the most transfer credit, state oversight of transfer course credits, etc.—we need to take a look at our practices and to give credit, including specific credit, wherever we reasonably can.

Here is a list of non-transferring courses for CLAS units: these courses should be re-evaluated and wherever reasonable, granted specific rather than general credit (e.g. MTH 110 vs. gen credit or MTH gen credit). I’m asking you to look at the course, not the instructor; yes, our faculty undoubtedly teach the material better than most instructors at a community college (or, say, Yale), but the question you should be asking is about the course materials and structure. The list is attached in an Excel spreadsheet:

please click on the tab (on the lower level of the sheet) for your unit
review the course description; a sheet with links to those is attached as well
indicate on the spreadsheet the credit to be assigned
save the spreadsheet and return.

Results of review should be returned to Associate Dean Mary Schutten by June 4, 2012.Thank you for your assistance with this important task.

3. CLAS Important Dates

Important Dates	Event	Location
May 1	Final Grades in Banner due before noon Banner and Blackboard close at this time
May 2	Unit Head Meeting – CANCELED
May 3	Traverse City Commencement
May 7	Classes begin 1^st 6 weeks and 12 weeks
May 11	Names of representatives for CLAS Distinguished Alumni-in-Residence	hardimak@gvsu.edu
May 28	Memorial Day Recess – offices closed
June 4	No Credit Transfer Courses results due	Associate Dean Mary Schutten schutmar@gvsu.edu
June 18	Classes End 1^st 6 weeks
June 19-20	Final Exams
June 20	CLAS on the Green Golf Outing	http://gvsu.edu/clas/clas-on-the-green-382.htm
June 25	Grades due 1^st 6 week classes before noon Banner and Blackboard close at this time
June 25	Classes Begin 2nd 6 weeks
July 4	Independence Day Recess – offices closed
Aug. 3	Classes End 2^nd 6 weeks and 12 weeks
Aug. 6-7	Final Exams
Aug. 6	Submission deadline for Issues course proposals
Aug. 13	Grades due 2^nd 6 weeks and 12 weeks before noon Banner and Blackboard close at this time
Aug. 15 & 16	New Faculty Orientation
Aug. 21	Unit Head Retreat	TBA
Aug. 22	FTLC Conference	EC
Aug. 23	CLAS Faculty and Staff Meeting	TBA
Aug. 24	Convocation	Field House
Aug. 27	Fall 2011 Classes Begin

Page last modified May 1, 2012